There’s something about baking bread that feels a little slower… a little more intentional.

For me, sourdough has never just been about flour and water. It’s about stewardship. It’s about feeding people you love. It’s about creating something simple and nourishing with your own two hands.

But I also know this:

Sourdough can feel intimidating at first.

If you’ve ever thought, “I want to try this… but where do I even start?” — you’re in the right place.

This guide is my way of walking you through it simply, without overcomplicating things. No pressure, no perfection—just a place to begin.

Let’s Start with the Heart of It All: Your Starter

I like to call mine Otis.

Your sourdough starter is a living culture—wild yeast and bacteria working together to help your bread rise. It might sound technical, but truly… it just needs a little warmth, regular feeding, and some patience.

A few simple things to remember:

• Keep your starter in a warm spot (around 70°F is perfect)
• Use filtered or chlorine-free water when possible
• Don’t stress about perfection—this process is forgiving

If your kitchen runs cool, placing your starter on top of the fridge is a great trick.

Activating Your Starter (The Simple Way)

If you’re starting from a dehydrated starter, it typically takes about 3 days to fully wake up.

Day One (Wet Feed)

• Mix a small amount of starter with water
• Let it sit 8–12 hours
• Add flour and let it rest again

You may not see much happening yet—and that’s okay.

Day Two (Dry Feed)

• Add more flour and water
• Let it ferment
• You should start seeing bubbles and growth

This is where things get exciting.

Day Three (Feed Again)

• Feed once more
• Watch for it to double or even triple in size

When your starter rises and then levels off, it’s ready to bake with.

A simple trick:
Mark the starting level on your jar with a rubber band so you can easily track growth.

Your First Bake: Keep It Simple

You don’t need complicated recipes to start.

In fact, I always recommend beginning with something forgiving and flexible—like focaccia or a basic artisan loaf.

Why?

Because it helps you learn how dough feels, how it behaves, and how fermentation works… without the pressure.

A Simple Focaccia to Build Confidence

Focaccia is one of the easiest (and most satisfying) ways to start baking with sourdough.

You’ll mix your ingredients, let it rest overnight, and bake it the next day.

That’s it.

Top it with:

• Olive oil
• Garlic
• Fresh herbs
• Tomatoes

Or whatever you have on hand.

It’s hard to mess up—and that’s exactly why it’s perfect.

Your Everyday Loaf (Beginner-Friendly)

Once you’re ready, you can move into a simple daily loaf.

This is where you’ll start to learn:

• Stretch and folds
• Bulk fermentation
• Shaping your dough
• Baking with steam

It might feel like a lot at first—but truly, it becomes second nature faster than you think.

Give yourself a few loaves to learn. Each one gets better.

A Few Tools That Make It Easier

You don’t need a fancy setup, but a few simple tools can make the process smoother:

• Kitchen scale
• Mixing bowls
• Dough scraper
• Dutch oven or roasting pan
• Parchment paper

If you want to see exactly what I use in my own kitchen, you can browse them here:
→ Shop sourdough tools & kitchen favorites

If You’re Feeling Overwhelmed…

You’re not alone.

Most people don’t struggle because sourdough is “too hard”—they struggle because they’re trying to learn everything all at once.

So here’s my encouragement:

Start small.
Bake often.
Don’t aim for perfect.

Just aim to learn.

Want Me to Walk You Through It Step-by-Step?

If you’re the kind of person who learns best by seeing it done and having someone guide you through each stage, I created something for you.

→ The Art of Sourdough Baking Course

Inside, I walk you through:

• Starter care
• Dough development
• Troubleshooting
• Confident baking from start to finish

It’s everything I wish I had when I first started.

Grab the Free Guide (So You Can Save It)

If you want this whole process laid out simply—with recipes, steps, and visuals you can come back to anytime:

→ Download the Daily Loaf Free Guide

One Last Thing

Don’t overthink this.

Your first loaf doesn’t need to be beautiful—it just needs to be yours.

And once you pull that first loaf out of the oven… you’ll understand why so many of us fall in love with it.

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If you bake something, I’d love to see it. Tag us and share your loaves—there’s nothing better than cheering each other on.

Welcome to sourdough!