Raquel Thompson

Jonah Bassman wrote:Maybe you've already thought of this and ruled this out, but here's what I might do in that situation: take acorns/fruit pits/various other perennial seeds from the area, and plant a whole bunch of different seeds/pits there to see what does well naturally with the light (or lack thereof) and water you give it. I always love the opportunism of planting a variety and seeing what manages to survive, and certain light requirements can be bypassed to a degree based on the genetics of what starts on its own. If the plants would be too tall ordinarily, bonsai can potentially be an option.
Just my two cents and I'm sure whatever you decide to plant will be an enlightening process!

I actually haven't thought about that. This is my new plan unless I get a better one.

I've been searching, but have been unable to find a plant to fit the list of requirements I need to fill.

I have a small, bowl-sized steel container, no drainage, high salinity, ash, and rubble at the bottom of the container, often gets to low temps, but not freezing (I would guess 40s-0s F), and will have pine needles as soil, but can add additional materials if needed.

Can be dry, or wet, but part of plant will need to be above water if soaked. I can wait and only water slightly, spray water, keep water moist, or flood the container with no issues. I don't have a way to give it direct sunlight, and it will be behind a wall next to the southern window. Needs to be something that grows in the soil, not hovering above it. I can also add sulfur or gypsum into the soil (I know gypsum won't work because it needs drainage), but need to understand the process more.

Plants I have been looking at:
Red Mangrove: Issue is temperature. Would be growing this like a bonsai.
Creeping Jenny or 'Little Joe' Pye Weed: Biggest issue is salinity, as they can't handle the pH, which most plants can't.
Hardy Hibiscus/Swamp Hibiscus: Mostly daydreaming honestly, the salinity is too high.
Pothos Plant: Doesn't do well without sunlight, and may not handle the salinity.
Succulents and Cacti: Need far more light than I can provide.
Pineapple: Needs drainage, sunlight, and room.
Viola Odorata/Sweet Violet: Plan would be to keep it shallow at the top, but I'm not sure if this would work.
Hairy Woodsorrel/Bermuda Buttercup: Drainage and sunlight, and possibly salinity issues.

All suggestions are welcome. Currently, I'm leaning towards Red Mangrove if I can heat the container, or Sweet Violet if I can keep it at the top. Let me know if there's any information I'm missing, or should include about the growing conditions, let me know. I cannot disclose the reason for these circumstances, just what they are.

Thank you everyone! I'm excited to know that added water isn't a requirement, and plan to use the Apple Cider Vinegar as the main liquid in the brine. With health hazards out of the way, I can go forward in confidence!

Howdy y'all. I've been planning a pickling recipe that I want to have high amounts of vinegar and salt. Through my research, my plan is to use Apple Cider Vinegar, Himalayan Salt, Formerly Grade B Maple Syrup, and Spring/distilled water if necessary.

I'm trying to understand the purpose of the water in the recipe, and if I can eliminate it. My current understanding is it's to resolve the salt, and/or to reduce the acidity of the brine.

According to my research, having high amounts of salt and vinegar will make sure it's preserved, and should still allow osmosis from the water in the vinegar. It should inhibit any growth of bacteria or fungi as well.

Thing is, in my research keeping the water/vinegar ratio equal is stressed vitaly, yet the purpose of the water in said articles, videos, and recipes are vague at best. A lot of them are focusing on making sure the acidity is high enough, which should be boosted if water is reduced.

The purpose behind this recipe is health benefits, and not taste. Taste as an issue should be ignored, for I'm sure it's not going to taste good at the end anyways.

Questions are: Is water necessary for pickling? If so, why? And what's the minimum I need for full functionality? What exactly does the water do in the pickling? Can you pickle without added water? Does anyone have any experience pickling without added water? And is there any other advice you have for me?

Thanks in advance for all the help! It is truely appreciated!

Hey y'all. So I'm wanting to plant milkweed to encourage the monarch population in an area. The thing is, I don't want to upset the wild hares in that area, and read that rabbits will get sick from eating milkweeds. I know rabbits and hares are different, and there are different kinds of milkweeds. Is there a strain of milkweed that hares can eat? If not, is there a way to set up the milkweed on an elevated platform or with a short fence around it to prevent the hares from getting hurt? Any help is useful, thank you.

Edit: I was reading through forums and found that one said that bunnies don't like catnip. Would this work on hares? If so, could I surround the milkweed with catnip to discourage the hares from eating the milkweeds?

So I just harvested, cleaned, and peeled some chicory root. I want to use it in ways besides coffee substitutes. I know Kind bars and other food bars contain it, and I'd also like to make it into chicory flour. Can anyone help, at least tell me how to dry it.

I was wondering what house plants could potentially grow in wax, like candle, paraffin, or beeswax. Everytime I try to look it up, Google gives me wax plants. My dad uses permies a lot, and I was hoping you guys could help me.