PEOPLE

Sourdough Bringing Sweetness to Life

by Emily Tilly • photos courtesy Brooke Van Peski

From developing dough to developing new friends, Brooke Van Peski's journey has just begun. While overcoming the challenges of baking the perfect loaf of sourdough bread, she has also begun to overcome challenges in mental health.

Brooke learned a bit about sourdough baking from her father and brother, but last November she found a new passion for it and it has become her true hobby. She admits she had a few trial-and-error bakes at the start but Artisan Sourdough Made Simple (Raffa, 2017) helped her clear a few hurdles. “I started using the recipes right away and my bread started really improving," Brooke says. "I then joined two Facebook groups for beginner sourdough bakers and have been asking questions ever since."

As she learned more about the process, Brooke's loaves improved with every new batch. “Baking sourdough every day has a certain rhythm to it. There are several daylong steps so when I bake every day the work overlaps.” She is also careful to keep notes for each loaf to track recipes, humidity percentage and temperature inside and out, and who the bread is promised to. "I always ask recipients to send me pictures of the inside and include those in my logs. I also try to get detailed feedback on taste and texture with every new variety." Brooke says while it felt good to bake bread every day she soon had to find ways to give it away. Luckily, the Buy Nothing Group on Facebook (story on p. 10) was a hungry audience and in January she gave away her first of nearly 250 loaves.

The Unexpected Bonus

Brooke says many are curious to know how baking bread helps improve mental health and, to her, the two go hand-in-hand. Although she suffers from debilitating bipolar one, depression, and anxiety disorders, she says, “As I began to bake and share my bread, I felt more relaxed and began to crave socialization. I attributed this improvement to my

new hobby. It offers structure, a rhythm, and a routine, which have all proven to be very healing.” She is pleased she is now able to attend family weddings and other events, which, prior to January, would have been impossible. “The Buy Nothing Group has been absolutely wonderful and a godsend. “I'm not a big bread eater, so I don't really taste the bread I make. I have a never-ending supply of peoBut, the pepper cheddar sour dough infuses my home with the best smell.” ple I can make bread for, which is the biggest blessing I could ever ask.”

“I know people are enjoying my bread, but it's really me that is benefiting.”

How it Works

Brooke posts details on the Buy Nothing Group when she begins the Day 1 process and is preparing two loaves for gifting on Day 2. She chooses two people to receive the loaves and confirms their pickup between 12-7:30pm. Recipients receive a come-n-get-it message when the bread is ready for pickup at her home and it is rare that a loaf is not picked up on the first match.

Watch for posts by Brooke for opportunities to get some of her delicious bread.