Your friends and family will not believe that you made the fabulous artisan bread that you serve them. The wild yeast and the lactobacillus in the genuine San Francisco Sourdough Starter change not only the flavor of your bread, but also the crust and crumb. Your homemade bread will be nothing like bread make with commercial baker"s yeast. SourdoughBreads ships the San Francisco Sourdough Starter totally alive--just in a state of hibernation. Waking it up is as simple as it could be--all you have to do is mix it up with flour and water and watch it wake up! Could not be easier!!You will receive the 16-page printed Instruction Booklet, the free unlimited help and my free replacement guarantee when you purchase the San Francisco Sourdough Starter. Free Shipping and Free Replacement Guarantee from SourdoughBreads. If your San Francisco Sourdough Starter does not activate--for any reason whatsoever--all you have to do is send me an email and I"ll send you a new starter free of charge immediately! With the genuine San Francisco sourdough starter, my 16-page detailed instruction booklet and free unlimited email tech support, you CANNOT fail! Also makes great pancakes and waffles!The San Francisco Sourdough Starter you will receive is made up of a tiny amount of flour, live wild yeast organisms, and another live organism called a lactobacillus, which is what creates the sour flavor in your sourdough bread. If you"ll follow the detailed instructions in the printed booklet you receive with your sourdough starter, you will not only make your own homemade sourdough bread, you"ll have fun doing it. SourdoughBreads San Francisco Sourdough Starter is Low Maintenance: Feed your starter only once every couple of months! The true SF starter is strong and does not allow invasion from local organisms. I guarantee that it will not be invaded by the local yeasts in your air. It keeps itself pure.