There are lots of different ways of giving. Let's face it; most of us have enough 'stuff'. Possessions come and go. But learning stays. No one can take away what you have learned. 

Lots of people have been giving their loved ones gift certificates for my sourdough workshops for years. The recipients really do appreciate the gift. They enjoy the process of learning this ancient craft, and a fair percentage of them go on to make sourdough bread a regular part of their lives, whether they make it themselves, in a bread club, or if they simply get a taste for the best sourdough. They learn to sort the wheat from the chaff, to coin a phrase.

The added advantage of giving someone a gift of baking skill is they will indeed look to repay you in kind. This means fresh sourdough bread for you! It's a gift that keeps giving. Ulterior motives are always at the heart of giving, aren’t they?