help me archive our
Sourdough World
After being home alone, watching Groundhog Day, for 6 weeks in the COVID lockdown, I decided that a passion project was required!
I learned to love baking when I was a young lad in 1977, 13 years old, and dreaming of being brave enough to be a punk. The baker’s strike in London happened and I became the family baker. I was hooked.
Sourdough is different the world over. Flavours, acidity, smell and behaviour… all different.
Help me archive and share the diversity of our sourdough.world.
you can help
Send me some dried sourdough…
If you have a sample of sourdough starter from your country, or if you have an interesting variant of your local sourdough culture, then please send me a sample.
If not, you can still help me by forwarding my request to others!
Thank you so much!
World Map
Step 1
Dehydrate sourdough starter
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Spread out. Click to enlarge
Not dry enough! Click to enlarge
Dry & crispy. Click to enlarge
It is really easy!
Dehydrating your sourdough starter is really easy.
There are lots of videos out there about how to do this but, in reality, it is ridiculously simple to do.
a. make sure your starter is happy!
Feed your starter, sing it a song and make sure that it is ready for the long, crispy, journey ahead! It sould be bubbly and have a thick, smooth texture.
B. spread your starter
Using a baking tray, lined with either a silicon mat or baking paper (parchment), spread out a layer of your starter. It should be about 3 – 5mm thick and relatively evenly spread. A full baking sheet should require about 3 – 5 tablespoons of starter.
c. dry your starter
Leave it in a warm (not hot), well ventilated place to dry out. The time this takes will depend on the climate in your location. If you have a dehydrating machine you can use this instead. Please make sure that the starter is completely dry before going on to the next step. It should be crispy and brittle; not at all bendy! This is really important.
Step 2
Packaging your dehydrated starter
Strong ziplock bags are best!
Again, crazy easy!
a. pack your bag
Just take a small but strong, ziplock bag and fill the dry starter into the bag. Feel free to crush it down as it doesn’t matter if it is in pieces or powder. Do not damage the plastic.
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Place a label inside the bag with the sourdough so that if the envelope gets damaged in transit the content is still labeled.
Finished pack. Click to enlarge
If you live in a humid climate, or if you just happen to have one around, please drop one of those little dehydrating bags that are often found in dried asian food packaging. This will help keep everything in good condition. This is not essential.
d. seal it tight!
Close the bag, pushing as much air out of it as possible. To make it super secure put some clear tape over the join. Please make sure the label is visible so that if the package is customs checked they will know what is inside the package!
Then just put it in the mail…
To make it easier (and in some cases, cheaper) I have 2 postal addresses that you can send to, one in North America and the other in Europe. Obviously, a postal delivery service like DHL or UPS are generally the most reliable ways to send packages. However, the good old postal service is just fine as well!
Tell me a bit about you (optional!)
I’d love to know a bit about you, how you heard about sourdough.world and where you come from. If you include your name and an email address then I will write to you to let you know that I have received your gift! Alternatively, you can email me to let me know that you have sent me a present!
Depending on the size of the envelope used and your location, the package will either be considered a ‘Letter’ or a ‘Small Package’. Please write your address on the envelope (sender) as well as mine.
Some countries may require a ‘customs declaration’. If so please declare it as:
- A present
- Zero value
- Sourdough starter (foodstuff)
sending to/within europe
Please just click the button & send a very short mail. I will send you the address, ASAP.
Please just click the button & send a very short mail. I will send you the address, straight away..
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Step 3
Thank you
Visit & Enjoy!
I can’t offer you any money in return for your gift but will thank you publicly, here, on the website.
About me
A quick introduction!
Born & Raised
My name is Neil & I grew up in Ickenham, ‘not quite’ London, with my Mum, Grandma, Sister and two female cats. Good cooks! Secondary school at Latymer in Hammersmith, struggling with being different.
IB Schools rule!
IB Educator for 30 years. Working in Japan, Germany, Belgium, Austria (x2), KSA and Oman. Spent 9 years building an amazing school in Sohar. The best way to raise my kids!
Passionate about positive change!
The next part of the journey will be defined my other passion… making a difference to the lives of as many children & young people as possible!
Join me & support the changeyour.school initiative!
