sf > wrote:
> On Wed, 28 May 2014 18:06:19 -0700, Oregonian Haruspex
> > wrote:
>
>> On 2014-05-28 23:00:11 +0000, sf said:
>>
>>>
>>> Have you ever made a bread starter using that yeast on leaves?
>>
>> No, but I have had an inkling to do so for a while now. I think I
>> would culture the yeast from the leaves in sugar water before I put the
>> flour in, though, in order to assert the wild yeast over the natural
>> yeasts in the flour.
>
> Unfortunately, I don't have the right conditions (or oaks) around me
> to try it - but I'm interested in how you fare if you ever decide to
> try it!
>


Another good source of natural yeast is the bloom you see on black grapes.
Apples and pears also bear particular strains of natural yeast. I would
guess that any plant fruit or leaf that develops a whitish bloom could be
used as a source of natural yeast. The true test would be to make a
culture and smell the odor of the yeast - I would only use yeasts that
smell pleasing.