"The one with the mold was still working when I refreshed it on 2/10
and
02/11 - it was doing similar as all the other one's.

On 3/19/03, they were all about the same, nothing stood out.

On 4/26/04, it stood out again - pH 5.27, all the other's except one
more were below pH 4.0. They still performed ok and got sour after two
or three refreshments.

So, I figured that something has gotten into the culture which was able

to be there and prevent the LB's from working properly"



So this contaminated starter never really completely recovered, even
though it got sour again and the PH got back to normal, it still
couldnt protect itself from the nasty? A damaged immune system? This
would explain your quick recomendations to "toss" funky starters, when
so many say just scrape of the scary stuff and "wash" it and it should
be fine. I dont live in Siberia (is that still remote?) and would much
rather throw vile stuff in the garbage then try to make it safe for
consumption again. My wife steadfastly agrees, and all she knows about
sourdough is that it makes yummy bread.

So this makes it all the more important to keep a starter I like well
maintained. From corresponding with various other sourdough bakers, it
seems more likely that starters keep their individual characters in
room temp propigations. My own starters, even when I felt I was feeding
them well and kept them in the fridge, eventually started changing,
getting an acetone smell, while continuing to make good bread (until my
neglect killed them off). So I am tempted to keep my starter on the
kitchen counter, with daily feedings, though a cup of flour a day down
the drain seems wasteful to me and even though they are good, I dont
eat alot of pancakes.

So what else has been tryed? Freezing globs? Everyone says freezing is
a good way to make a backup, would it work as a way to regularly make
your bread? Take out a frozen golf ball of starter as needed? How
about (scary) salt? Slows down yeast activity, but proper proportions
dont kill it off right (though I imagine it wouldnt keep it at its
healthiest)?

hutchndi