Success StorySourdough Basics



Sourdough Basics

Author: Lora Davidson

Planning Unit: Laurel County CES

Major Program: Food Preparation and Preservation

Plan of Work: Developing Life Skills Among Youth and Families

Outcome: Initial Outcome

Our Sourdough Program has achieved remarkable success and outreach, specifically drawing in over 15,000 social media interactions and reaching attendees/contacts from local areas, statewide, and across multiple states. This program was designed to transform novices into proficient bakers and includes a series of meticulously crafted workshops. These cover everything from creating and maintaining a vibrant sourdough starter, mastering advanced kneading techniques and achieving the perfect crust, and the positive health effects that sourdough can provide for diabetics. Currently, roughly 11.6% of all Americans were living with diabetes in 2023. With that information, we focused this program on giving diabetics a wider variety of nutritional options that would benefit their diabetes journey. Per the National Library of Medicine, consumption of whole-grain and sourdough breads is associated with improved glucose homeostasis.

After attending this programming, over 85% of participants have reported baking consistently delicious and aesthetically pleasing loaves, with many surpassing the quality of commercially available breads. Additionally, 60% of participants have gone on to teach others, expanding the program's impact exponentially. This initiative has not only enhanced individual baking skills but has also deepened the community's appreciation for the art and science of sourdough baking.