I recall a starter being passed around the neighbourhood when I was a child..it 
was called indian bannock bread starter..always save a little for the neighbors 
and the next batch..it tends to spoil easy as I remember..but very 
flavourful..using old world grains such as spelt... home ground and sifted 
would be an excellent idea now a days..I have found that the more I leave flour 
alone the better I feel..not sure why..
Norm
below is an amish recipe from google.. ingredients in question perhaps..

http://bread.allrecipes.com/az/amishfriendshipbrdstrtr.asp
INGREDIENTS:
1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast ...?
1/4 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C) 
3 cups all-purpose flour, divided 
3 cups white sugar, divided 
3 cups milk 

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DIRECTIONS:
In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in water. Let stand 10 minutes. In a 2 quart 
container glass, plastic or ceramic container, combine 1 cup flour and 1 cup 
sugar. Mix thoroughly or flour will lump when milk is added. Slowly stir in 1 
cup milk and dissolved yeast mixture. Cover loosely and let stand until bubbly. 
Consider this day 1 of the 10 day cycle. Leave loosely covered at room 
temperature. 
On days 2 thru 4; stir starter with a spoon. Day 5; stir in 1 cup flour, 1 cup 
sugar and 1 cup milk. Days 6 thru 9; stir only. 
Day 10; stir in 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk. Remove 1 cup to make 
your first bread, give 2 cups to friends along with this recipe, and your 
favorite Amish Bread recipe. Store the remaining 1 cup starter in a container 
in the refrigerator, or begin the 10 day process over again (beginning with 
step 2). 




Once you have made the starter, you will consider it Day One, and thus ignore 
step 1 in this recipe and proceed with step 2. You can also freeze this starter 
in 1 cup measures for later use. Frozen starter will take at least 3 hours at 
room temperature to thaw before using.