Workin' for a Livin'

Esther Jalava, owner and operator of Nordshire Farm and Bakery https://www.nordshirefarm.com/ Describe your work and what it entails. I own and operate Nordshire Farm Bakery. I specialize in Finnish and Nordic Baked Goods. I spend 60(ish) hours per week prepping and baking. The cafe shop is open currently Friday 9-2 and Saturday 8-3 but summer hours will change. My recipes are as traditional as possible and I use as many local and organic ingredients as possible. What do you enjoy most about your job? I love embracing my family's heritage and keeping the culture alive! I get to meet so many fellow Finns and other Nordic descendants. The best part is the stories the people have that associates memories with the baked goods. What is the most challenging aspect of your job? The demanding hours. Most people stretch their 40-60 hour work week over 5 days. I do it in 3 days. What advice would you give to someone who wants to pursue a similar career? Prepare for long hours, maximize your efficiency, don't sample too many sweets and have fun! What is your favorite thing about working in the Monadnock Region? It goes back to culture. This region is full of descendants from Nordic countries. There is a large Finnish and Swedish population in this area. It is also a great opportunity to share our culture with all people from different cultures. We're trying to keep the culture alive in this region for the generations to come!