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Sourdough (rec.food.sourdough) Discussing the hobby or craft of baking with sourdough. We are not just a recipe group, Our charter is to discuss the care, feeding, and breeding of yeasts and lactobacilli that make up sourdough cultures. |
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A Sourdough Starter Story
January 2006 Disclaimer: I know that there have been many r.f.s. posts/threads that have debated the "longevity" of a starter culture. I do not post this story to start another debate, but rather for entertainment value. The starter I use came from the central Kansas town of Pratt. I got it back in 1994 and have been using (and sharing) it for 12 years. Back in the spring of 1996, I moved to the southeast Missouri town of Poplar Bluff. I moved into an apartment, started my new job and couldn't wait until my children could finish out the school year, my wife sold the house and then the family could move there, joining me. Well, of course, I brought my starter along with me and starting baking to pass some of my "free time" since my family was still in Kansas. One day, when I was sharing some of my sourdough bread with some of my newly made friends (fresh bread seems to have that effect on people); I was asked by one of them about where I had gotten the starter from. I told them that I had gotten it from Fr. Ted, the priest in Pratt, where I had lived; that he had been using it for about 10 years. The person asked where he had gotten it from (the inquisitive type - like many r.f.s. readers). I told them I didn't know but I would call him that weekend and find out (I too was curious at that point). I called Fr. Ted that weekend and he told me he had gotten it from a lady in the parish that had been using it for a long time. So I called that lady and continued likewise to call each person backwards in my starter's "genealogy", to ask "the who" and "the where" they had gotten the starter from and "the when" that had been. When I reached the fifth generation back from myself, I ended my search by talking to Lois, a lady that at the time was in her mid-70's. She told me that she remembered her mother getting the starter from her aunt, around the time that her little brother was born. I asked when her brother was born and she answered, "1929". Lois told me that she remembered that her mother kept the starter, probably in a mason jar, that was then put into a bucket and was lowered into the cistern (water well) to right above the water, to keep it cool. She said that was because they had no refrigerator or icebox back in 1929. Lois told me that she (and her mother before her) had baked almost daily with their starter and that she had given away starters to many, many people. Interestingly though, she didn't call her bread "sourdough" but rather "starter" bread. Unfortunately, when I asked Lois about her aunt, she told me that she had passed away and I was not able to find out where the starter had come from before that, so my genealogy search for my starter ended with Lois. When I share a starter with someone, I pass along this typewritten genealogy with it, to keep its "family tree" alive. Now I have to share the "sad news" part of this story. I called Lois yesterday, who is now in her mid-80's. I hadn't talked to her in a couple of years (I should call my starters "mother" more often <g>). It took her a minute to remember me since it had been a couple of years. As we chatted about how things were changing in Pratt, what new things were being built, the weather and such, she said, "You know I don't have starter any more, don't you?" I replied sadly, that I did not know that and asked what had happened. Lois told me that a couple of years ago she starting fighting rheumatoid arthritis and she found that she just couldn't knead the dough without much pain. I told her I was sorry to hear that she had to "give up the starter" (pun intended). She said, "Well I reckon 74 years was long enough!" I laughed out loud with her, as I pondered how hard it must have been for her to give it up after that many years, feedings and loaves. So 2004 was the year that my starter's "mother" passed on - "The End". Lois, on the other hand, I am sure will keep on kicking for quite some time. Denny -- I can be reached by sending to "my posting name" at that free, Microsoft, electronic mail service. |
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On Fri, 27 Jan 2006 10:08:02 -0600, "Denny_from_MO"
> wrote: >A Sourdough Starter Story > >January 2006 snip >Now I have to share the "sad news" part of this story. I called Lois >yesterday, who is now in her mid-80's. I hadn't talked to her in a couple of >years (I should call my starters "mother" more often <g>). It took her a >minute to remember me since it had been a couple of years. As we chatted >about how things were changing in Pratt, what new things were being built, >the weather and such, she said, "You know I don't have starter any more, don't >you?" I replied sadly, that I did not know that and asked what had happened. >Lois told me that a couple of years ago she starting fighting rheumatoid >arthritis and she found that she just couldn't knead the dough without much >pain. I told her I was sorry to hear that she had to "give up the starter" >(pun intended). She said, "Well I reckon 74 years was long enough!" I >laughed out loud with her, as I pondered how hard it must have been for her >to give it up after that many years, feedings and loaves. > >So 2004 was the year that my starter's "mother" passed on - "The End". > >Lois, on the other hand, I am sure will keep on kicking for quite some time. > Why not send her some starter and instructions of the no-knead, stretch and fold technique. It might allow her to get back to bread making. (it might nit help, as lifting the flour container, bowls, getting things in & out of the oven, etc., may still be difficult) I have RA, too, and believe me, it can really cause problems with any sort of kitchen work. You can also tell Lois that the newest medications are like miracles and that perhaps she would be able to tolerate taking some of them. Thanks for the lovely story. Boron |
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![]() "Denny_from_MO" > wrote in message ... > Lois told me that a couple of years ago she starting fighting rheumatoid > arthritis and she found that she just couldn't knead the dough without much > pain. "Boron Elgar" > wrote in message ... > I have RA, too, and believe me, it can really cause problems with any > sort of kitchen work. You can also tell Lois that the newest > medications are like miracles and that perhaps she would be able to > tolerate taking some of them. Why not quit your moaning and get a stand mixer. Better watch out -- the medications can kill ya! -- Dicky |
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Denny_from_MO wrote:
> So 2004 was the year that my starter's "mother" passed on - "The End". > > Lois, on the other hand, I am sure will keep on kicking for quite some time. Then give some of the descendant back, and if a stand mixer is too expensive, get her a bread machine to do the kneading on the dough cycle--the baking can still be done in the oven. B/ |
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Denny_from_MO wrote:
> A Sourdough Starter Story > > So 2004 was the year that my starter's "mother" passed on - "The End". > Ed replies, I enjoyed the story - thanks for taking the time to share it. Ed Bechtel |
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