The Sourdough School

BALM – Proven as one of the healthiest approaches to bread in the world.

Based in the walled gardens of Dr. Vanessa Kimbell's beautiful Victorian home in rural Northamptonshire, UK, we tutor individuals and train bakers and healthcare professionals in Baking as Lifestyle Medicine (BALM). Personalising bread to your lifestyle, gut microbiome, and unique genetics for optimal health—tailoring fermentation, fibre, and diversity so that your daily bread becomes the foundation of your health.

+44(0)7813308301
[email protected]
Follow on Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Student Login

Schedule a Call to Learn More

Navigation
  • Home
    • About The Sourdough School
    • Contact Us & FAQ
    • Request a Callback
    • Practical Information
    • The Team
    • A Social Enterprise
    • General FAQ’s about The School
    • Contributors & Guest Tutors
    • What Our Students Say
    • Login
  • Courses
    • Priority Access: Join the Waiting List
    • Workshops
    • Bake For Health Retreat
    • Tuscan Retreat
    • Diploma
  • Assessments
    • Bread & Health Assessment
    • Gut Health Assessment
    • Nutrigenomic Assessment
  • Our Approach
    • Baking as Lifestyle Medicine (BALM)
    • 12 Week Student Support Pack
    • Bread as Preventative Health
    • Personalising Bread Using Nutrigenetics
    • Training Bakers & Healthcare Professionals
    • Diversity Bread™
    • Prove it – The Case Studies
    • BALM & Bread in The Blue Zone
    • Proven: Bread Podcast
  • Admissions
    • Request a callback
    • Location, Opening Hours & Course Days & Times
    • Reviews
  • Shop
    • Our Flour and Ingredients
    • Our Books
    • Equipment
    • Flours From Farmers Directory
    • Add Farmer to the Directory

About The Sourdough School

Our most popular Courses

3 Day In Person Sourdough Workshop 2026 + Bread & Health Assessment

3 Day In Person Sourdough Workshop 2026 + Bread & Health Assessment

£999.00

1:1 Nutrigenetics Personalised Bread Workshop

1:1 Nutrigenetics Personalised Bread Workshop

£2,499.00

Our Most Tailored Course
Join Waiting List

6 Day Bake For Health Retreat

6 Day Bake For Health Retreat

£1,999.00

Our Most in Depth Hands on Course, Summer 2025
Awaiting Release

Nutrition & Digestibility of Bread Consultations

Nutrition & Digestibility of Bread: Initial Health Consultation

Nutrition & Digestibility of Bread: Initial Health Consultation

Gut Health Assessment: Test & Consultation

Gut Health Assessment: Test & Consultation

Nutrigenomic Bread: Assessment & Consultation & 12 week Support Pack

Nutrigenomic Bread: Assessment & Consultation & 12 week Support Pack

School News & Features

  • BALM Protocol: A Proactive Approach to Bowel Cancer Prevention for Your Patients

    BALM Protocol: A Proactive Approach to Bowel Cancer Prevention for Your Patients

  • A week in Tuscany FAQ's

    A week in Tuscany FAQ's

  • How the BALM Protocol Mirrors Blue Zones' Longevity Secrets

    How the BALM Protocol Mirrors Blue Zones' Longevity Secrets

  • Our Graduates open an Artisan  Bakery at Bethlam Royal Hospital: BALM - pioneering Nutritional Psychiatry with Pizza in the NHS

    Our Graduates open an Artisan Bakery at Bethlam Royal Hospital: BALM - pioneering Nutritional Psychiatry with Pizza in the NHS

  • Insanity is throwing away the most healthful part of the flour and pushing our planet towards catastrophic climate change.

    Insanity is throwing away the most healthful part of the flour and pushing our planet towards catastrophic climate change.

Reviews

Mohammed Alharbi
Dec 9, 2024
 by Mohammed Alharbi on The Sourdough School
brain development and information feeding

The idea is it’s not only baking; it’s nutrition lifestyle, the way Vanessa teaches; I can call it ( brain development and information feeding ). You’ll get out of the school with a lot of knowledge that can change your life,
I’ve been baking for almost three years, and I’m doing okay. But one week at the school, I learned a lot about grains, how to grind my flour, and how to add any flavour I want to my flour.
Thank you, Vanessa, for the inspiration and for making the baking easy.

See more reviews here.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Email Sign Up

BANT Member
Lifecode GX

Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy
Copyright © 2025 Vanessa Kimbell
Call +44 (0)7813308301 | Email [email protected]
Registered in England & Wales: 08412236
Website by Callia Web