Hi, I’m Emma! My sourdough journey started with a dense, gummy brick that could’ve been a doorstop. That was 2018. Since then I’ve baked over a thousand loaves, killed (and revived) more starters than I can count, and learned that 90% of sourdough rules are just someone’s preference dressed up as law. I bake 4-5 loaves a week from my home kitchen in Portland, Oregon, and I’ve taught over 300 beginners through local workshops. Everything on this site has been tested at least three times in my own kitchen. My approach: show, don’t just tell — every guide describes what your starter should look, smell, and feel like. No wasted ingredients — discard recipes get as much attention as the starter itself. Honest about failure — I write about what went wrong and why.