Bread Making Workshop

These workshops teach you to make bread using a natural wild yeast (sourdough) starter. In this hands on class you will learn the proper technique for hand mixing dough, care and feeding of sourdough starters, rising, proofing in loaf pans and bratforms, and baking. We will also discuss the unique flavor of sourdough and how to enhance it or mellow it out to suit your needs.

Why learn to make bread? There are as many reasons for making your own bread as there are bakers. Not the least of which might be the savings, and in our present economic times, people are more and more aware of doing whatever they can to stretch their dollars. The nutritional quality of homemade bread is superior to what you purchase at the store, and when you bake your own bread you have complete control of the ingredients in your bread. Chances are that if you are baking your own bread at home, you will be able to pronounce the names of all of the ingredients in your bread. The flavor and aroma of a loaf of home baked bread, fresh from the oven, is second to none, and the only limit on the choice of flavors is your own imagination. I believe that one of the most important reasons to make bread is self sufficency. Not having to depend on anyone else, or run to the store to purchase a loaf of bread, is very liberating indeed.

Why use a natural wild yeast? For me, learning about commercial yeast was enough to convince me that I did not want to consume it. The wild yeast is in tune to the natural rhythm of life-slow and unhurried, it is flexible and forgiving. I found baking with commercial bakers yeast to be a frantic and hurried ordeal with critical timing that created even more stress.
  • Workshops are offered once a month, October through February.
  • Dates available: October 16th, November 20th, December 18th, January 15th, February 19th.
  • Workshops are one day classes held on Saturdays.
  • Start time is 10:00.
  • Lunch will be served. (See below for menu.)
  • Minimum of three participants required to hold a workshop.
  • Cost is $90.00. A non-refundable deposit of $20.00 is required to hold your spot when you register.
  • If you are interested in attending a workshop, please contact us. Send an email to register for a class.

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION
IS COVERED IN THE WORKSHOP:

  • Care and feeding of starter.
  • Choosing ingredients.
  • Working with freshly ground flour.
  • Mixing the ingredients.
  • Adjusting "recipes" to meet your unique needs and desires.
  • Hands on: Step By Step bread making.
    • 100% Whole Wheat Bread
    • 100% Whole Grain Rye

  • Workshop Schedule-all times are estimates
    • 10:00 Introduction
    • 10:15 Shaping loaves for second rise
    • 10:30 Starter
    • 11:00 Mixing ingredients for first rise
    • 11:30 Question & Answer session
    • 12:00 Lunch
    • 12:30 Baking of bread
    • 1:00 Conslusion
    • 1:30 Adjourn
    • Anyone interested may stay to tour the farm before they leave

THE LUNCH MENU

SOUP & SALAD BEVERAGES
  • Herbal teas from the herb garden-hot or cold
  • Pure water from our well (no chemicals from the water treatment plant!)
DESSERT

PARTICIPANTS WILL TAKE HOME THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:

  • a jar of starter
  • one small loaf of 100% whole wheat bread
  • one quarter round of rye bread

THE FOLLOWING BOOKS ARE SUGGESTED FOR WILD YEAST BREAD MAKING: