It’s a special thing to find your calling early in life. For one of our newest members, that calling came through flour, butter, and a whole lot of heart — and she's just getting started.
Tess Shields is a high school student with big dreams. Her business, Meadow Lane Bakery, was born not from a business plan or a culinary school application, but from love — specifically, love for her mom.
"My mom went gluten-free because she had Lyme disease," she explained. "She lost a lot of weight, so I started baking for her — oatmeal cookies, things like that — just trying to get her to eat more." What started as a daughter's act of care quietly evolved into something more. She kept baking, kept experimenting, and eventually asked herself the question that every young entrepreneur eventually arrives at: What if I could make something out of this?
And so she did. She started taking orders for pickup, set up her table at pop-ups around Saratoga Springs, and built a loyal following one baked good at a time. She's sold out twice at Bobbles & Lace, the beloved local boutique that welcomed her with open arms and let her set up shop. She's also sold her creations to fundraise for Wellspring and Pitney Meadows. Small things, she says — but the kind of small things that add up.
Her signature offerings tell you everything you need to know about her approach: this is not your average bake sale. Her cinnamon rolls are legendary among anyone lucky enough to have tried them. And then there are the Dubai chocolate cookies — a layered confection of pistachio filling, crunchy kataifi (shredded phyllo dough), and hazelnut that sounds almost too good to be real.
Next up, she’s expanding into drinks – think maple matcha lattes and other creative concoctions. In keeping with her nomadic approach, she knew a mobile coffee cart would be her next move. Looking for somewhere to build her dreams, she came to Saratoga Joinery for the shop access, expert advice, and friendly encouragement. She'd driven by before, knew of us through a connection to board member and high school shop teacher Karen Cavotta, and decided to stop wondering and just walk in.
We're really glad she did!
After just a few short weeks of focused work and brainstorming sessions with our more experienced members, Tess loaded her brand new coffee cart into her car last week.
And this fall, she heads to Fordham University in the Bronx, where she's considering studying business (the practical choice, she admits), psychology, or neuroscience. She might even take a philosophy course or two. The world is wide open.
Whatever path she takes, we have a feeling Meadow Lane Bakery isn't going anywhere. Some people just have it — that mix of creativity, hustle, and genuine warmth that makes people want to show up for you. She has it in spades.
Keep an eye on this one. And in the meantime, follow along (or place an order!) at @meadowlanebakery_ on Instagram. Your tastebuds will thank you.
Saratoga Joinery is proud to support entrepreneurs, makers, and dreamers at every stage. Whether you're building furniture or a business, there's a seat at the bench for you. Join us.
Saratoga Joinery is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and relies upon the support of the community to keep our blades spinning.
