Salt of the Earth
Sarah Heeler
Owner of Salt of the Earth
Website | Instagram | Gold Belly
I opened Salt of the Earth because I believe breaking bread together is one of life's most sacred acts of community. Growing up, my grandmother's kitchen was where neighbors became family, and I wanted to recreate that warmth—a place where every loaf and pastry carries intention, and where people feel nourished in body and spirit. There's something profoundly humbling about working with flour, water, and salt each day, knowing these simple ingredients can bring comfort to someone's morning or celebration to their table.
What are you working on?
I've been perfecting a honey whole wheat sourdough that reminds me of my grandmother's bread—getting that balance of sweetness and nutty grain just right. It's the loaf I want to put in the hands of the parent rushing in before school or the regular who stops by every Saturday
What deeply held belief have you come to change your mind on?
I used to think making a difference meant grand gestures and changing systems, but I've come to believe it's actually about showing up consistently in small ways. Now I see that the quiet work of creating a welcoming space where the banker and the homeless veteran can sit at the same counter, both treated with equal dignity, might be the most radical thing I can do.
What inspires you?
Watching someone's shoulders drop when they walk through the door—that moment when the day's weight lifts just a little. It's in the regular who finally introduces me to their grown daughter, or the stranger who lingers an extra moment because the space feels safe enough to just be.
