Sourdough Classes: A Turning Point

I recently taught a class at Turkey Hill Grange. Up until now, my classes have covered the entire sourdough process—from starter to finished loaf—in a single day.

We talked about feeding and readiness, mixing dough, stretch and folds, bulk fermentation, shaping, proofing, scoring, and baking. It was a full picture, start to finish, and the group did beautifully. There were great questions, good conversation, and real learning happening around the table.

And it was also the class that confirmed something important for me as a teacher.

Too much at once

Even though the class was successful, it became clear that trying to teach every step of sourdough in one sitting asks a lot of beginners. Sourdough isn’t difficult — but it is layered. Each phase builds on the one before it, and when everything is introduced at once, it’s hard for students to feel grounded and confident when they go home.

What I noticed most wasn’t confusion — it was overwhelm. Not because people weren’t capable, but because there was simply too much to hold all at once.

A clearer way forward

That class helped me see that sourdough is better taught as a series, not a single event.

When students can focus on one piece at a time — understanding their starter first, then learning to bake and score, then shaping and proofing, and finally mixing and bulk fermentation — everything clicks more naturally. Confidence grows. Questions become clearer. Success comes faster.

That realization reshaped how I now structure my classes.

What this means going forward

Future sourdough classes are designed to:

• slow the process down

• reduce overwhelm

• build confidence step by step

• work with real kitchens and real lives

Each class can still stand alone, but together they form a clearer learning path — one that honors how sourdough actually works and how people really learn.

I’m grateful for the experience at Turkey Hill Grange. It was a good class — and it was also an important one. It helped me listen more closely to my students and refine how I teach, so future classes can be even more helpful and life-giving.

If you’re interested in upcoming sourdough classes or the new series format, announcements will be shared here on the blog and on Facebook when registration opens.