God is Found in His Bounty
“The earth is the Lord’s and all it contains.” (Psalm 24:1)
In a world increasingly disconnected from the rhythms of nature, there is a growing need for families — especially children — to rediscover the beauty and dignity of agrarian life. To know where our food comes from is not merely a practical lesson; it is to invite a spiritual awareness of encountering God through His creation and to participate more fully in Him by coming to know Him in His Bounty.
By returning — even in small ways — to agrarian practices, modern families can reclaim these principles. A backyard garden, a few fruit trees, or even herbs on a windowsill can become a starting point for a richer, more intentional life.
Why Sourdough?
Someone gave us a sourdough starter that has been tended to and kept alive for over 100 years. We had never even baked bread, but this gift started a journey to, first, learn how to keep this gift of a starter alive and, second, how to use it to make bread. And, as it turned out, this was also a spiritual journey - God is found in His Creation and, in this case, His grain and water and wild yeast.
Sourdough bread is leavened - made to rise - by a starter; and that starter can be created from scratch by mixing simple flour and water, and leaving it uncovered on a countertop. Yeast spores in the air then land in the flour and water mixture and God's Creation comes to life, as flour and water then rise to active life.
In the Gospel of Matthew (13:33), Jesus compares the Kingdom of Heaven to leaven hidden in dough, which slowly transforms the whole batch. Sourdough starter offers a beautiful, tangible image of this mystery.
A starter begins small and unseen, yet it is alive. Once mixed into the dough, it quietly works from within, gradually leavening everything. In the same way, God’s grace enters the soul invisibly—especially through the Sacraments—and begins a real, interior transformation.
This change in one's heart is: Hidden — like leaven, grace often works beneath the surface; Patient — spiritual growth unfolds over time; and it is Total — grace is meant to transform every part of our lives.
Just as a sourdough starter must be fed and cared for, the life of grace is nourished by prayer, the Eucharist, and faithful living. When tended well, it does not remain small—it grows and permeates the whole person.
Like leaven in the dough, God’s grace—though quiet and unseen—gradually transforms us from within, until our whole life is raised and renewed in Christ.
This simple act of baking, of tending a sourdough starter, is a teaching moment on the Farms.
Children and families are reminded, in the simple act of cooperating with God's Creation, of the living presence of God at work within us, drawing us patiently toward holiness.
These lessons - of farming, of food, of faith - are at the very core of the
Mission of Farms of the Good Shepherd.
Bakery of the Good Shepherd
A Micro-Bakery offering seasonal sourdough bread & other baked goods to help
support the non-profit works of the Farms of the Good Shepherd
"I crave your sourdough, and I love supporting your mission at the same time! "
Antonia, McLeansville
"Your sourdough is the best!"
Liesel, Atlanta
★★★★★ - 5 Stars
"The sourdough bread was absolutely wonderful. It had a perfectly baked crust, a soft and flavorful interior. I can tell a lot of care went into making it. A delicious, well-crafted loaf that is truly a treat! "
Debbie A., Summerfield
★★★★★ - 5 Stars
★★★★★ - 5 Stars
"Delicious! Whole family enjoyed it for dinner. Will be ordering more soon! "
Danielle, Greensboro
★★★★★ - 5 Stars
Shepherd's Sourdough
Artisan sourdough crafted with the natural elements of God's Creation - water, salt, and flour.
We will occasionally offer our sourdough bread to our supporters as thanks for your donations, which help to support the non-profit work of our Farms of the Good Shepherd.
Shepherd's Sourdough is good for our mission, and good for your health.
Our Sourdough Starter
Our sourdough is made with a starter that has been alive for over a century, and once mixed with flour, salt and water, our loaves undergo proofing for 8 hours or more.
From God's Bounty
Sourdough bread is produced using the naturally occurring culture of yeast and bacteria from God's Creation. As this fermentation process progresses, the starches in the flour are partially consumed, which means they have less impact on the natural digestion of your body.
During fermentation and proofing the starches break down, which makes sourdough a food with a lower glycemic index, which then has a gentler impact on blood sugar levels.
An added benefit of our natural sourdough bread is that, during the fermentation process the gluten, a protein that can be hard for many to digest, is partially degraded. This makes our sourdough a more tolerable choice for those with mild gluten sensitivities.
A seasonal offering of an old family recipe, this Christmas Stollen is a yeast bread with rum-soaked fruits, toasted almonds, and a luscious almond cream folded in.
A dusting of powdered sugar reminds us of the snowy season, presenting a wonderful family treat on Christmas morning!
German Christmas Stollen
Baking Fundraisers Support Our Mission
The Farms of the Good Shepherd
Our Mission
Fundraisers support Farms of the Good Shepherd
Our mission at the Farms of the Good Shepherd is to teach others to find God in His created things; in His creatures; in the bounty of His soil, all of which are most accessible within the simple life modeled in a rural, agrarian setting.
In a culture that is becoming increasingly distracted by technology and trapped in the cycle of material acquisition, and which gradually consumes space in one’s heart, God becomes marginalized.
By stepping away from that world, and into the Catholic tradition of Ora et Labora – meaning that in simple labor our Creator is found by one’s prayer becoming one’s work – the domestic church of family life flourishes, and we can return space in our heart to God.
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