Collecting a sourdough sample: a visit to the Sourdough School

Sourdough Story

Every sourdough in the Sourdough Library has a story—and every story begins with a journey. When a sourdough is selected to join the collection, it’s not just added digitally. It has to be physically collected, carefully transported, and preserved. That’s exactly what happened with sourdough #91, created by Vanessa Kimbell at the Sourdough School in the UK.

It all starts with a simple step: registering your sourdough on the Quest for Sourdough website. Once your starter is registered, it becomes part of our global online collection. You can explore other bakers’ starters, see how active they are, what breads they’re baking, and even get inspired by their techniques and stories. Just tap on the dots on the world map and dive into the details.

Vanessa’s starter stood out—not just for its activity and flavor, but for the philosophy behind it. Her work at the Sourdough School focuses on the connection between bread, health, and community. It was clear that this starter belonged in the library.

So I packed up my collecting box, jumped in the car, and headed to the UK to bring it back to Saint Vith. You can follow the full journey in this short film:

Bringing a sourdough into the library is more than just a technical process—it’s about preserving a piece of baking heritage. Each starter carries the signature of its environment, its baker, and its story. And we’re proud to give those stories a home.