In April 2020, a week after Lockdown began, we decided to set up an ‘order and collect’ front garden bread shop for neighbours, friends, and NHS staff, in the days when people were literally keeping to their homes and not going to the shops if possible. The group was run on WhatsApp, and a weekly percentage of takings donated to the local Food Bank, with many people donating extra.

The bakery proved a great boon for us all, giving us a weekly diary date in a period of endless repetitive days, a chance for a random chat, and some fresh local food. I've made pushing 3000 loaves for the group in the 18 months so far. 

In April 2020 I did a workshop for a new WhatsApp group (Little Eye Live Bake) on Zoom, where I gave out sourdough starter and flour to people taking part, and we made an overnight sourdough. In June I did a second run, but this time with people making their own starter and then using it to make and bake sourdoughs. This was a great success, with ongoing questions, answers, tips and photos on the Live Bake group. Some of the people in the photo below (about half the group) have made their own bread ever since.

 10 Years of Little Eye Sourdough Bakery

The Stats

In 10 Years of baking at home, for shops, markets and neighbourhood customers, I have made over 22,000 loaves, and we have taught over 450 people to make 4 types of sourdough bread.

We are currently making about loaves for about 40 local people to collect.

The Bread

We are still making around 14 different breads regularly.

Our regular light sourdough

Our regular wholewheat

 and some

chelsea buns

Our classes are starting up again in April, and if you are interested in early summer dates let us know on info@littleeye.org.uk - more info on the Bread Classes page of this site.