Ancestry/Genealogy

But really all it takes is some fresh whole wheat flour that hasn't been treated. Even some wheat from a whole food type market crushed up and put into a flour and water solution will work.

The key is to continuously throw away half your starter. Seems wasteful, but it isn't if you are dealing with a quarter cup of slurry. Each day, just take half and throw it away, then add 1/8 cup of fresh flour and a 1/8 cup of warm water. mix and keep warm.

After w few days you should start to notice bubbles forming. At that point don't throw any out, but add 1/4 cup flour and water. Then a 1/2 cup and so on until you are up to about 2 or 3 cups.

At that point, use a cup for starter, and feed a cup of water and flour back. Then refrigerate. When you want to bake again, just let it warm up, then add a cup of water and water, wait a day, and take the cup of starter out to use.

The initial wild yeasts come from the flour you use to feed it, not your kitchen. Over time your kitchen yeasts will join the party and the flavor profile will alter slightly.

It's all good. Just don't use chlorinated water.