Wild Baker

Sourdough enthusiasts seeking intensive, personalised instruction will find exactly what they're looking for at Wild Baker, run by Judith Starling from her home in Ewelme near Wallingford, Oxfordshire. With a childhood spent surrounded by German artisan bakeries, Starling brings years of home sourdough and pizza-making experience to her teaching in the foothills of the Chilterns.

The school specialises exclusively in sourdough, offering comprehensive workshops that cover every aspect of the craft. The three-hour sourdough baking workshop takes you through the complete process from starter creation to finished loaf. You'll master the fundamentals of making and maintaining sourdough starter, explore different kneading and shaping techniques, and learn a practical weekly bread production method that requires minimal preparation time. The session concludes with making and baking sourdough pizzas while your loaf cools, giving you experience with both bread and pizza dough handling.

The intimate setting allows for exceptional individual attention, with a maximum of three participants per workshop ensuring plenty of hands-on guidance. You leave remarkably well-equipped: your freshly baked loaf, a second loaf ready for home baking, sourdough starters to continue your practice, a proving basket, and a dough scraper. The workshops run from £130 and take place in Starling's home kitchen, creating an authentic domestic baking environment.

This focused approach suits dedicated learners who want to master sourdough thoroughly rather than sampling multiple baking styles, particularly those seeking the confidence to maintain a regular home baking routine.

Reviews

Location

St Mary's House, Parson's Ln, Wallingford OX10 6HP, Oxfordshire

A few things we think are worth having if you want to keep baking at home.

Equipment

Le Creuset Cast Iron Bread Oven

Traps steam inside the pot, giving sourdough the burst it needs in the oven. The closest you can get to a professional deck oven at home.

£150-250View on Amazon

Equipment

Banneton Proofing Basket Set

Essential for shaping sourdough. Gives your loaves that beautiful spiral pattern.

~£18View on Amazon

Book

Tartine Bread - Chad Robertson

The sourdough bible. Start here if you're serious about bread.

~£28View on Amazon

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