Thanks for the info. I don't feed, or do much of anything with my starter. I use it probably 2, or 3 times a month, but sometimes it may be a couple months before I use it. I keep my starter in a sealed crock, in the back of the fridge. When I do use it, I pour the entire contents of the crock in a large bowl and add white flour to it, to make what looks like thick pancake batter. I stir it and put a towel over the bowl to let the starter grow. I wash my crock in the dishwasher and the next day, I refill my clean crock with the new starter. The rest of the starter goes into my bread that I'm making. Nothing is thrown away, ever. I just don't see the reason behind the discard thing.