Kara Ann

I started some Swiss ricola mint (mentha x piperita Swiss) around in a hazelnut guild. Really wonderful smell when in that area of the permaculture plot! Intermixed well with some comfrey, chives, calendula, currants.... so many lovely 'C' plants.

Last summer  when getting ready for an event, I got inspired to try chocolate dipped mint leaves  (Shout out to Whole Fed Homestead - recipe here.  I gathered peppermint, spearmint, applemint, and even some of the ricola mint, melted the chocolate, dipped, cooled and served them all arranged together on a platter for dessert at a dinner party.... they were a big success until someone got a ricola mint leaf - NOT good! I had not taste-tested one of those, and as you can imagine, not even a really good dark chocolate can make up for a strong ricola-cough-drop flavor!  😖

I have some areas that run a little wet for most of the year, and got some watermint seed - happy to hear that some of you are growing it! Anything special I should know about germinating it and getting the plants set out?

I really appreciate all the suggestions and comments in this thread - thanks!
I have messaged the seller a few days ago with questions, and heard nothing back, so it may be going nowhere for this specific tank, but really good to know for the future.

if I were to repair it, it would drill a small hole at either end of the crack, fefore I patched it, to discourage it from spreading.

Thanks, John, can you say more about this?

Thanks everyone for the helpful comments and suggestions.
Thanks for the video, Nancy, and also for the inside AND outside repair strategy, Randal - that makes sense. It is a little bit encouraging to know that this is a DIY with a known solution, not an impossible-to-solve problem!

The seller says the tank is too big for their location, so presumably that is why it is being sold rather than repaired.
I want to use it for rainwater catchment, irrigation, and livestock watering, so this would be used for potable water storage.  To get a new tank like this onsite at my farm is realistically $2000-$2200, so even at $500, this would be a good deal if it can be repaired.

I have asked the seller to provide pics of the embossed date stamp so I can see how old the tank is, and pics of the crack, and about how it got cracked, confirmation of what the tank has held in the past... will see where this goes, and I will let you know what I hear!

Thanks, Randal - ahhh you are in Siskiyou country - a beautiful place to be!
It is encouraging to hear how long your fiberglass tank has been in place and working well.

This tank in quest appears to be polyethelene.  I found this repair kit: https://www.rainharvest.com/poly-welder-pro-plastic-repair-kit.asp
Potentially reinforced with this this stainless steel mesh: https://www.amazon.com/10-pack-of-Reinforcing-Mesh/dp/B0007LTXMS
Anybody used either of these, with some comment on how easy / hard / succesfsul or not it was?

Thanks!

Hi Permies,

There is a water tank / used / available near me, and I am in need of a water tank! But the words: 'Has small crack on bottom can be fixed with using melting and binders' as part of the listing are giving me pause.

Is this kind of repair one of those types of things that permies commonly do? Repairing crack in the bottom of a 200 lb water tank no big deal?  Or is this one of those really awful things that only the uninformed and clueless might take on??  How to even assess the problem? Guidance on how repair could be made if it were a good idea?

All wisdom and experience welcome please...
Thanks!

News update on the food labeling topic: California and Food Label Requirements

" ...varying phrases on food packaging have long left shoppers unsure whether food is simply past its peak quality or unsafe to eat. The state is aiming to cut down on confusion — and the food waste it creates when people throw away food early — with a new food labeling law starting Wednesday.

It bans the use of “sell by” labels on food packaging, which experts say act as a guide for retailers on how long to display products on the shelves but are not an indicator of whether they are still safe to consume. Now, manufacturers selling food in California must use two standardized labels — a “Best if Used By” label for peak quality and “Use By” label for product safety....  Food manufacturers can choose to use either label or both"

Wow how fun to find a morel in Disneyland! Thanks for sharing that, Chance.
And thanks to Fred for the reminder about water kefir grains. I had a batch going for a few years, but then was traveling a lot and could not maintain it. I am looking forward to starting another batch this autumn!

Has anyone here tried to make a sparkling gingerbeer (mildly alcoholic) with water kefir? Maybe this is not the right forum for that topic... if not maybe one of you who are 'in the know' can redirect me?

Fermenters Club Water Kefir Booze

Ditto on David's comment that this thread of post reads so well!

THANK YOU Ulla for sharing this method for preserving egg yolks - this is great to have and I have saved it so I can try it.
When you are using these salted egg yolks (sliced or grated), are you adding them as a final garnish to items being served (no further cooking)? Or also as an ingredient into food that is going to be cooked?

I had completely forgotten about posting in this thread. When I reread the post I made, it made me laugh, because I am still preserving eggs.

Ulla - what you are doing is really impressive!!! As a newbie who has never heard of salted egg yolks before, would you share what you do to preserve them, and also the ways that you use them? They looked like little gems in the picture you posted earlier!