To Feed or Not to Feed...
I started a spelt seed culture using the pineapple juice method (but used orange juice) with the directions/proportions listed in Reinhart's "Whole Grain Breads" book, starting on pg 61.
Day 1 was fairly uneventful. Aerated 3 times as recommended, but otherwise left it alone.
Day 3 was also fairly uneventful, save for the fact that the culture kept separating. I didn't even get much bubbling. At just past the 48 hour mark I got up and moved on to Phase 2/Day 3 instructions - at which point this bad boy went bananas and really took off.
Day 4 (Today) I fed it around noonish. I've aerated it twice, and both times it's become a frothy mass with a distinct beer-like scent. It's sort of the consistency of foamy marshmallow cream and falls when disturbed. I know it says that it may be ready in under 24 hours - but really, less than half the time? Should I move on to Phase 4, which is discarding half and giving it a huge feeding to build it back up, or wait until morning? I really don't want to rush my seed culture, but I also don't want to risk starving it, either.
Just how much is a "huge feeding"? I wouldn't feed it more than 2 x the amount of the original saved starter (after discard) until it gets established and active. Other than that, yes, I would feed on schedule.
Instructions are to reserve 99g of the original culture and then add 1.5oz of flour and 1oz of water - which is half an ounce more flour and less water than in previous Phases, and results in a more spongy seed culture. In my case 99g was slightly more than half of the previous phase's contents.
That should be fine.
I fed it - it's very lightly bubbly right now. When I aerate it it 'falls' and has this marshmallow like consistency. It's a healthy baby starter. I'm such a proud momma :) I have -never- been able to make a successful starter before now without it falling prey to the fuzz.