I'm thinking about making my own kimchi. It looks pretty straightforward but I haven't fermented a lot of food.
I ran into it largely because I cannot have a root cellar. I found a pretty good haul of carrots, and got them, but then realized I had no way to keep them. I am not all that fond of cooked/canned carrots... They are OK, but not preferred...
So that's what started me down the fermenting trail. Lots of stuff that won't keep otherwise will keep fine fermented - Think radishes, as an instance - And it retains much of it's fresh 'snap'... So it can easily be incorporated into salads and such all winter... And in the case of carrots, still can be grated and added to a stir fry or whatever... Different though... A zesty 'pickled' zing. I don't even notice in salads, as I prefer vinaigrette dressings, but careful with cooking as the nature of the pickling an do unexpected things to flavor.
It is a good way. Youtube has tons of info.
Btw, I've banished hand gel, antibac soap, and bleach from the house.
I mainly use natural soap made by my eldest DIL, and use non-aromatic laundry soap (All free and clear), as part of my dilemma is an 'allergy' to industrial perfumes... Other than that, Dawn dish soap, and good ol lye soap for tough cleaning.
But I do pass a bar of anti-bac soap through the shower every now and then, if my native flora gets out of control,,, I know there are more natural means, but it is quick and efficient, and then I go back to natural again.
And I find I cannot get shook loose of chlorine, as much as I would like to. Mainly in the nature of wood surfaces that get stained, and mold/mildew control. But it is greatly reduced in this house, as I am again, fairly allergic to chlorine. Imagine that.
All those years, drinking that poison, right in my water... Never even suspecting... One of the main reasons I chose to buy this place was it's water source - I get my water from a roaring artesian spring. Beautiful, cold, and clear, surface filtered water. I will never drink bottled, city, or even deep well water again.