Wild yeast for bread. How do you get it started? I heard you just mix flour & water equal parts & let it sit

Answer 1

Yes, a wild yeast starter just begins with a water and flour mixture.

I've read different things about creating a starter...
Some recipes suggest using organic grapes with your flour and water mixture to create a starter.

Other recipes suggest mixing flour and water and letting it sit near an open window to "catch" any wild yeast floating around.

Another website I've read suggested that flour has the wild yeast in it, you just need the water and warm enviroment to get it started. This is the view I believe in.

I've experimented with grapes, the open window and a plain flour and water mixture that I kept in my oven. The pilot light kept the oven warm and draft free. My result showed that the plain flour and water mixture actually worked the best - giving a very active starter in a week.

What I've done previously is mix 1/4 cup water with 1/4 flour and store in a warm place, covered loosely.

After a couple days the mixture will start bubbling. Add another 1/4 cup flour and water.

A couple more days later it really will be very active.
Add more flour and water... this time 1/2 cup each.

If you're batch is getting too big, just divide in half and feed only 1/2. The other half you can toss out.

In about 2 weeks you'll have a very active starter.

Answer 2

3 1/2 c flour :1Tbls sugar : 1 pkg active dry yeast (2 1/4 tsp) : 2 c water (105 - 115F)
combine flour sugar undissolved yeast In a large glass bowl.
add the water and mix until smooth.
Cover with cheesecloth : let stand in a warm place for 3 days
There is more to the sourdough bread in the book
But I am a lousy typist.