How sourdough changed my life

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Day 2 of 30

Okay, that might sound dramatic—but it really did feel that way!

As an adult, I’ve struggled to find hobbies I actually stick with. There are plenty of things that interest me, but when it comes time to actually do them, there always seems to be a reason not to.

In April 2024, my youngest was born. Just shy of him turning two months old, several wildfires broke out around our mountain village. These fires blocked all but one exit route and quickly began approaching, ultimately forcing a full-town evacuation.

Thankfully, I was home that day with both of my boys. I could see the fire from a hill near our home, where a county worker happened to be standing and watching the fire as well. I asked him what he recommended—after all, I had two small children, and my sister, who lives in the village, has a young daughter too.

His advice: Get out now.

We went home, packed quickly, and managed to leave town just before the official evacuation notice was issued. That head start helped us avoid the gridlock that came when the only road out filled with cars. We were able to get out safely, and our babies weren’t stuck in the car longer than necessary. I still thank God for that county worker.

We were evacuated for a week. Not long after returning home, our village began facing catastrophic floods—devastating storms that have taken homes and lives without mercy.

Sad but what does this have to do with sourdough?

I’m getting there, I promise.

After the fires and floods of summer 2024, both my husband and I found ourselves out of work. Stress hit hard. I needed a way to keep myself grounded—to not spiral.

Enter: sourdough.

I’d always known sourdough had its benefits, but it seemed complicated. Then one day, I stumbled across a video of someone saying, “Stop making sourdough so complicated.” It felt like they were speaking directly to me. It was fate. I realized quickly all you really need is a good scale (I like that this one is rechargeable), a bench scraper, and a Dutch oven ( this one is enamel coated which helps things not stick to the pot but it doesn’t have toxic non stick coating. Win- win!) and you are on your way to debating what you should name your bakery.

The next day, I started my sourdough starter—and I haven’t looked back.

Not only is the bread delicious, but I’ve also started incorporating the discard (which is full of gut-friendly benefits) into our meals. Tonight, I made meatballs using sourdough discard instead of breadcrumbs and oh my gosh—so good.

Did you know there are thousands of sourdough recipes? You can adapt almost any flour involved recipe to include it—tortillas, English muffins, even Oreos. The possibilities are endless.

Sourdough didn’t just help me feed my family better—it inspired me to rethink what we eat. I began paying attention to ingredients and started making so many things from scratch. The best part? My family has started healing their gut health… without even realizing it.

Sourdough has played two parts in a wellness journey for me. It had me reading ingredients, making things from scratch just because finding ways to use my discard was so fun, and it started a forever hobby for me. Our mental health is an extremely important part of our wellness journey that shouldn’t be left behind.

Now I’m not saying we all need sourdough starters growing on our kitchen counter… or am I? But I am saying finding a hobby and knowing what you’re putting into your body are both extremely important parts of a wellness journey and sourdough is a lovely place to start!

As always it is extremely important to do your own research, that’s why you’re here right?Thanks for spending some time with me today. Keep making choices that nourish your body and soul—one small step at a time.

I’m glad you’re here,

Ashlee