Living, and baking, the dream at 25

After posting my last blog about quarter-life crises, I received an email from an old friend of mine- Julianne Jones. She wrote to tell me that, at 25, she wasn’t lost at all. In fact, she was living her dream.

Julianne and I met when we were at Middlebury College together. Already then, she had a mind of her own. She rented a beautiful apartment in an old wood house above Otter Creek where every possible gastronomical wonder emerged from the tiny oven to all of our great delight. She worked at local Vermont restaurants and studied with a French patry chef. Julianne has always had her eye on sustainability, but also appreciates delicacy. Now, the two have combined in the realization of her dream: Vergennes Laundry, a wood-fired brick oven bakery built in the old laundromat of Vergennes, Vermont. Vergennes Laundry is scheduled to open for business in September. But if you can’t wait til then, Julianne can be found at the Middlebury Farmer’s Market where she sells hand-made croissants, vegetable tartines, chocolate sablés, and more.

But starting a bakery is no risk-free affair. And it demands funds. Right now, Julianne is raising money to build the custom-made wood-fired oven through the fundraising site Kickstarter.com. Go support Vergennes Laundry and Julianne, a 25-year old living, and baking, the dream by going here.

And learn more about Vergennes Laundry here.

Julianne and all you other 20-somethings knowing what you want and going for it– I salute you.

- Astri