Pet Leaven

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On my kitchen shelf sits a dependent. Everyday the new pet demands attention, requires feeding to grow, to stay alive. Only arrived into its home three days ago. Am I ready for this long term relationship? Right now, we are still at the ‘getting-to-know-each-other’ stage. If I fail to fulfil my relationship duties, it might die.

Should you be ready to begin such a relationship, here are the following steps to start and maintain your pet leaven or sourdough starter :

  1. Mix 100g of rye flour with 100g of lukewarm water in a sealable glass jar.
  2. 24 hours later, add further another 50g of flour and 50g of lukewarm water.
  3. Another 24 hours later, add again the same amount of flour and water.
  4. In about 2 hours, you’ll notice air bubbles in the mixture. It will smell sour too.
  5. Remove half of the quantity for baking.
  6. Feed more flour and lukewarm water daily while removing daily for breadmaking, otherwise it will die.


Some people have kept pet leaven up to a hundred years old passed
down from previous generations. Wonder who will take care of my pet in
2106?