Welcome to the Edible Valley Podcast. This is Episode 178, and today we are with Sharon Janzen from Alderlane Farmhouse Bakery. Sharon grew up in Vancouver and always had an entrepreneurial flair, spending a lot of her time making and selling things—starting with sling-style baby carriers, which she made and then sold across Canada.
Then she moved to Thetis Island, as her husband got a new job at a children’s camp. Sharon decided to start experimenting with baking and selling cinnamon buns, thus laying the groundwork for the future Alderlane Farmhouse Bakery.
In 2000 she moved to Vancouver Island. After gaining more baking experience, she saw an opportunity to sell goods from a wicker basket in the schools and businesses throughout the valley. She started by placing a basket in the staff room at Miracle Beach Elementary and Black Creek Elementary, where teachers and staff paid for goods using the honour system. She then quickly moved on to selling at offices, car dealerships, and dentists, operating the entire business just out of the back of her Volkswagen Jetta.
Word of her delicious baking spread throughout the valley, and people started asking Sharon if she was at any farmers’ markets. In response, she scaled up her business and started selling at the Comox Valley Farmers’ Market. Her husband, who is a crucial support, retrofitted her equipment with wheels so she could operate efficiently and continue to grow her business.
We have a lot to share with you about this incredible story of Canadian entrepreneurialism. Edible Valley is very proud to introduce Sharon Janzen.
Episode 192 "Nutrition, Health and Working Out"
Episode 191 Interview ”Tasting Seaweed”
Episode 190 "BBQ 101 The Do's and Don'ts"
Bonus Episode ”Clever Crow Full Cooking Class”
Episode 189 "Cooking at Clever Crow"
Episode 188 Interview "Time for pizza with Jackknife Pizza"
Episode 186 "Menu planning like a pro."
Episode 187 "How to shop, surviving the grocery store."
Episode 185 " What's in your cart? To deliver or not to deliver."
Episode 184 "Time to Stirfry."
Episode 183 "Table for one, dining with or without"
Episode 182 " To diet or not to diet?"
Episode 181 " Cooking eggs"
Edible Valley Look Back 1A ” Our 1st Episode: Blayne & Jon”
Episode 180 " So you want to be a food entrepreneur?'
Epsiode 179 "What's happening at restaurants during Covid"
Episode 177 "What's Next?"
Episode 176 "What's up at the Market with Twila"
Episode 175 "Grabbing a beer at Land & Sea With Tessa"
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