Gunzel Family Farms LLC

Gunzel Family Farms LLC

Frequently Asked Questions

We get a lot of great questions from home bakers, families, and first-time sourdough enthusiasts.

Here are some of the most common — answered straight from our kitchen to yours.

🥖 1. What exactly is the Ozark Heritage Starter?

Our Ozark Heritage Sourdough Starter is a living, heirloom culture that’s been cared for by families in the Ozarks for over 125 years.

It’s a mix of wild yeast and lactic acid bacteria preserved in flour — a natural leavening that replaces store-bought yeast.

When rehydrated and fed, it comes back to life and can be used for everything from bread and pizza to pancakes and biscuits.

🌾 2. How do I activate my dehydrated starter?

It’s simple!

Mix 1 tablespoon of dehydrated starter with 2 tablespoons of warm, unchlorinated water.

Let it sit for 30 minutes to soften.

Add 2 tablespoons of flour and stir.

Cover loosely and keep at room temperature.

Feed daily until bubbly and doubling in size between feeds (usually 3–5 days).

Full instructions are included in every package and available in the Back to the Bread course.

🕰️ 3. How long does the dehydrated starter last?

Stored in a cool, dry place, your dehydrated starter can last years — even decades.

For longest shelf life, keep it sealed in a cool pantry or freezer.

Once rehydrated, it should be fed regularly or refrigerated for long-term storage.

🍞 4. Can I use whole wheat or white bread flour?

Yes — that’s what makes this starter special.

The Ozark Heritage culture thrives with either whole wheat or bread flour, making it versatile for modern or traditional baking.

❄️ 5. How should I store my starter after activation?

You have three easy options:

Room Temperature: Feed daily (great if you bake often).

Refrigerated: Feed once a week (perfect for casual bakers).

STIFF STARTER: Once a month feedings! Taught in our Back To The Bread Course!

Just take it out, let it warm up, feed it, and you’re good to go.

📦 6. How is the starter shipped?

All starters are dehydrated and sealed in airtight bags.

They’re shelf-stable and safe to ship in any season.

We include simple rehydration instructions and direct support if you need help bringing it to life.

🏡 7. Is this a Cottage Food product?

Yes.

Our starter and any related mixes are made in a Missouri home kitchen under the state’s Cottage Food Law.

That means it’s produced in a clean, home-based environment not subject to public health inspection.

We follow strict sanitation practices to ensure every batch leaves our kitchen safely.

🧁 8. Do you sell baked bread too?

Not at this time.

We focus on empowering families to bake at home — sharing the same traditions that have kept our family baking for generations.

But we do share full recipes, tutorials, and videos to help you make the same loaves right in your own kitchen.

💰 9. What’s your refund policy?

Because the starter is a living culture, all sales are final once shipped.

If your order arrives damaged, unusable, or missing, we’ll gladly replace it at no cost to you.

Simply contact us within 7 days of delivery.

🌿 10. Do you offer wholesale or bulk orders?

We’re open to partnerships with local stores, markets, and small bakeries.

Please email us at: support@gunzelfamilyfarms.com
with your request and we’ll be happy to discuss options.

📖 11. Where can I learn more about baking with it?

We offer two great resources:

Back to the Bread Course – a step-by-step guide for activating, feeding, and baking.

Ozark Family Recipes Collection – a digital cookbook full of family-tested loaves, biscuits, pancakes, and more.

Both are available on our site and work beautifully with the same starter you’ll receive.

❤️ 12. Why do you do this?

Because we believe food should be real, slow, and full of meaning.

Bread isn’t just something to eat — it’s something to share, to shape, and to remember where we came from.

That’s why our tagline says it best:
Shaped by Time. Shared in Faith.