EVELYN RICHARDSON is the kind of woman who walks into a room and immediately fills it with warmth — along with the comforting scent of freshly baked bread, its golden crust crackling as it cools, or the sweet, spiced aroma of cinnamon rolls, their soft, pillowy layers swirled with butter and sugar.
With a lifetime of stories written in the lines of her hands, her bright eyes seem to hold a spark of wisdom. At 93 years old, Richardson has a secret that brings joy to everyone around her: her sourdough starter.
It all began one Sunday when her friend brought her a loaf of bread. “[It was] the best-tasting thing I ever ate,” she remembered fondly. That was her introduction to sourdough. “I told her I’d never let the starter die.” And true to her word, Richardson hasn’t. But the journey to perfecting the bread wasn’t without its bumps.
“I made my own starter, but everything flopped,” Richardson laughed, recounting her trial-and-error process.Her persistence led her back to her friend, who handed her a new starter. “I promised I’d keep it fed.” And she did. As Richardson explained, caring for the starter is like milking cows: it has to be fed at the right times. “If you don’t do it, you won’t have success,” she said.
For Richardson, the bread-making process is much more than baking — it’s a reflection of the way she’s lived her life. “I’ve had a great life. I’m very fortunate,” she said with a smile, though her voice softened when she talked about her daughter, who died from cancer a few years ago. “She fought for 22 years, and you’re never ready to lose them.”
Through her grief, baking became a comfort. “Last fall, I struggled,” Richardson admitted. “I forgot things, including which bowl I used for what. But I kept going. I couldn’t let the starter die.”
Her bread-making isn’t just about creating something delicious; it’s about teaching others, sharing her knowledge, and connecting with her community at Arcadia Senior Living. “I’ve been showing people how to make it, and it’s so nice to see others pick it up,” she said. “One of our residents gave me a newspaper the other night that’s all about how farmers are essential to our society. It reminded me of how important it is to teach others and pass on what we know.”
Richardson’s life has been one of service, too. After working as a regional librarian for over 25 years, she dedicated herself to helping others connect with books and resources. “I worked with public libraries and schools, did workshops, and helped set up new libraries,” she said with pride. “I’m a firm believer in education.”
In her retirement, Richardson continues to impart wisdom to her neighbors. The love she has for sourdough is infectious, and she proudly shares it with anyone willing to learn. She’s not just baking bread — she’s baking memories, teaching generations how to make something from scratch and fill their homes with the aroma of warm, homemade bread. She even taught us how to make the bread from start to finish.
“No, stir rapidly,” Richardson shouted from across the table. “Open the lid to the starter and measure out 2 cups.”
When she talks about her sourdough, her face lights up. “It’s all about the starter,” Richardson said, her eyes twinkling. “That’s the magic. And once you get it right, the bread … oh, it’s something special.”
The smell of freshly baked sourdough waves through the air as Richardson pulls out a perfectly golden loaf, its crust crackling under the touch. As the warm bread cools on the counter, Richardson already has ideas of who to give a slice of bread or a gooey cinnamon roll to.
If you ever find yourself in Evelyn Richardson’s presence, you’ll not only be treated to a slice of the most delicious bread but also to a piece of her heart. And as she continues to bake, she reminds us all that, in life, as in bread-making, success comes when you feed what you care about — and when you never let go of what really matters. GN
