While I give advice on starting starters on the sourdoughhome web
page, I also observe that starting a starter causes beginners more
trouble than any other aspect of sourdough. Yes, as I have been
told, anyone can start a starter. However, if you don't know what a
starter should look like, or smell like; if you don't know how a good
starter will handle, your chances of starting a good starter - and
recognizing it for what it is - are very low. I get more upset
emails on this topic than all other topics combined.
As a result, I always suggest sourdough beginners get a known good
starter from a reliable source.
The best source is from a friend. You can get a fresh starter and
just start using it. Nothing could be finer!
The next best source is the Friends of Carl ( more information at
http://home.att.net/~carlsfriends/ ). Carl Griffiths had a starter that
had been in his family since the mid 1800's. He gave it away to
anyone who asked for it. After his passing, his friends took over
his crusade, and still give away his starter. Contact information is
on the web page. I suggest that people send the volunteers a few
bucks to offset the cost of maintaining the starter. The starter is
very active, very fast and flavorful. It is not, usually, a very
sour starter which puts some people off.
I have heard nothing but good things about Mr. Baker's San Francisco
Sourdough Starter, available from the Yankee Grocer ( try
http://www.yankeegrocer.com ).
Sourdoughs International ( http://www.sourdo.com ) has a number of
good starters.
One starter I do not recommend is the Goldrush San Francisco
Sourdough Starter. I tried it, a number of people I know have tried
it. The most complimentary thing I have heard said is, "you can do better."
If you insist on starting your own starter, check out my web page at
http://www.sourdoughhome.com/startingastarter.html Despite this page
causing more problems than any other page on my site, I have gotten
many more, "WOW! It worked!" emails than complaints. The
instructions are good, and they really, really work.
Hope that helps,
Mike
Mike Avery mavery at mail dot otherwhen dot com
part time baker http://www.sourdoughhome.com
networking guru Skype mavery81230
wordsmith
A Randomly Selected Thought For The Day:
An alcoholic is a person who drinks more than his own physician.