Mackenzie Respress “kneaded” a way to nurture herself during a turbulent time in her life, so she turned to the art of baking sourdough. As her confidence in the kitchen rose, along with her sourdough starter that she affectionately named “Sally,” so did the requests for her freshly baked goodies.
As a single mother raising four school-aged children, including a child diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, Respress began to make her mental health a priority. Each night, as she fed and nurtured her sourdough starter, allowing it to ferment so she could bake delectable culinary delights for her family, she would, in turn, nurture herself. Perhaps she’d indulge in a book, light a favorite candle, or immerse herself in a bubble bath. But whatever she chose, it was with the knowledge that she must invest in her own wellness so she could pour into the ones who called her “mom.”
Four years earlier, a powerful truth shook Respress to the core: she could make it on her own. This belief in herself was like a tiny grain of wheat at first, but once it sprouted, she gained the courage to take her children and flee years of abuse. After all they had endured, she craved a life void of the hustle and bustle of Nashville. Her desire was for her children to experience small-town living where deep roots could take hold and they could finally thrive.
Rental prices were soaring, and Respress’ family would need an affordable home that could accommodate all five of them. After applying for a position as a medical technician, she was sent for a drug screening. Not being familiar with the roads in Shelbyville, she made a wrong turn that ended up being serendipity. A “for rent” sign was posted at an apartment complex, and the rest, as they say, is history.
The community welcomed the Respress family. Her eldest son was playing football for Harris Middle School, and everyone had a core group of friends. But if she couldn’t keep a roof over their heads, everything would come crashing down around them. Was it possible she and “Sally” could bake enough loaves of sourdough bread, cookies, cheese crackers, cinnamon rolls, and her favorite blueberry lemon rolls to raise the money they needed?
Respress turned to Facebook with this heartfelt plea in September 2024: “I am not the type of person to ask for handouts because I truly feel there is always someone else more in need than I am. I’d rather work and earn the money I have. This has taken a lot for me to post, so please give me grace. I’ve been at the same apartment for almost four years and have maintained my rent on my own for the most part. I work hard, and I do what needs to be done in order to provide for my children, but here is my situation…”
She went on to describe a series of trials that had left her with a lapse of income until she received her first paycheck from the hospital, where she had just landed her dream job. Though she needed $1,500 — an amount that felt unattainable — she preheated her oven, rolled up her sleeves, and set to work.
“Yes, that’s a lot of money,” she wrote in the post. “However, to me, that is 108 traditional sourdough breads, or 93 of my specialty breads, and 75 dozen phatty cakes. All of these are doable if it means I can pay my rent and keep my children in a safe, stable environment. So, I’m asking, will you place an order?”
The memory of the lowest point in her life filtered through her mind as she baked into the early morning hours. The more she reflected on the words she’d encouraged herself with all those years ago, the more powerful they became for her current situation.
“It was as if someone flipped a light switch when I chose to leave,” she recalled. “I told myself, ‘You are very much going to do this. You’re going to get out. You’re going to be okay. You’re going to go on and do great things.’ I was no longer worried about how I would afford to leave; I just knew that if I took the first steps, everything would somehow work out.”
With lots of prayers and through the encouragement of both friends and strangers who connected with her on Facebook, not only did she sell enough to pay her rent, but she officially launched her business, Girl Gone Fermented.
“I sat at the dining room table and bawled my eyes out. Twenty minutes after I made the post, the orders started pouring in, and they haven’t stopped. I am a firm believer that we should never sit in our sadness. We should feel it, experience it, and then get up and do something to change it.”
Girl Gone Fermented is now working to become a staple at local craft fairs and farmers markets, and she frequently sells her products in the parking lot of Tractor Supply, as well as online. Respress also provides sourdough starters to students who register for her affordable in-home lessons. Since the cultures in everyone’s home are unique, this allows students to experiment with sourdough in the environment that will be nurturing their starter. GN
