Day 1 → 7
Flour + water + wild yeast in the air. Feed daily. In 5–7 days, it'll be strong enough to raise bread.
What you need
Whole wheat + AP flour
50/50 blend
Filtered water
room temp
Glass jar
loose lid, kitchen scale
Do this — one week
Day 1 · mix and wait
50 g flour + 50 g water in the jar. Stir. Cover loosely. Warm spot. Do nothing for 24 hours.
Day 2–3 · discard + feed
Discard half. Add 50 g flour + 50 g water. Stir. Wait 24 hours. May look boring — that's fine.
Day 4–6 · twice-daily feeds
Morning and evening: discard half → feed 50 g / 50 g. It'll start bubbling and rising between feeds.
Day 5–7 · float test
Drop a spoonful into water. Floats = ready to bake bread. Sinks = feed one more day.
Maintain forever
Baking often: feed daily on the counter. Baking weekly: fridge, feed once a week. Give it a name.
Signs it's healthy
Doubles in 4–6 hr
After a feed.
Full of bubbles
Big and small, visible through jar.
Yeasty, slightly sour
Not acetone, not nail-polish smell.
Once it's alive