I'm still looking to learn which kind of wood makes the best "magic sticks", the stirring sticks named by the brewers who were centuries from knowing about yeast, and considered fermentation to be nothing less.
The best way to protect a fine strain yeast is to cause it to go dormant quickly. They became heirlooms.
I want one for my umpteenth generation hard cider Mother (perfect for SHTF). Love those live yeast vitamin B jolts.