Devonviolet Acres

[Devonviolet]

Well, now . . . You guys are making me just a little nervous.

Having never had kimchi, I don't know for sure, if I will like it. However I LOVE sauerkraut. Have done so, since I was a child. Hot dogs and sauerkraut was a childhood favorite. And I like all the ingredients, of kimchi paste - especially ginger, garlic and hot 'n spicy. So, I'm thinkin' that I'm gonna like it.

 

[Baymule]

I've had DV's sauerkraut and it is delicious!

 

[Devonviolet]

I've had DV's sauerkraut and it is delicious!

Thanks Bay! I think my sauerkraut is yummy, and is milder than any other sauerkraut that I have ever had.

Well, the jury of two is out. After the discussion I had to open the jar and smell it. Then, I took a ladle and took a small sampling. The concencus is that this Kimchi is yummy!

It doesn't taste or smell anything like my sauerkraut. It has a nice heat, without being overpowering. I'm really happy with how it tastes so far. Of course, after a week it will likely taste a bit different.

 

[Latestarter]

I did have the opportunity to sample some of DV's kraut. IMHO it wasn't "really" sauer kraut in the traditional sense... It was cabbage in vinegar (and salt, etc) solution but had NOT fermented (completely) to where it has/had that gag action going (for me). To me it tasted like salty cabbage with vinegar. It was "tasty" but not something I'd make for myself... Might be strange but I don't care for dill pickles either or pickles in general mostly. I can eat a few sweet pickle chips but don't "ask" for them.

 

[Devonviolet]

Interesting it tasted vinegary to you @Latestarter, since it doesn't have any vinegar in it. Although, the natural result of fermentation IS vinegar. And salt is required in order for this form of fermentation to take place.

Keep in mind that if it is too strong/salty, it can always be rinsed, to tone it down. Be that as it may, if you don't like sauerkraut, it's definitely your prerogative, to not like it and/or eat it.

ETA: From what I know, homemade sauerkraut sauerkraut doesn't have the same soft/slimy texture that store bough sauerkraut has. In order to seal the package, it needs to be heated, which will make it soft in texture. By it's nature, homemade/fermented sauerkraut should not be heated, as that will destroy the probiotic (healthy bacteria) effect. Therefore it remains on the crunch side.

 

[Devonviolet]

We are in the midst of an unusual weather pattern with multiple says of intermittent heavy rain. From Tuesday to Friday, we are expected to have as much as 3" of rain. Although our neighbor dairy farmer (who owns the 75 heifers, that graze across the street from us) stopped by, for a short visit this afternoon. He said we could get as much as 6" of rain!!!!

I am sick and tired of slushy, mucky goat and chicken yards! So, this morning, I went out with DH to do something about the rainwater runoff, that comes down the sloping property. In the past, we have done trenching, that tends to take care of the rainwater after the fact, more to eliminate ponding that we get.

First, I put each of the goats on the milk stand, to trim their hooves, so we don't have any potential for hoof rot. I was pleasantly surprised that none of them had much for growth, and I didn't see any of the white yeast, that I have seen on occasion. Angelica is getting much better about getting up on the milk stand, and stands really well as I trim her hooves.

Once they all got cabbage and grapefruit treats, they went back home, we got our shovels and headed out behind the fencing to the chicken and goat yards. I cut two parallel lines, in the grass, about 12" apart, and then cut perpendicular lines every 10" (a shovel's width). As I continued to cut through the grass and dig the shovel as deep as it would go, DH lifted the squares of sod into the wagon. He then took the sod to fill in low spots in the field.

After a while, I started doing the perpendicular cuts every 5", because the wet sod was just too heavy. I estimate it to weigh 40-50 pounds per square, and it was taking its toll on DH. The digging was taking its toll on me too. We had chairs out there, and we're taking more frequent rests.

We dug a trench 12" wide and 6-7" deep, going from just beyond the slouch corner, of the chicken,yard, to about 3 feet outside the property line, so the water would be diverted into to lower green space between our property and the hay field next to us.

After we cleaned up and came in the house, we sat here, figuring out how long our trench is, and as best we can figure, it ended up being 100 feet long. That's a LOT of heavy, soggy, sod to be lifting. To show just how soggy it was, by the time we had gone 3 feet, clearing sod, we already had standing water in the trench.

Towards the end, we were both exhausted, but wanted to get the trench finished, so we pushed on with it. However, we started just lifting the sod to the low side of the slope, and will come back after things have had a chance to dry out a bit, and move it around to low areas in the pasture.

Right now, we both have sore muscles and my right arthritic ankle is quite sore and swollen. The rain is supposed to start overnight, so tomorrow we are going to take it easy.

 

[Baymule]

I set out 2 bundles of onion sets yesterday, planted rutagaga and turnip seed before the rains come. DH raked the mulch on the driveway in preparation for the coming rains.

It sounds like y'all got ahead of the rain this time. You might be sore and tired, but when the water is draining off instead of making lakes, it will all be worth it.

 

[Bruce]

We dug a trench 12" wide and 6-7" deep, going from just beyond the slouch corner, of the chicken,yard, to about 3 feet outside the property line, so the water would be diverted into to lower green space between our property and the hay field next to us.

What does the owner of that property think of you diverting flood waters from your property to theirs?

 

[Devonviolet]

What does the owner of that property think of you diverting flood waters from your property to theirs?

That area where we diverted the water to, is a 10' wide green space, that the farmer (who leases the land) doesn't plant or mow. We actually mow it, to keep it neat.

We talked to the owner a couple years ago. I did tell him that we needed to divert the rainwater runoff somewhere, and asked if he minded if we diverted it to the green space. He said, "No, I don't mind at all. That's fine".

Besides, it will just run down the slope, to the roadside ditch.

 

[Bruce]