Meet Autumn Brown | Vegan/GF Baker | Spoken Word Poet | Farmer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Autumn Brown and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Autumn, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
So I was born and raised on John’s Island in Charleston, South Carolina. I ‘m Gullah geechee coastal native and growing up farm life , family and friends were very important. My grandfather grew majority of the food consumed in our household and that kept sustainability a reality for me. He provided the produce for a lot of our family gatherings and that was an inspiration always because if someone looked from the outside they would think we had nothing.. yet in my mind EVERYTHING we needed was an extension of the earth.. us.. the food.. the music. It was all blended so synergistically nothing seemed to be missing. This lifestyle growing up has instilled in me a foundation of love and genuine fellowship which I incorporate in my business as all of my Sunflowers are my family and we fellowship quite often.. eating sustainable foods. Though my family was not vegan they have been amazed at the creations developed from just plants and accept my choice of a mindful diet.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
So the first thing that sets my business a part from most is the integrity we uphold. Every single time the baking process is the same.. Solfeggio frequencies flowing through the air promoting cellular healing.. clean kitchen.. Gullah Geechee lovin in my palms (even clapping or sing sometimes), patient, slow movements and we always always always serve desserts of the quality expected. Sunflower oil is infused in each batch of desserts to ensure a boost in melanin production in our skin hair and nails.. due to the zinc and copper present in their seeds so wellness and sacred intention is the ultimate foundation of this business.. this work is the love of my life and it’s definitely ancestral. Most of the women in my family are self taught bakers.. my great grandmothers.. both of my grandmother’s.. every one of my aunt’s (Especially my Aunt Ethel with the 7up cake growing up.. she could create ANYTHING from just a thought) It’s a natural thing for us Gullah Geechee natives I guess because we’re so connected to the land and source that any food we birth is flavorful and full of love. I’m proud me going for my goals of being a baker regardless of the advice given when I was younger that “bakers don’t make money.. you should do something else” and I mean essentially I did and 1 trade school and a university later I’m back at my childhood dream. I learned along the way to continue at what I love and my loving consistency for what I do will trickle down to those that love me because if they see me miserable in what I’m doing and not believing or succeeding how can they.. so I’d just say my diligence is a blessing to others. Me sticking with what I love got me to one of the most exciting accomplishments on this journey. On October 23rd.2021 Sunflour Sweets vended at our first festival in Los Angeles California at the Vegandale Festival Los Angeles. It was heart-filling to see how many people were lined up just to support us. This experience will never be forgotten because we got to share a brand new culture with another part of the world and I am so grateful for sharing. Lastly I am excited to announce our Youth Baking Course. The sign up is in our bio. This course is to teach young bakers the essentials of vegan/ GF baking. We offer 3 different courses and 2 group size options. This was started to help homeschooling parents broaden their curriculum as well as community outreach programs to educate children on organic and sustainable cooking. The ultimate goal is to make Sunflour Sprouts a non-profit to be able to service more youth.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
So my best friend is coming to visit me and when she comes we are going to go to Golden Glide or Cascade Skating rink for sure. For brunch we’re going to Cultivate off of Howell Mill because I need allll the vegan options. Royal Health World is another great vegan lunch option! Sunday is live jazz at Gallery 992.. literally one of my favorite places. Tuesday night we’d be at The Circle Poetry Night @ The Delowe Lofts in East Pointe (Our head baker is a poet). Wednesday we’re hitting Artormiss Prime (an all genre showcase we vend at) @ Gallery 992. The trap music museum is a must and so is OPE Gallery off of Edgewood.. it a really nice artistic scene. The High Museum always has free admission on the 2nd Sunday of the month so that’s another stop. Arabia Mountain for a good hike and plant walk with our good friend Baba Sol on Airbnb experiences on the second to last day. And on her way out we have to make a trip to the Scout and Grow community Garden on Candler Rd. To volunteer and pick up some fresh veggies and herbs.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would Love to shoutout to the divine for cultivating this entrepreneur empress in her rightful works! I would Like to shoutout my mother for being the most supportive and open minded parent. She never allowed me to stray from my childhood dream of being a baker and actively supported my craft. When I was younger my mom was crafty so she took me to every jewelry class.. every Michael’s crafter event we were there. I would Like to shoutout my father for his discipline. I would Like to shoutout Atlanta for teaching me the value of my yes and the power of my no! I would Like to shoutout Georgia State’s botany club for reminding me of my earth stewardship helping me to expand into Scout & Grow community garden my next shoutout…my Eastside baby that I cater to alongside my partner Baba Sol (Plant guru) for being a beacon for sovereignty and sustainability in the neighborhood. Scout & Grow changed my perspective on what I could attain as a grower.. like how many children don’t know what a piece of cauliflower or lettuce look like fresh from the Earth and how I would be able to help them remember how much potential they have to take care of themselves and their families in the future. I would like to thank Baba Sol for being a supporter of the Sunflour Sweets vision. I would like to thank my brother Artormiss Bronner for the weekly event that began my takeoff “Artormiss Prime” where he created a safe space for vendors to profit and build community. I would Like to thank Vegandale Los Angeles for the opportunity to have lived out my dream of vending in a large festival. This awakened a whole new side of my entrepreneurial mind compiling all of the paperwork for the festival and just seeing a line of people waiting to support my business was refreshing.

Website: https://sunfloursweets.company.site/

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