Why Are We Giving Away $20 LIVE Sourdough Starters For Free?

Good Question. Here's The Honest Answer: We'd Rather 100 People Try Our Heritage Yeast & Tell Their FriendsThan Spend $5,000 On Facebook Ads Hoping Strangers Might Care. Fair Trade? Claim Your Free Starter Here →
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You've Seen the Beautiful Loaves. You've Saved the Pinterest Pins. But...

Let me guess. You want that first crackle, that proud little ear, that “I made this” moment.

Here’s the part no one says out loud:

  • Starting from scratch can take weeks.
  • Daily feedings feel like a part-time job.
  • “Is that mold?” becomes a nightly Google.

Half the attempts… don’t make it.

The quiet truth? You don’t have to start from scratch.

Begin with a heritage culture that wakes up fast, rises reliably, and lets you bake real bread - sooner.

How it works

Follow these simple steps to get started

1

It arrives

Small envelope. Dehydrated flakes. Millions of live cultures waiting inside.
2

Wake it up

Mix with warm water + flour. Stir. Cover. Walk away.
sourdough starter
3

It comes alive

24 hours later: bubbles. 48 hours: doubled in size, tangy smell. Ready.
4

You bake

Mix dough. Let rise overnight. Shape. Bake. Done.
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From Mother Cultures to Your Kitchen Counter

Real origins. Real reliability. Choose the culture whose story and flavor fits your table.

Fogmother — San Francisco Bay

Born in a miner’s tent during the Gold Rush, the dough caught Pacific fog and wild yeast, yielding bread that tasted of salt air and patience. Bakers still swear it breathes differently when the fog rolls in.
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Greta’s Heart — Bavarian Rye

In 1821, a grieving baker returned to a cold hearth and found her rye dough alive. The loaves were darker, consoling—“the heart of the house”—passed from mother to daughter as a promise of warmth.
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Le Souffle de Montmartre — Parisian Levain

On Montmartre’s windmill slopes in 1788, a storm left a levain with a butter-sweet perfume “kissed by the wind.” Smuggled through the Revolution, it still rises with the scent of old Paris.
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The Gold Miner’s Ghost — Klondike

A trapper’s starter, frozen in a blizzard, was thawed and revived near Dawson City in 1898. It became the north’s hardiest companion—bread that remembers frostbite, hunger, and campfire whiskey.
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Daughter of the Nile — Egyptian Emmer

Legend tells of dough left by the Nile that rose “with the breath of Isis.” Revived with ancient emmer, this culture tastes like the first fermentation—river, sun, and the hands that built civilization.
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Rēwena Rua — Māori Potato

A grandmother fed a living “bug” of kūmara and flour, singing it awake each week. Wrapped in flax and shared between villages, it traveled as a gift of manaakitanga—warmth, laughter, open doors.
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Luca’s Whisper — Italian Lievito Madre

A young Milanese apprentice tended a firm dough like a friend—kneading, bathing, speaking to it. His panettone rose higher, richer; the lievito madre passed on as a quiet lesson in patience.
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Mother of a Thousand Loaves — Sourdough Library

In Saint-Vith, Belgium, hundreds of starters rest behind glass as a caretaker feeds them by name. A living museum of kitchen, monastery, and mountain—humanity’s voices, still speaking, still rising.
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Everything You Need

  • 288-year-old dehydrated sourdough starter (creates full, active starter)
  • Complete 48-hour activation guide with photos
  • Beginner-friendly and foolproof first loaf recipe
  • Feeding and maintenance schedule
  • Troubleshooting guide for common questions
Total Value $47
Your Price Today $0
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Just pay $4.95 for shipping

What Happens When You Get This Right

See for yourself what our happy community of bakers have to say.

Jessica M.

Three failed attempts. I almost gave up. This one worked exactly like the instructions said. My first loaf had an actual ear. I cried. I couldn't believe it.

Jessica M. Portland, OR
Michael R.

My kids think baking with 288-year-old yeast is the coolest thing ever. During one baking sesh, we named our starter 'Grandma Edna.'

Michael R. Boulder, CO
David L.

Was spending $12 per loaf at the bakery. Saved over $400 by baking my own. And mine's better.

David L. Seattle, WA
Amanda K.

I forgot to feed it for two weeks. It came right back to life. This is the starter for people who don't have their lives together.

Amanda K. Austin, TX

Your Rise Is Certain, But Supply Isn’t

We stand behind every jar: if it doesn’t activate in 48 hours, we’ll replace it at no cost. But since each starter takes ~72 hours to finish, only limited spots are released monthly. When this current batch runs out, you'll have to wait for the restock - so act before the counter hits zero.

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Frequently Asked Questions

I've never baked bread. Is this too hard?

Nope. If you can stir water into flour, you can do this. Our instructions assume zero experience and, if you need any additional help, reach out and let's see what we can do.

What flour should I feed it?

All-purpose or bread flour works great to start. We include simple ratios and a schedule so you don’t overthink it.

What if I kill my free starter?

Our starters lived through wars, migrations, famines, and everything else that happened for the past few centuries. It can survive your kitchen. If something goes wrong, let us know and we'll send another packet free.

How much time will my first loaf take?

About 15 minutes of actual work spread across 3 days. Most of the time is waiting.

What's the catch?

There isn't one. We hope you love it so much you try our other heritage starters someday. That's it.

Return Policy

Refund policy

Thank you for choosing Mother’s Country Store. We want every customer to have a great experience with our sourdough starters. Because our products are perishable, food-based cultures, we cannot accept physical returns - however, we proudly stand behind the quality of every starter we ship.

Damages, Issues & Starter Performance

Please inspect your order upon arrival and contact us immediately if:

  • your starter arrives damaged,
  • your package arrives incomplete,
  • you received the wrong item, or
  • your starter fails to activate or perform as expected.

Email us at support@motherscountrystore.com within 7 days of delivery, and we will make it right with a free replacement, or a full refund, whichever you prefer.

We may request a photo so we can troubleshoot and improve our quality control.

Non-Returnable Items

Due to the nature of our products, we cannot accept physical returns for:

  • sourdough starters
  • any other perishable or food-based items

These items cannot be restocked or resold once shipped.

We also do not accept returns on sale items or gift cards.

European Union 14-Day Cooling-Off Period

If your order is shipped into the European Union, you have the legal right to cancel your order within 14 days of receiving it, for any reason and without providing a justification.

Because our products are perishable, cancellation applies before the product is opened or used, and items do not need to be physically returned.
If you wish to exercise this right, please contact us at support@motherscountrystore.com.

Refunds

Once we approve a refund, it will be processed to your original payment method within 10 business days.

Please note:

  • Banks and card issuers may take additional time to post the refund.
  • If more than 15 business days have passed since we approved the refund, please reach out to us at support@motherscountrystore.com.

Questions?

We’re here to help. Contact us anytime at support@motherscountrystore.com.