Maren Holt and Theo Alden opened Fern & Flour Bakery in 2019 with a five-year-old sourdough starter, a secondhand oven, and a belief that a neighborhood bakery should feel like family.
Maren spent her twenties learning to coax flavor out of nothing but flour, water, salt, and time in a small Vermont bakehouse. Theo came up through restaurant pastry kitchens, chasing the perfect laminated dough. When they moved back to Ashford, the plan was simple: bake the bread and pastries they wished existed in their own neighborhood.
Fern & Flour Bakery opened its doors at 214 Elm Street in 2019, with a menu of four breads and a case of pastries baked before sunrise. The starter that leavens our sourdough today is the same one Maren carried back from Vermont — now well into its own history with the shop.
We believe good baking starts with good ingredients: local flour, seasonal fruit, real butter, and time. Nothing rushed, nothing artificial.
Our philosophy
A few principles guide everything that comes out of our ovens.
Our bread flour comes from Millbrook Stone Mill, 12 miles outside Ashford, milled to order so it reaches us at its freshest.
Our specials menu shifts with what's ripe nearby — pumpkin and apple cider in fall, strawberry and rhubarb in spring.
Our sourdough proofs slowly over a day and a half. Good bread can't be hurried, so we plan around it, not the other way around.
Co-Founder & Head Baker
Maren trained in bread baking in Vermont before returning home to open Fern & Flour with Theo in 2019. She oversees the bread program and cake design.
Co-Founder & Pastry Chef
Theo's background in restaurant pastry kitchens shapes the bakery's seasonal pastry and cake menus. He handles sourcing and recipe development.
Cake Decorator
Priya joined in 2021 and leads custom cake consultations, bringing a steady hand for florals and fine piping detail.
Front of House Lead
Sam greets regulars by name and keeps the case stocked and the espresso machine humming every morning.
From flour delivery to the final piped rosette — here's a peek at the moments that make up our days on Elm Street.
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Have shop or team photos to share? Send them our way in chat and we'll drop them right in.
Tell us about your birthday, wedding, or event and we'll design a cake to match.