Sourdough in the Smokies
Retreat
April 8th - April 12th, 2027| with Jonathan Stevens of Hungry Ghost Bread in partnership with Sourhouse
Are you ready to go deeper into the art of bread — from your modern sourdough loaf all the way back to the hearth?
This retreat is for both experienced and novice bakers, and welcomes back anyone who joined us in 2026 with an all-new focus. Join us at Firecreek Retreat for a nourishing weekend of baking, nature, and renewal, guided by baker and former owner of Hungry Ghost Bread, Jonathan Stevens, in partnership with Sourhouse.
Learn the art and rhythm of bread making, from starter to loaf, while also savoring the grounding beauty of the Blue Ridge. Between bakes, enjoy hikes through the surrounding trails, invigorating hydrotherapy, fireside chats and storytelling, and time to rest and sink into the land here at Firecreek. This time, we're turning back the clock: alongside our bolted wheat bread, white herbed bread, scones, and fougasse, we'll be exploring colonial bread making — hearth-baked loaves, heritage grains, and the early American techniques that shaped how this country first learned to bake.
Jonathan Stevens is a renowned baker in Northampton, MA, specializing in old-world artisan breads, made from organically grown grains, and leavened with sourdough. Sourhouse inspires people to bake more sourdough bread by creating thoughtfully designed baking tools and inviting people to bake more often.
A retreat for both body and spirit — come hungry for knowledge, connection, and a taste of how bread has always brought people together.
Thursday, April 8th
2PM - 4PM - ARRIVALS4:30PM - WELCOME CIRCLE & INTRO TO BAKING6:30PM - WELCOME DINNERFriday, April 9th
7am - Coffee/Tea/BREAKFAST8AM - FOREST WALKS9AM - BREAD BAKING WORKSHOP12PM - LUNCH2PM - BACK TO THE BREAD4PM - FREE TIME/HYDROTHERAPY6:30PM - GROUP DINNER7:30PM - FIRESIDE CHAT/POETRY/GUITARSaturday, April 10th
7am - Coffee/Tea/BREAKFAST7:30AM - FREE TIME/SAUNA/COLD-PLUNGE9AM - BREAD BAKING WORKSHOP12PM - LUNCH2PM - BACK TO THE BREAD4PM - FREE TIME/HYDROTHERAPY6:30PM - GROUP DINNER7:30PM - FIRESIDE CHAT/POETRY/GUITARSunday, April 11th
7am - Coffee/Tea/BREAKFAST8AM - FOREST WALKS9AM - COLONIAL BREAD MAKING WORKSHOP12PM - LUNCH2PM - BACK TO THE BREAD4PM - FREE TIME/HYDROTHERAPY6:30PM - GROUP DINNER7:30PM - FIRESIDE CHAT/POETRY/GUITARMonday, April 12th
7am - Coffee/Tea/BREAKFAST9AM - CLOSING CIRCLE & BAKING REFLECTION10:10AM - COFFEE AND MUFFINS AT CHERRY BLOSSOM12:15PM - DEPARTURESApril 8th - April 12th, 2027
Sourdough in the
Smokies
In these mountains, bread has always taken patience. Before store-bought yeast reached the hollers, families made their own starters from potatoes and cornmeal and kept them alive by the fire, saving a little from every batch for the next. During this retreat, you'll do the same: mix, feed, shape, and bake your own sourdough, and leave with a starter of your own to keep going at home.
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