We have found through personal experience that all too often BIPOC women, the LGBTQIA+ community, and immigrants’ labor is undervalued, leaving us with fewer resources to develop and build equity in our own enterprises.

There are a growing number of small food enterprises that are operating on a scale that prohibits access to large commercial kitchens, which often require long-term, high cost leases.

Food start-ups that lack access to capital, will initiate a revenue stream by providing food (whether it’s small pop-ups, baked goods for market stands, or private meal preparation) from their home kitchens.

By operating from home kitchens, new businesses cannot obtain the necessary licensing, insurance and permitting to manufacture their products legally and safely. This is a liability that can stunt business growth and further limit access to capital and asset building.

Our Time kitchen supports minority women, and marginalized genders, who want to build food businesses by lowering systemic barriers and creating access to resources in a supportive environment.

We have built a commercial kitchen with a by-the-hour rental program to support businesses taking the step from home cooking to being fully permitted by creating a collaborative environment, reducing the upfront investment small businesses usually have to invest in making that transition.

The Our Time kitchen model uses an affordable commercial kitchen space, mentorship opportunities, educational workshops, a to-go window, a marketplace, a food truck and back courtyard , pop-up events, childcare, bulk supplying, and appliance, catering and equipment rental to support the development of small food enterprises in Baltimore.

Our business philosophy is founded in equity, justice, and social change. We seek to use our commercial kitchen as a tool for social change by creating a shared space to be utilized to uplift minority owned food-related businesses that require an approved commissary and will benefit from the collaboration, sharing of ideas and community made possible by Our Time.

Learn how to join our Kitchen as a member here.

Keep up-to-date on pop-ups, classes, and back-courtyard events by joining our newsletter, following along our journey @ourtimekitchen, Or by skimming over our Events Page here.

If you have resources, ideas, a large network, or skills that you want to share to help make the Our Time Kitchen solution more possible please contact us at ourtimekitchen@gmail.com or make a donation here.