Handmade and baked in Shafter, bread business takes off

Baking bread was a passion for Haley Plaza, the allure of being in the kitchen with the smell of fresh sourdough filling the air.

Plaza, a Shafter resident, took that passion and established Handmade in a Home three years ago, her business selling her bakes. She stressed it was important to her to make money doing something she loved.

Now Plaza is a popular stop for many residents at local bazaars, craft fairs and other events, often selling out.

Handmade in a Home started with Plaza's sourdough bread when she began selling the loaves to her friends, family and church community. Soon she began to expand her selection and increased her production to more than a few loaves a week.

"I added bread dips as I went along, giving the customers another way to enjoy the bread," Plaza said. "I make quite a few varieties of dips with different herbs in them and every one of them is made in my kitchen."

She is also looking forward to adding new products to her lineup including croissants, compound butters and whole wheat sourdough.

Her most popular varieties right now are her sourdough bread, focaccia Fougasses and sweet loaves like banana bread and pumpkin bread.

Plaza bakes on Tuesdays and Thursdays every week and her customers order their bread through her website (www.handmadeinahome) and they then pick them up at her house.

When she is not away at an event around Kern County, she holds pop-up events at different locations on Saturdays. She gives the locations and times of the events on her Instagram account (@handmade_in_a_home). She also takes her loaves to the Tin Cup to sell.