Macon Magazine

2 8 | M A C O N M A G A Z I N E . C O M J U N E / J U LY 2 0 1 9 m Mill Hill Bakers Collective opens with Central City Bake off THE MILL HILL Community Arts Center is home to the Mill Hill Bakers Collective, a low- cost shared kitchen space for Middle Georgia residents. e collective was founded by Adriana Horton, the owner of Oh Honey Baking Co. e collective's mission is for local bakers to come together "to teach each other new skills, learn ways to help their individual businesses grow and serve their community." "My hope for the collective is to have a kitchen full of fun, exciting businesses ready to do new things in the community," Horton said. Before starting the collective, Horton was looking for a commercial kitchen to accommodate her expanding baking business. After determining that all of the commercial kitchens available were out of her price range, Horton discovered the Mill Hill Community Arts Center was home to a shared kitchen space. Horton proposed the idea of a low-cost collective to the Macon Arts Alliance, which operates the kitchen and art center. In March, Macon Arts accepted her proposal and the Mill Hill Bakers Collective was official. For $375 a month, members can enjoy 24-hour access to the kitchen, 35 hours of scheduled oven time, dry storage, utilities, refrigerator space and other accommodations. "I am really just hoping each business finds the space they need to grow, and I can find ways to promote them," Horton said. Besides access to a full commercial kitchen, members of the collective receive pastry arts education, opportunities to teach ticketed classes, participate in community events, promote their baked goods and assistance obtaining commercial baking licenses. Events included in the collective are the Georgia Bridal Show, decorating events for kids, bake sales, tea parties and the Central City Bake Off, which brought together professional and hobby bakers on April 24 at the community center. e 12 participating contestants entered 30 to 40 servings of any pastry, baked good or dessert. e public was invited to try five entries of their choice and purchase the baked goods on display. Donna Anderson took home a new KitchenAid mixer and locally made wooden cake stand for her first-place cinnamon rolls. Anderson is the owner of Gaga's Goodies, a home-based baking business. ough she has worked full time at Geico for more than 33 years, Anderson said she enjoys baking on the side. "I am building up something to do when I retire. I can't retire and not do anything," Anderson said. Anderson started making her award-winning cinnamon rolls four years ago to take to her children's families on Christmas morning. Coming from a family of bakers, Anderson said her most requested item is sugar cookies. For more information about the bakers collective, visit Mill Hill Bakers Collective on Facebook and Instagram. – LILLIE BECK L O C A L B U Z Z FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: CLARA B. SPEARS, DONNA ANDERSON AND BEEJAY WILLIAMS.

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