A heartfelt story of a woman’s baking journey from childhood memories to building a global, supportive community for home bakers.
For Vivi Ogden, the love of baking began when she was just a little girl standing beside her mother in the kitchen.
“I remember constantly begging my mother to let me use the real oven with her while she baked in the kitchen. Like many mothers, she worried I was too young, so after hearing ‘no’ more times than I could count, she finally surprised me with my very first Easy Bake Oven.
That simple gift changed everything for me.”
Vivi’s mother worked full time as a single mom, but no matter how busy or tired she was, she always found time to bake with her daughter. Those moments in the kitchen became some of the most meaningful memories of Vivi’s childhood.
“She shared her homemade recipes for cakes and frosting with me, and some of those recipes had been passed down from my grandmother. Knowing that she trusted me with family recipes made me feel incredibly special and deeply connected to the women in my family.”
Some of Vivi’s favorite memories were baking homemade chocolate chip cookies together.
“Even now, whenever I smell chocolate chip cookies baking in the oven, I instantly think of my beautiful mother and the love she poured into those moments with me. She truly instilled the love of baking within my heart.”
A Passion That Continued to Grow
As Vivi grew older, her passion for baking only deepened.
“In junior high school, my love for cooking and baking began to truly stand out. I was honored to receive both a Certificate and a plaque for being the Most Outstanding Home Economics Student.”
From there, Vivi continued developing her skills with the help of her older sister, who worked as a chef.
“Watching and learning from her inspired me even more and helped shape my confidence in the kitchen.”
Eventually, baking became more than just a hobby. It became a way to connect with others and encourage people pursuing similar dreams.
That passion later inspired Vivi to create the Facebook community Cottage Food Recipes & Business Hub.
“At first, I honestly never imagined the group would grow the way it did. I simply wanted to create a supportive place where cottage food entrepreneurs and home bakers could come together to learn, ask questions without judgment, share their successes, and encourage one another while building businesses from their own kitchens.”
But within less than a week, the community began growing rapidly, attracting members from all over the world.
“What started as a simple idea quickly became something much bigger.”
More Than Just Baking
Like many cottage food entrepreneurs, the members of the community wear countless hats every day. They are bakers, decorators, marketers, delivery drivers, accountants, parents, caregivers, and dreamers — often all at once.
Many are trying to build something meaningful while balancing financial stress, burnout, anxiety, and personal challenges behind the scenes.
Over time, Vivi realized the group was becoming far more than a place to exchange recipes and business tips.
“It became a community where people felt seen, supported, encouraged, and understood.”.
Today, Cottage Food Recipes & Business Hub continues to grow and connect thousands of cottage food business owners around the world. Members share recipes, packaging ideas, licensing information, pricing strategies, marketing tips, and business advice — but more importantly, they share kindness, encouragement, and genuine human connection.
“Our members come from all over the world, and that truly inspires me. It motivates me to continue creating resources, sharing knowledge, and working hard to make sure the needs of our members are met.”
The Heart Behind the Community
“I truly believe small businesses thrive best when the people behind them feel supported too.
Whether someone is baking their very first batch of cookies for sale or running a fully booked home bakery, I want them to know they are not alone in this journey.”
For Vivi, the heart of Cottage Food Recipes & Business Hub has never simply been about business.
“It has always been people.”
If you’re a home baker or cottage food entrepreneur looking for support, inspiration, and connection, you’re warmly invited to join the growing community and become part of a space where learning, sharing, and encouragement happen every day.
Connect With the Community
No matter where you are in your journey, you don’t have to do it alone.
