This Alaskan sourdough starter has been alive since 1896 during the start of the gold rush. I have fed it with gluten-free organic flour for the past 2 years. True Alaskans who could survive the winters and thrive in adversity are sometimes referred to as "sourdoughs." It symbolizes the endurance and adaptability of the Alaskan spirit. Sourdough became an Alaskan staple because yeast didn't survive the harsh winters and bags of flour were too heavy to carry. The gold miners kept their sourdough starters alive by keeping it in their shirt pockets, next to their hearts.