P R I D E
BAKERS / CARETAKERS
V Smiley Preserves operates as a proud queer-owned business every month, but this year as I thought about June, a month that sees so much life change for folks as they graduate school (and often move), a month where we honor father figures and celebrate pride, the subject of care-taking kept bubbling up. Who are we taking care of and who is taking care of us?
OUR 2022 LOVEFEST FOR BAKERS CONTINUES AT V SMILEY PRESERVES WITH TWO VERY DIFFERENT STORIES OF NEW ENTREPRENEURSHIP & HEALING
Before settling in to write this introduction, I read through Colleen, Rian, and Theo’s stories one more time. I’m sitting at Minifactory—having taken the big leap myself into brick and mortar, more than a dozen staff, daily morning bakes, forming the biggest commitment of my 37-year life via a combination of debt and by buying a community-based business with over 4 decades of history— in it! As I read, at turns I felt chastened (18-hour work days? guilty), inspired (Colleen’s baking regimen sounds rad and zen at the same time - I can’t wait to channel this tomorrow) and reminded of individual storytelling power. Baking inspired by forest creatures. Theo, I want to eat that!
We start these businesses to take care of something in ourselves. We start these businesses to see and be seen.
It was always a dream to build a place where queer folks wanted to work, a place folks knew was owned by someone queer, a place queer folks wanted to visit. This holds a different meaning when you operate somewhere rural even if it is Vermont. Sometimes I feel like I could be more visibly “out” and this is one of the gifts of June. It’s an opportunity to raise both hands and wave, heeeeeeey. It’s also a great time to raise a bunch of money for organizations who are out there busting their butts to support queer folks (trans and genderqueer kids especially).
I hope you’ll join me in supporting the Trans Justice Funding Project this June via sales of Cherry Rosehip Hibiscus Jam.
If you can visit us in person at Minifactory, we are splitting our jar sales between Outright VT and Trans Justice Funding Project.
Colleen + Rian
Colleen and Rian moved cross-country to upstate New York in 2020 and have been busy launching their business, Little Loaf Bakeshop. Despite the long hard hours, it’s been a great way to find mutual support from other queer folks and business owners in their new local community and beyond.
Theo
Feeding people fairy-inspired, soy and dairy-free cakes and treats from their home-based mini bakery Spoonfae brings Theo a lot of joy. It’s important to them that customers know who is making the cookies and cakes they buy—supporting a visible queer-owned small business strengthens community.
