Introduction to the Workshop: After Your initial consultation should we feel that you want to learn to bake then we invite you to join a small group in person workshop for an immersive, hands-on workshop at The Sourdough School, led by Vanessa Kimbell. This workshop follows your initial and first consultations, where Vanessa gains an understanding of your unique needs. Here, you’ll be part of a small, carefully selected group of individuals who share similar requirements, fostering a collaborative and personalised learning environment.
Workshop Highlights:
- Personalised Learning and Collaboration:
- Group sessions with individuals sharing similar requirements.
- Emphasis on a personalised approach within a collaborative setting.
- Interactive Bread-Making Process:
- Participate in discussions, demonstrations, and hands-on activities.
- Experience the full process of bread-making – from mixing sourdough starters to baking.
- Engage in tactile learning through smelling, touching, and feeling the ingredients.
- Creating Unique Recipes:
- Development of bespoke bread recipes tailored to the group’s needs.
- Opportunity to photograph and video the recipe-making process.
- Recipes shared online for communal learning and contribution.
- Privacy or Sharing:
- Option to share your journey with the community or remain private and anonymous.
- Your unique creations contribute to the collective knowledge of the community.
- Diverse Baking Techniques:
- Exploration of different bread versions – fast and slow, catering to specific needs.
- Experimentation with various sourdough starters and fermentation processes.
- Adaptation of techniques to suit specific health conditions or preferences.
- Immersive and Sensory Experience:
- A full day of engagement, including lunch and discussions about routines.
- A sensory journey through the art of sourdough bread making.
Workshop Logistics:
- Duration: The course runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. o Thursday and 10am – 5pm on Friday.
- Pre-Workshop Information: on booking participants will receive detailed information on accommodation suggestions, transport recommendations, and workshop location in Northamptonshire.
- Bespoke Focus: Each workshop is a unique, bespoke experience, tailored to the specific needs and conditions of the participants.
The Experience at The Sourdough School: Embark on a journey where the art of bread-making meets individual wellness. This workshop is more than just learning to bake bread; it’s about understanding how bread can be a part of your health journey, tailored to your unique requirements. With Vanessa’s expert guidance, explore different fermentation methods, sourdough starters, and baking techniques, all within a supportive, small group setting. Your participation and contribution to this workshop not only enhance your own skills but also enrich our community’s collective knowledge
What will I learn on a workshop?
Workshops are development days - bridge the gap between theory and practice.
This is about the BALM Experience: A Sensory Connection Workshop
Welcome to a unique exploration at BALM Training Academy. Having delved into the principles of Baking As Lifestyle Medicine (BALM) through a year of online learning, the workshops are an opportunity to connect on a deeper, more sensory level. Our connection workshop days are designed to bring you closer to the heart of BALM.
A Sensory Journey into BALM: This is not just a continuation of your online studies; this is an invitation to see, touch, taste, smell, and eat BALM. Engage with the workshop style that involves baking, creating, developing, discussing, photographing, and applying principles to recipes that are usually published. Get up close to how we produce course material, participate in the process, and become integral to the BALM experience.
Here's What Awaits You:
- Understanding Your Ingredients: I love that you get to feel the texture of the flour, inhale the smells of the dough as it ferments and the bread as it bakes, and create blends that awaken your senses.
- Mastering Sourdough: Handle wholegrain starters, control flavours, and savour the lunches and the baked sourdough.
- The Art and Science of Bread: This is about observing variables affecting fermentation, experimenting with hydration, and appreciating nuances in creating something from scratch and of craftsmanship in shaping and scoring.
- Holistic Health Approach: Explore the connection between bread and gut health through flavours, textures, and the beneficial effects on the body.
By immersing yourself in the workshop, you'll bridge the gap between theory and practice, between learning and living BALM. You'll leave not only with new skills and knowledge but with a profound connection to the art and science of baking as lifestyle medicine.
What is included in a Workshop?
Included in the Sourdough School Workshop and Online Certificate:
- Scheduled Activities: All activities in the teaching timetable, including swimming, yoga, sound baths, and guest tutor sessions.
- Meals and Refreshments: This includes tastings, lunch, unlimited tea, coffee, and breads to take home.
- Course Materials: Ingredients needed for the course, a portion of Sourdough School starter to take home, pre-course materials, worksheets, and access to relevant recipes.
- Additional Takeaways: Items created during the course, like pickles, soups, and sometimes butter, subject to availability.
- Certificates: Awarded upon appropriate completion of the course.
- On-Site Meals and Snacks: Food and snacks provided throughout the day.
- Scheduled Excursions: Travel to destinations such as flour mills or farm shops on retreats.
Students are Responsible for:
- Travel and Accommodation: Responsibility of the students.
- Travel Insurance: Essential for covering short notice cancellation of course fees.
- Evening Meals: Not included unless scheduled as part of the course.
- Travel Coordination Among Students: The school does not facilitate this due to health and safety reasons.
- External Expenses: Any expenses outside the school, such as travel and accommodation, are the student’s responsibility.
What do I need to bring with me to a workshop?
A handy checklist of things you need to bring with you.
The most important thing that you need to bring with you is an open mind and compassion. We are not a traditional cookery school. Vanessa will ask that you dig deep into what bread means to you, and why this matters. After that, each course has its own life.
Suggestions
WHAT TO BRING WITH YOU TO A WORKSHOP OR RETREAT
The most important things to bring are an open mind and compassion. The Sourdough School is not a traditional cookery school. Vanessa will invite you to reflect on what bread means to you — and why that matters. Everything else is practical.
Each course has its own rhythm, but here’s a general guide to help you prepare.
ONE-DAY WORKSHOP
These are shorter, focused days — usually introductory or themed sessions.
Please bring:
- One apron (neutral colours if possible — please avoid bright colours or red)
- A lidded container or jar to take your starter home
- A pot or bowl for your starter
- Any of Vanessa’s books you’d like signed
Everything else is provided, and you’ll go home with your bakes, inspiration, and a pot of starter to continue at home.
THREE-DAY WORKSHOP
These are immersive and hands-on, with multiple bakes and fermentations.
Please bring:
- Two aprons (ideally in muted, neutral colours — we avoid bright colours or red to support sensory balance)
- Indoor shoes
- Three clean, odourless containers with lids (for jam, cultured butter, pickles, etc.)
- A small clean bottle (an empty water bottle is perfect for taking syrups home)
- Any of Vanessa’s books you’d like signed
We will give you a bag on the final day to take your bakes and materials home. International students, do allow luggage space to carry items back with you.
RETREAT (IMMERSIVE WEEK)
These are deeper, holistic experiences combining baking with walks, cycles, and self-reflection.
Please bring:
- Everything listed above under the Three-Day Workshop PLUS
- Swimming costume
- Flask for hot tea
- Outdoor walking shoes or trainers
- Weather-appropriate clothing (it can be chilly or muddy depending on the season)
- A torch – essential in winter months as the village gets very dark and there are no floodlights
- A lunch box or container – often there are extras of soup, salad, or bread you may want to take home for supper
- Bright jacket if you’re cycling – roads are rural and unlit
If you are sharing a lift, please coordinate with others via WhatsApp. The School cannot accept responsibility for transport arrangements.
Final reminders
Please do not arrive early unless you’ve pre-arranged to meet Vanessa for a walk.
Make sure you book a taxi home in advance — the day ends at 6.20pm.
And of course, if you're travelling from abroad, don’t forget your passport.
We have spares of most things.
Question: How many students will attend a course?
My preferred number of attendees for workshops and retreats ranges between 4 and 6. This count strikes a balance between fostering a vibrant and engaging environment and ensuring personalized attention for each participant.
For one-day events, which are typically more academic, we can host up to 12 individuals. Please note that these sessions primarily involve demonstrations and discussions as opposed to hands-on baking due to the larger group size.
For larger events, we can accommodate up to 18, such as the Tuscan baking week.
In the case of a course appearing fully booked on our website, there may be circumstances under which we can accommodate an additional student. Should this be your situation, please reach out directly to Libiana@sourdough.co.uk. She will then determine if offering you a place on the course is feasible.
What Is The Difference Between A Workshop & A Retreat?
Monthly fees
ONLY when you enroll in The Dipoma you will pay a monthly fee provides a comprehensive package, but it's important to note that access to certain features, including our extensive libraries, is ONLY granted to Diploma Level students and only after completing the registration process and and consultation. Here's a detailed overview:
- Registration Consultation: Before gaining access to the full range of resources, you must complete the registration and go through a consultation process. This step ensures that all our students are well-suited for the programme and can fully benefit from what we offer.
- Access to Extensive Libraries (Post-Interview): After completing the registration and interview, you will gain access to our extensive libraries. These libraries have tutorials, in-depth studies, and various materials to enhance your sourdough baking skills.
- Dedicated Support Services: The monthly fee includes access to dedicated support services, ensuring that you receive the necessary assistance and guidance throughout your learning journey.
- Participation in Live Sessions: Your fee also covers participation in our live sessions. These sessions are crucial for real-time learning, allowing you to engage directly with instructors and fellow students.
- Continuous Learning Opportunities: Beyond the core syllabus, your fee provides ongoing access to a wide range of tutorials and resources, enabling you to learn at your own pace and deepen your understanding of sourdough baking.
- Forum Access: As part of the programme, you will have access to our community forum. This platform is a great way to connect with peers, share experiences, and gain insights from the sourdough baking community.
- Personal Guidance from Dr Vanessa Kimbell: The fee includes the opportunity to receive personalised guidance from Vanessa Kimbell. Her expertise and insights are invaluable to the programme and will aid greatly in your sourdough baking journey.
Please remember, your full engagement with the course materials and resources begins after the completion of the registration and interview process. We're here to support you every step of the way and look forward to welcoming you to our community. If you have any further questions, do not hesitate to reach out to our support team.
Please note that while full access to the course syllabus is granted in the third week of September, your learning can begin immediately upon registration and enrolment through the use of our libraries and participation in live sessions.
We believe this structure provides a balanced and thorough approach to learning, enabling you to make the most of your educational experience with The Sourdough School. If you have any questions or require further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact our support team.
We look forward to supporting you on your sourdough baking journey
