Nanadina, thank you very much for your report. Great job! So your formula is: 6 tbsp rye flour + 2 tbsp molasses + 1 gallon water, sit 3 days. Yes, it seems to be the golden mean. Less than 4 tbsp rye flour may spoil, 8 is too much (not economical), 6 is best! It is possible to pour out the liquid in separate container to separate from sediment. Without airspace in the top and under the tap it may be kept long time, some months. Sediment may be used for next batch as starter to make fermentation faster. When I use sediment from previous batch I make sometimes fermentation during 1 day. It is also possible to add molasses after fermentation again in the same amount and during 1-3 days it doubles the amount of bacteria. Then it is possible add molasses again. And again. And again. But this is details. Well, good news! As for antioxidants, if green tea has antioxidants in it then its good idea to try it against pests. If it works then its more good idea do dissolve (ferment) green tea bags (or tea leaves) in kvas. It will give more antioxidants. It's just for making experiments. Tea is not cheap and thus not practical. Ordinary weeds works the same. Hope this topic will continue.

While this forum is probably the best place to get your specific questions answered, I don't think anything matches having at least one reference book preferably with beautiful pictures. The local libraries have pretty good selections to try out and see how you like them. Here are two good choices: http://www.amazon.com/Month-Gardening-Florida-Month---Month/dp/1591862353/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1291059204&sr=1-1 http://www.amazon.com/Florida-Gardening-Newcomers-Survival-Manual/dp/1893443094/ref=sr_1_11?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1291059204&sr=1-11 (only black and white pics) Michelle

Whenever I mentor new interns for the Hort Clinic Hotline, I highly encourage them to use online resources. The callers seem to prefer it as well. Instead of reading something back to them over the phone and/or sending them something via snail mail, it is often much easier to get the client's email address and simply send them a link to the proper information on a website. Any more, most people are online with but few exceptions -- and those few you can always handle the old-fashioned way. Of course, you must use some common sense when selecting those links. If possible, you will prefer to utilize information directly from your own state's land grant college. However, it is called the Cooperative Extension Service for a reason -- each recognizes the information from other states and cooperates in sharing it. For me in Iowa, Iowa State University websites would be my first choice. However, there is nothing wrong with using sources from neighboring states as long as the information is regionally appropriate and also applies to your area. There are several benefits to doing things this way. At least in my state of Iowa (and many other states as well), we have a searchable website that will specifically provide an instant answer, addressing 85-90% of the typical phone questions. Clients really appreciate being able to get accurate, detailed information instantly and are quite willing to follow the link you send them and print the page out for themselves. A secondary benefit is that it conserves the monetary resources of our cash-strapped local extension offices by eliminating all of the expenses (secretarial, office supplies and postage) of using a conventional mailing. A good library is still of great importance and our group has an extensive one. I love going in there and just reading or doing research. However, most of the time, the caller much prefers a quick response. IronBelly Here is a link that might be useful: Searchable question database.

I am also looking into books on permaculture. I saw an artlice in Organic Gardening a few years ago on a family that utilized permaculture. Unfortunately it didn't have any references on where to find information on this topic. This family incorporated a chicken coop into the design for their greenhouse for heat generation. The family also discussed the need for a wild area outside of your growing areas. I was thinking of purchasing Gaia's Garden, but didn't know if it covered these types of topics. Also, I will be incorporating this into a few acres of property hopefully, if I can ever find the right property. Thanks, Sharon