For Lisa Biss, baking bread is a way to continue a lifelong tradition in her family. Her mom’s home-baked breads and rolls always made the table during the holidays. For most of her 84 years, her mom, Betty, prepared rolls and freshly baked breads for every special occasion until she passed away in 2020.

“To this day we can’t have a family dinner without someone asking for her rolls,” Biss said.

Biss, who retired from Saratoga Schenectady Gastrology in 2024, started baking some of those recipes and adding some more mostly for family and friends. Just this year, she began as a vendor at the TOG Farmers Market to share her beloved hobby and family tradition with the TOG community.

“The entire process is filled with love,” Biss said. ” I love making it. I love smelling it. I love watching people enjoy it.”

It takes Biss a full two days to prep for each market on Thursday afternoon. She typically prepares some two dozen of her best-selling dinner rolls, four to six baguettes, four artisan breads and sometimes a few cookies too. She makes them all from scratch.

Biss’ market display features her freshly baked goods and a classic bicycle with a basket with flowers or often bread and a painting of a classic bicycle.

“My girlfriend found the painting and it had an old-time feel I thought was perfect for our community market,” Biss said. “It reminds me of the vibe in Europe with people carrying around their bread in a basket. It is representative of the homey, country feel of our town and this market.”

Biss packages her products by hand and they look so tempting, it’s hard to pass by without picking up something. She especially loves that residents contact her to make orders for dinner and special requests like a mother and her daughter who wanted her to add something for someone with a dairy allergy. You can reach Biss at desolate1@verizon.net.

“I Love how many kids are playing at this market,” Biss said. “I try to keep some smaller packaged items with just a single roll or cookie so they have something to buy.”

Biss is in “bliss” with the TOG.

“I love living up on the mountain (Lake Desolation) because it is so peaceful,” she said. “I have 24-acres and a log home and all I can hear are the birds and animals.”

She also loves Middle Grove Park and is so happy with all the improvements the town has made in the park and with new events at the park.

“Greenfield is a beautiful area with such nice people,” she said. “I love all the town does to promote business among its residents,” she said.

“I love to see old friends at the market like Lisa, who I have known since I was a teenager,” said Town Supervisor Kevin Veitch. “We love when people take what they are passionate about and share it with our entire community.”

With her son having grown up, Biss often fills the empty rooms in her log home to young people who are in Saratoga as part of their career with the U.S. Navy. Biss is also a parishioner at Middle Grove’s United Methodist Church and a member of the local band “Out of Reach.” who often performs at the market. She plays the 12-string guitar, flute and sings harmony. 

Visit her this week at the TOG Farmers Market, on Thursday from 4-7 p.m. at Middle Grove Park.

This article is meant to inform the residents of Greenfield about a local business. The Town of Greenfield does not endorse one business over another. Instead the Town supports all local business and wishes to highlight as many businesses as we can to foster a sense of community and help encourage our residents to shop locally.

If you are a legitimate business or nonprofit organization that is based in our Town, are you listed in our online community directories?  If you would like to be added or possibly featured in an upcoming article like this one, please email information to info@greenfieldny.org.