On Tue, 28 Dec 2004 10:58:35 -0500, Kevin J. Cheek
> wrote:

>It was going so well. I sterilized the jar and utensils, mixed in one cup
>of warm water (chlorine free) with one cup of whole wheat flour and set
>aside. After 24 hours the flour had settled, leaving dark water at the
>top, but there were some bubbles.
>
>Mixed, poured out one cup and mixed in 1/2 cup whole wheat flour and 1/2
>cup warm water. In 12 hours the mixture had doubled, with bubbles about
>1/8 of an inch across throughout, and was floating atop a layer of water.
>The starter had a sour smell. Mixed, poured out one cup, mixed in 1/2 cup
>whole wheat flour and 1/2 cup warm water, and set aside again.
>
>Then nothing. After 12 hours there were no signs of bubbles. Mixed and
>waited 12 hours more. Nothing. Waited another 24 hours. Nothing.
>
>What happened?
>
>- Kevin Cheek

Hi Kevin,

First... How warm was the water?

Second... What do you know about the flour? If, for example,
it had been sterilized along the way, you are likely to get
nothing of value growing.

Next... Often at the outset, there seems to be vigorous
activity because of critters that are not those we want in a
starter. They come to life, give us hope, then die off.

I would suggest that you continue (with a caution about the
temperature of the water) for another five days or so.

HTH,

--
Kenneth

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