Quote Originally Posted by bshmerlie View Post
Anyone who knows anything about me knows I always look for the easy way out. I just don't like fuss. Sorry but its true. Anyways here's what I found. Has anyone tried this stuff? All you do is add a half a cup of hot water. Supposedly everything is already mixed it. Now, I could do that. The idea of mixing potato flakes and brewers yeast and everything else in a blender is just not my cup of tea. I'd probably never clean the blender. Anyways, if this stuff works I think I would actually culture my own. Go figure. I started two cultures today so I'll let you know how it goes. The "just add water" part sounds too good to be true. Is it?
Cheri, I haven't tried this... But I can give you a very easy recipe that I got from Mathieu Chouteau at Understory Enterprises. I usually prepare a "stash" that can make at least 12 cultures, if not more:

1. 6 very riped bananas
2. Two jars of apple sauce (sweet)
3. 3/4 of vinegar (this will help against the mites)
4. Only if you want: 2 tbps of brewer's yeast (I have done some with and without).

Mix it, and voilÃ*! So far, it has never failed!! Whatever I don't use, I freeze it using ziplocks in "culture portions".

Eric