My sourdough journey began a little over a year ago, sparked by a mix of curiosity, frustration, and a desire to feel better in my own body. After dealing with ongoing gut issues and visiting countless doctors—both conventional and homeopathic—I found myself searching for answers that felt right for me. When I made the decision to change my diet, I discovered something surprising: gluten itself wasn’t the problem. Instead, it was the preservatives and additives in many store-bought foods, especially bread, that didn’t sit well with me.

That realization led me down a path I never expected—learning to make my own sourdough starter from scratch. What I thought might be a simple process turned into one of the longest six weeks of my life. Waiting, feeding, troubleshooting, and hoping for signs of life in a jar on my counter required more patience than I ever imagined. But when my starter finally became active and ready to use, it felt like a small but meaningful victory.

From there, I dove headfirst into baking. My kitchen quickly became a space of experimentation, learning, and growth. The early days were filled with trial and error—dense loaves, over-proofed dough, underbaked centers—but each mistake taught me something valuable. I spent hours researching techniques, hydration levels, fermentation timing, and flour types, slowly building both my knowledge and my confidence.

Over time, sourdough became more than just a way to make bread. It became a creative outlet, a form of therapy, and a way to reconnect with simple, wholesome ingredients. There’s something incredibly rewarding about transforming flour, water, and salt into something nourishing and beautiful. It also gave me control over what I was putting into my body, which was a huge step forward in my health journey.

Today, sourdough is a part of my everyday life. What started as a solution to a problem has turned into a true passion. I love sharing what I’ve learned, helping others feel less intimidated by the process, and showing that it doesn’t have to be perfect to be meaningful. If you’re just starting out, know that I’ve been there—and every loaf, even the imperfect ones, is part of the journey.