Legend of Julia

At The Garage. we have been carrying on a tradition that began over 70 years ago, a tradition that has traveled through time, community, and countless hands to become the beloved Cowichan Sourdough we know today.

Legend has it, the story of our sourdough starter, lovingly named Julia, begins in the heart of California. Back then, she was the foundation of a local bakers baking, carried around in a VW van as the baker made her way through the Golden State. This wild yeast and flour mixture sustained all of its baking needs, keeping her connected to the land and nourishing those around her with every loaf. That same starter, full of life and history, eventually found its way to the Cowichan Valley.

Fast forward to 30 years ago, Julia became the essential ingredient for the first loaves of bread at the Community Farm Store when it was in Glenora. As the store thrived, so did the starter. Even when the Farm Store relocated to Downtown Duncan, Julia was still alive, well, and ready to continue her legacy.

For the last 20 years, Duncan Garage Café & Bakery has been the home of this resilient sourdough starter, where we've nurtured her with care and respect. We’ve used Julia to craft countless loaves, including our rye and multigrain sourdoughs, each loaf representing more than just bread. It's a piece of living history. Every sourdough variation we’ve created over the years has been given its own playful nickname, but all share one foundation: Julia.

What started as a single gallon of starter a day has grown exponentially. Today, we maintain two 5-gallon buckets of Julia, feeding her daily to keep up with the demand. Our Organic Cowichan Sourdough Bread has become a community favorite, with people from near and far craving the depth of flavor, the perfect crust, and the history baked into every loaf.

All of the grains for our breads are grown organically within British Columbia and milled in Duncan at True Grain! 

Julia’s legacy continues to rise each day at Duncan Garage, and we are proud to carry forward the tradition of nourishing our community with every slice of Cowichan Sourdough. 

Cheers to Julia and the community that keeps her alive!