Preferred Vendor: Gathered Confections, Whatcom County Baker Utilizing Local, Seasonal, and Organic Ingredients

I started following Gathered Confections a while back because of her commitment to using local, seasonal, and organic ingredients whenever possible. Though our professions are different, I know how difficult it can be financially to choose local suppliers over less expensive options online. When I told Sarah I loved this about her business and wanted to feature her on my blog, her first instinct was to include a favorite local farm and show where the desserts come from!

Nancy of Sweet Peas & Carrot Cake welcomed us onto her property, and her friendly farm kitty followed us along every step of the tour. We picked fresh figs and enjoyed the best blackberries I've ever had. Nancy's garden provides flowers to local florists, along with a variety of herbs, fruits, veggies, and other plants.

Often known for her use of edible flowers, it really shouldn't have surprised me that Sarah's #1 question during our flower tour was "Can I eat one?"

If you haven't seen her work yet, it's gorgeous. I'm a visual person, so rather than try to describe it, I'll encourage you to go to her Instagram feed and scroll through all those elegant, tasty-looking cakes for yourself. You won't be sorry!

We weighed our figs and blackberries on the cutest little scale, happily paid Nancy for sharing, and got started making a summer galette!

Sarah has a degree in baking and pastry arts, and she worked as the primary cake decorator at several bakeries around the country before moving to Bellingham. Now she runs Gathered Confections on her own (with the help of local farms, of course!), and she's rocking​ it.

"I'd say that much of my drive to create comes from a community-centered approach to business. To me, food is the most intimate and sincere way in which we interact with the world around us. Sometimes with the disheartening and chaotic nature of current events, it is comforting to take solace in these small decisions. When I buy my food from a small family farm or flowers from a like-minded start-up, I'm investing in both my own health and the community that I love. And when I take these lovingly-crafted ingredients and turn them into sweet indulgences to share, I can optimistically hope that each treat is creating a little bit more happiness in an unpredictable world. I love what I do because I can be a nerd about baking science, an artist with buttercream, and a farmer-turned-community liaison all at once. But more than anything, I love the individuals I've met through starting Gathered."

2020 Update: Gathered Confections has since relocated and opened "Gathered Bakeshop & Market" in Astoria, OR. I highly recommend stopping by next time you're in the area!