Homemade Scoby & Kombucha

I am fairly new to kombucha, only a few months but was immediately hooked.  It took me a while to purchase my first one because I just could not bring myself to spend over $3 on a beverage, and it really just did not look appealing.  Marlene's had them on sale -- $1 less than normal price -- and so then started the kombucha bottle collection in my cupboards!

Well if it didn't look appealing at first bottled sight, then certainly it doesn't when making it!  My husband could not believe I fell in love with kombucha.  He spent some years as a server in Florida -- the "South" part of Florida in the Panhandle, where sweet tea is ordered before the water comes out.  He wondered why I didn't just make it myself if I loved it so much.  I then looked up scobies and saw how unappealing the process looked and how much a kit would cost me.  He said they would make scobies all the time, not intentionally, but just by being so busy and never washing out the urns.  So I began my experiment.

From what I read online, I am finding article after article no longer recommended the homemade scoby method that I used.  However, even if you bought a scoby, in reusing it past your first batch you are still practically doing the homemade scoby method by using some of the old tea to feed the scoby, because each batch will make new scoby -- like you are initially atttempting to do with the homemade scoby method.  It's the same process in the second go-round if you bought your scoby.  It just sounds fishy to me to say it is not a recommended method, and seems more like a way to keep making money off of people on something that often unintentionally gets made in the South.  Yeah, you know what road I took!

I started with these ingredients:

1 bottle of store bought original black bottle kombucha
Homemade sweetened black tea

I wanted a good start so I used the black bottle kombucha.  If you are using GT's, this is the kind that says it contains alchohol because it has a slightly longer fermentation process than the clear bottle stuff.  I have seen in those non-recommended articles that the clear bottle is often used, though the darker bottles have much more of that cloudy blob on the bottom and I wanted a good starter for a scoby.

I started by steeping tea and molasses in a mason jar and a jam jar, halfway full, and then let cool completely.  I decided on molasses because I wanted the extra minerals in my kombucha.  Note -- I have read that in choosing sugar types for kombucha, since molasses has extra minerals, it is harder on the scoby; however, my scoby formed just fine in 5 days' time.  It didn't seem to have a bad effect on my batch!  I will stick to natural, raw sugars like raw honey and raw agave, because of contained minerals and ohter properties.  I just love that I can add healthiness (if I can even say a sugar source could be healthy with offending some) to something already healthy.

After the tea fully cooled, I split the store bought kombucha into the 2 jars.  I let it fully cool as to not kill the cultures in the kombucha I added.  Then I simply set the lids on top, not tightened, and let it sit in my pantry.

Right before I put the lids on. 

Day 5 gave me a healthy scoby, though I waited until day 8 to do the second fermentation on this batch and do a second initial batch. 

The initial fermentation can go from 7-30 days.  I thought mine would have to be on the high end since I was using molasses.  Yet, this wasn't the case for me, and the smell of tartness was to my precise liking on day eight.  It might have been because of the good starter black bottle kombucha that I used, rather than the clear bottle.  Our secret.

On day 8 I took the contents from this batch, removing the scoby and reserving some from of the bottom for another new batch, and bottled it into 2 kombucha bottles.  I decided on a gingerade flavor, squeezing fresh lemon into each bottle and 2 drops of ginger essential oil.  I gave it a quick try, and the ginger was very strong.  Next time I do this flavor, I will use just one essential oil drop per bottle.  Then I tightened the lids and put back into my pantry for another 2 days.  This is to enhance the flavor and to allow carbonation to build from fermentation to gain a fizzy kombucha.  With the scoby and reserve, I started another batch of kombucha, repeating my initial batch with a scoby this time.  

Second fermentation process.  The scoby did grow from day five to eight.

Second batch, reusing scoby.

It was a very easy process.  It's like ghee -- I can't believe I've been buying this stuff!  This second batch I will add chia seeds to make my favorite type of kombucha.  What are some of your flavors you have experienced making?  You know, I never was into sweet tea.  I actually even took a bit of pride in knowing it didn't get a hold of me.  Ha, but with kombucha... I guess in a way, sweet tea got a hold of me too.

Mt. Rose

Did I mention how much Lovecake and I love the Olympics?  It seems through our research, on a day's trip, hikes like Mt. Ellinor are hard to find in the Olympics.  On Ellinor looking down to Mt. Rose, we really were not interested in doing it.  However, figuring that we did not have the gear nor did the kids have the experience to continue with the Olympics, we decided we would give Mt. Rose a shot, as our farewell to the Olympics until next year (unless we do Enchanted Valley and the Glacier).  Looking back I would say what a way to bow out.  I thoroughly enjoyed this hike.

To get there, we took I-5 S to exit 104 in Olympia, then exited 101 N to Shelton until we hit Hoodsport.  Might I say that I would enjoy living in Hoodsport.  I imagine myself in that little touristic village, Lovecake working for the diving company there, Amira reading a book on one of the bay decks, ice cream walks... *swoon*  Moving on... So at Hoodsport we took a left on Forest Road 119 until it ended (a little over 9 miles).  Instead of turning right here to Mt. Ellinor, you turn left to Mt. Rose, past the road to the Mt. Rose community and you will see the parking lot sign on the right.  No pass requirement is posted.  You'll walk past 2 streams to the trailhead, where the registry and trail information sheets are posted.

So from the trail map, it is 1.8 miles to the summit loop junction.  Going left is another 1.1 miles to the summit.  If you go right, it is 1.7 miles to the summit.  If you did the full loop, from trailhead and back, it is 5.4 miles.  Doesn't seem bad at all, does it?

We started an immediate elevation gain, switchbacking until you hit the first viewpoint.  From there it has minor switchbacks, mainly a straightforward approach to the junction.  Keep an eye out between switchback 4 and 5 -- there is an eagle's nest in a tree above.

About a mile into it, we were feeling like it was a great workout.  So I hear that this is like the Mailbox of the Olympics.  When I looked at the math of the elevation gain and the mileage, I thought that to be a slight exaggeration.  However, I am a bit shocked at how it really is that steep.  I think it is a good trainer, because it is quite strenuous in its gain, but you have the safety of not having to deal with exposure.  I have yet to do Mailbox.  I would, however, compare this trail to the Old Si trail.  In fact, once you hit the summit loop junction, on the left hand side, after a bit of a bigger climb, you come to this boulder meadow area that reminds me much of Old Si's Boulder Garden Loop.  

We took a few minutes to catch our breath when we got to the summit loop junction, then moved left.  It immediately seemed as if the elevation gain grew steeper; but, alas, it leveled out about halfway through this left side of the loop.  This is the part that reminded me of the Boulder Garden Loop to the Old Si Trail.  At this point we were in the low cloud cover.  It was so serene, especially at a moment of not gaining much elevation in hiking.  I could have camped here, happily, and yet I don't even like camping.  

The last quarter of the way, the elevation tackling started once again for the final push.  Just when you think this little mountain can't get any higher, it does!  You see the red rock of this beauty as you climb through the old burn sites.  I can imagine on a clear day Lake Cushman can take your breath away.  For us in the fog, the climb itself was doing a good enough job of doing that.  

Finally, we made it to the summit, where we had lunch and came to see a lonely bird want lunch too.  Around 45 minutes into the summit lunch break, we heard hikers from both sides of the loop coming.  Up until that point we saw nobody.  What is neat is that today, the day after that hike, 2 hours away from that trail, at the zoo, I saw the left (back) side loop hikers we met on the summit.

As you can see, we did not have a view to look upon.  I really wanted to see the sparkling waters of Lake Cushman, and the reflection of the surrounding summits upon it.  I did have a spiritual reflection on this though... sometimes it is best not to see so far out, but rather to be tucked safely into the cloud -- that is, the presence of the Lord.  A mountain reflection upon the water would have been nice, but, ultimately, the reflection we want to see is the Lord.  How else is that obtained if not in His presence?  So above you see our summit picture, upon a solid rock and yet you can see nothing but the cloud.  I want to be that climber in life, whose end is the Solid Rock and who anyone can see none other than God's own presence in my life.

On the way down we saw another woman who commented on how she didn't think she would make it, then past the junction we met another one who said he did this 3 times and only reached the summit once.  I hope that man made it.  Again, it is not dangerous, just steep.  I enjoyed it with our family, but the fact that it is one of the smaller Olympic mountains and doesn't have much exposure will fool you into thinking this could be one of the first of the year.  We rated it a 7 out of 10, strictly for strength needed and not strategy needed.  The trail is kept up nicely.  It is a completely different experience from Mt. Ellinor, its neighbor.  I imagine, though, that all of the Olympics are unique and one of a kind.  

It took us 2:45 to summit, 55 minutes as a summit lunch break, and then 2:00 back to the car.  Total hike time was 4 hours and 45 minutes, then adding in the 55 minutes for lunch.

I normally don't like forest hikes, even if they have an elevation gain.  This one, though, was beautiful.  I don't know why they named it Mt. Rose, as I didn't see many roses.  (I did, however, see very many spider webs.  This makes sense since there were many gnats and mosquitos).  Perhaps, it is because it, like a rose, is just beautiful.  

Two Cents a Load, as Low as ONE (DIY Laundry Soap)

Yesterday I was trying to configure proportions in laundry detergent ingredients and ended up enlisting my husband's help on his lunch break.  We texted back and forth and the result was a laundry chemist walked through the door shortly before dinner.  He had spent some time reading the science behind detergent during his breaks.  Oh, what a man.  Then before we went to bed I changed my mind on the powder option and decided to go with liquid -- because the last time I used powder I had an issue with it clumping in cold water.  I stopped with an abrupt, "I think I need friends."  Please tell me there have been other women who are at home with their littles all day and have pondered such DIY projects down to the science.

Once I gave up the powder concept, the liquid formula was easy to figure out.  In a detergent I have to think of a few things -- 1) cleanliness; 2) natural; 3) gentle but effective, since I have a baby; 4) does not cause me to strip diapers; 5) does not tear down my PUL diapers nor bamboo.  With this, I opted to eliminate anything too high in pH and too low.  In fact, my detergent from Trader Joe's labels itself as pH balanced.  I know that may shock majority of the laundry detergent makers who understand that you need a high pH to degrease.  Since soda ash is high up there at an 11, I wanted to refrain from using it (bamboo does not like high pH anyway).  I know water is the biggest thing you need for cleaning.  I also know, thanks to my husband's research, that though you may not need soda ash, you need a surfactant.  Magnesium sulfate (Epsom) would be my choice in that -- it is also not too acidic, at an average pH of six.

When I looked at my Trader Joe's pH balanced detergent it reads, "Purified water, plant based surfactant, soy based fabric softener, cellulose optical brightener, lavender oil."  Honestly, I thought to sub a few things and stick with their sort of ingredients -- like Epsom for the surfactant, vinegar instead of fabric softener, salt for brightener, and lavender oil.  However, just by knowing those ingredients, it would keep the solution slightly acidic because of the vinegar.

I also use their dish detergent, which is quite similar in ingredients.  Dish soap is almost always used in liquid homemade detergent, if not a bar soap.  I wouldn't use a bar soap because of the chance of repel in the cloth diapers.  It was easy for me to just use their dish soap in my laundry soap.  So, so far I knew I would use the balanced dish soap and Epsom.  My last active ingredient would be baking soda.  Why?  Because it is a milder alternative of the soda ash.  It sits around 9 on the pH scale.

Using only a shy less than half gallon (multiply accordingly for more), my formula was:

3 TB dish soap
2 TB baking soda
3 TB Epsom salt
(Optional) essential oils

I stirred these in a pot with a few cups of sink hot water until dissolved, then poured into my old detergent bottle and filled the rest with cold water.  I am using the same measurements of others' post to use 1/2 cup per standard load.  For HE, my Trader Joe's detergent uses half (1/4 cup) to yield 26 HE loads, or 13 standard loads.  You could always work between these 2 numbers and go with a 1/3, as I've seen in other posts as well.

So let's talk cost and how I figured it was only 2 pennies a load.  Let me first say, I bought that smallest box of baking soda and smallest bag of Epsom salt.  If you go with the larger quantities, you will truly only spend a penny a load, as these things get cheaper the larger the package.

Dish soap -- $2.99 at 25 ounces (50 TB) That's $.059/less than $.06 an TB
Baking soda -- $.54 at 16 ounces (32 TB) That's $.016/scarcely over a penny a TB
Epsom salt -- $.88 at 16 ounces (32 TB) That's $.027/less than $.03 a TB

For once 13-26 (depending on HE or standard) load bottle (53 ounce) I need $.17 of dish soap, $.03 baking soda, and $.08 of Epsom salt.  Total, this is $.28 of ingredients needed for no less than 13 loads, and up to 26 loads.  Divide that into the 13 loads and it makes each load 2 cents, but divide that into 26 and you get...a penny a load.  I did also put some essential oils, rolling with 7 drops each of lavender and bergamot.  This is optional, as the dish soap already has lavender.  I added lavender to roll with the oil it already had, and added bergamot since it is such a good skin oil.  I imagine I'll switch it up each time, alternating between lemon, sweet orange, peppermint, lavender, tea tree, bergamot, etc.  Again, it's not needed, but at 1-2 pennies a load...why not?

Simple Vegan Kimchi

Before yogurt companies were bringing awareness of probiotics as advertised in their products, I was tearing up some kimchi as a young girl...and embarrassed by it.  It used to be one of those things you'd have to excuse yourself:  "Excuse me, I ate kimchi; I smell a little garlicky."  In grade school there would be other little kids that would say to the Asians and Islanders, "That stuff stinks," or "Eww, you eat rotten cabbage?"  You know, all the while the best things to eat were pizza and fries.  Ha!  What a turn of the century.  Now rotten tea and rotten cabbage have properly taken (reclaimed) their place in the food industry, and the McDonald's of the 90's has taken theirs.

I actually took a break from eating kimchi after I turned vegan in 2006.  I'd eat it sparingly from the health food store, as a vegan option.  Then I added fish back into my diet and ate it from the Asian stores made fresh with fish sauce.  I later questioned if they knew all the ingredients in their fish sauce (because many already-jarred ones are NOT kosher, using shrimp on top of the fermented anchovies), and so I determined it was time to stop playing 20 questions (and language barrier at times) with the Asian stores, and make my own.

It is extremely easy to make.  Though I do question if 2-3 days is sufficient to ferment, as I've seen in most other recipes.  Perhaps it is to the 1st stage, but there are 3 stages of full fermentation.  The final is essential for preservation, but also very acidic (which is what preserves -- think of citric acid in jarring...).  Some may not prefer a vinegary kimchi.  Me?  I love vinegar.  So I made a double batch with the intentions of keeping half (hopefully) until the 3rd fermentation stage (3 weeks).

Another issue I am finding is in how to store while it ferments.  Some say keep the jar tightly sealed.  Some I see do not even have all the cabbage under brine.  Some drain the brine the cabbage soaked in while it was prepping and never add any back in (mainly those that do not have cabbage sitting under brine).  I guess that is where this 2 day fermentation comes in.  Maybe all that gas buildup is fermenting that cabbage quickly and you must eat it quickly then, or it will otherwise truly rot?  I don't know.  All I know is that my recipe I'm sharing with you is taking my experience with sauerkraut into consideration, which I did successfully ferment to the 3rd stage without any signs of mold.

Ingredients:  
Napa cabbage (at least)
Daikon (optional)
Green onions

Base (per one cabbage):
Himalayan or sea salt
Ginger essential oil (7 drops)
Turmeric essential oil (5 drops)
Korean red pepper flakes (3 T)
Paprika (2 T)
Sugar source (I use raw agave, but you can use regular sugar -- 2 T)

Brine soak:
water
Himalayan or sea salt (note -- I've read that table salt's added iodine will actually prohibit fermentation)

Step 1
Cut the cabbage in half, lengthwise.  Cut the halves in half, lengthwise.  Chop these sections widthwise in a few sections.

Step 2
Soak cut cabbage in brine soak all day or all night, making sure that there is enough liquid to submerge cabbage.  It will try to float, therefore you will have to stir it halfway through.  Every vegetable has a compound in the cellular walls that needs to be broken down to allow for fermentation.  With sauerkraut you literally break it down as you smash the cabbage using salt to draw the moisture out for a self-made brine.  Yet in kimchi, the cabbage is different and you can't exactly beat it down.  Since you aren't, you have to let it soak for a bit to break it down.

Step 3
Mix your base ingredients into a separate container.  The measurements I gave are very general.  Feel free to adjust according to your taste.

Step 4
Drain cabbage from brine, reserving the brine in case you need it.  Massage base ingredients into cabbage with your hands.  I used my bare hands, though I know some will use gloves due to the peppers.  You should accumulate some brine in your massage.  If you are not, then add more salt and keep massaging.

Step 5 
Jar the kimchi with the liquid attained through massage.  If it doesn't cover the kimchi then add the brine reserve (from your soak).  To ensure kimchi does not mold (which would be hard to do in just a 2- day ferment, but do this if you want a longer ferment), drizzle a layer of olive oil on the top of of your ferment and lay a single large piece of cabbage on the top.  The oil makes a barrier for the oxygen and the piece of cabbage keeps the ferment from floating above the brine.  Seal FINGER TIGHT.  The gas must release.  In order to not mess with it much as save yourself from burping the kimchi, keep the lid barely finger tight, this will allow enough pressure within the jar to keep oxygen out but not enough of a seal to prevent off gas.  This is the method I adopted from my sauerkraut.

Time?  If I were judging based upon what I know of sauerkraut, I'd say give it a week, or at least 5 days.  Then again, I see many recipes that say 2-3 days.  I mean, if you are going to have kimchi, have kimchi and take it nice and fermented!  That is my suggestion.  Again, half of my jars are going for 3 weeks or more.  

I made these 5 jars from 2 heads of Napa cabbage.  I figured with the ingredients I used, these 5 jars costs me $5 total -- that's $1 a jar.  I just came from the Asian store where these sizes sold around $5 (the smaller one) to $8 (my larger one listed) a jar.  Yep, totally worth it.

Putrid Pete's Peak (P3)

This one had been teasing us since the first week we started hiking this season.  Pictures of its grade (you gain over 3,000 ft in a little over 2 miiles) and the absolute need for scrambling to summit caused us to hold off on it for a bit.  It is a teaser, that's for sure.  It is only a 4.8 mile RT hike, so it definitely calls you, though it is important to be aware that it isn't a walk in the park, no even just a strenuous hike, but one that calls for some care and a certain level of comfort in certain environments in order to keep it a safe and successful summit.

We made it to the trail head at 9:30ish, though didn't start until ten.  To get there, you will take exit 45 from I-90 E, take a left and follow the road, staying left when it forks into another forest road, until you reach the parking lot.  The road has some serious pot holes.  The trail is a branch off of the Ira Spring Trail, so it will need a Northwest Forest Pass to enter [the Ira Spring Trail].  You cannot bypass this as there is a sign at the beginning of the gravel road saying, signifying that point and beyond needs a pass (some 2 miles from the trailhead).  If you do not have a pass, nor purchased an epass, there is a pay station where you place your payment (no cards).

Entering the Ira Spring Trail, you will continue until it makes its first swithback.  Here, there is a clear boot path straight ahead.  You will take this to the summit.  The trail has a couple of forks that lead to other areas, so always take the right/up trail.  At the 11th switchback, there is a fork where both trails lead up, so that is why it is helpful to know take the trail that goes up and right.  The boot path starts becoming a bit more faint as you continue.  As you exit the elevating forest hike, the elevation only gets more dramatic.  You will eventually leave the forest behind and make it to the ridge you must mostly scramble on to summit.

Beginning the ridge ascent

It was a very dry day and the terrain was questionable.  I wondered if moisture, or even snow, would have made me a little less nervous.  The scrambling area often calls for all fours as you are dealing with loose dirt and very steep grades.  That ridge to summit, alone, took us an hour and 45 minutes.  Alas, we made it, and I was so nervous by that point that I stayed tucked into the side of the rock face and stayed put, trying to shake it off before the descent down.  What made me nervous was not the partial rock climbing/scrambling, but climbing loose dirt.  The rock was excellent and you could crab crawl it down with just your feet it offered so much to be gripped; but dirt...you cannot climb loose dirt!  Or can you?!  Apparently you can.  Everyone else was without fear, but this is the first one that my mothering instincts found me...nervous.  To be truthful, I was so nervous I thought I would be sick, a feeling I have never had in climbing.  Hiking with children is different.  I did not get sick, and often chose to put my focus on Brant's feet as he held my hand during sketchy parts.

Some of the ridge's climb until the loose dirt climb

A look at some of the grade on a good section of the loose dirt parts.  You can see the trees below are just that -- directly below.  It's steep!

The last push is a true scramble.

It took us 4 hours to summit.  Yes, 4 hours to go 2.4 miles.  That should give you an idea of the type of hike this is.  I read a report from a while back of a man who took his father and his 6 year old son.  It took them 5 hours to summit.  Hence, if it is to be a family hike, it is a lengthy one.  The north view offers Spider Lake below, the east is Mt. Defiance, the west is West Defiance, and the south is McClellan Butte on the other side of the highway.  We spent 30 minutes at the summit and then began the descent.  It took us 2 hours and 45 minutes to safely arrive back down to the parking lot.  Phew, a good serving accomplished.  I'm a bit apprehensive when I have all my treasures with me, and P3 is just not for everyone.  I read that before, and I will repeat what others have said -- P3 is not for everyone.  We made it safely, but lack of caution, time, and strategy could put you in a precarious situation.  Brant and I both agree that this was about a 9/10 for us (10 being the most dangerous and/or difficult hike we'd do AS A FAMILY -- our rating solo is entirely different), really bordering on that ten.

Good rock

Just about the summit, view west

Summit views east to Mt. Defiance

Summit view northeast

Lake below and behind

Each time we go on a hike, we take opportunity to learn something more permanent.  We always look for the spiritual application as we walk and go higher as a family.  Some things that I reflected on during this hike:  1) There is a portion within the tree line that the grade is the same as that of the exposed area, yet you don't get nervous within the trees.  The exposed ascent didn't change so much as the surroundings did.  This showed me how much we allow our surroundings to influence our confidence, and on the flip side how sometimes having a shorter sight is the better way to go.  Once I saw the full picture (top to bottom), I got nervous; whereas in the same grade, howbeit in the trees where I could only see just a portion, I wasn't nervous.  Spiritually, sometimes I think if we see the full picture we'd cower like a little puppy with its tale in between its legs.  It is often times for our best that we can only see just a portion.  2) When the ground below me was shifting (the loose dirt), Brant literally held my hand while leading me.  I kept my eyes on his feet only and it calmed me.  I stepped where he stepped.  I must remember that when the ground is shifting sand, that Yeshua holds my hand and to keep my eyes on His feet and walk His footsteps.  Take it one step at a time, but making sure that one step is a step He takes.  3) The rock is my friend.  That is what someone told me on one of my first mountain hikes.  In rock climbing, your instinct is to push your butt out, but the correct thing to do is draw yourself close to the rock.  If you fall, you fall back on to the mountain/rock.  Your center of gravity is to always be rock-bound.  On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.  When I got to the top, the first thing I did was hike myself in the cleft of the rock.  I felt safe there.  It reminded of the hymnal, and sang it:  "Rock of ages, cleft for me.  Let me hide myself in thee."

We didn't realize this until after we were already back on I-90, but there is a registry under a flat rock slab on the summit.  It has a picture of Pete Schoenig, the summit's namesake.  He was from Seattle and is known for the K2 belay that saved some climbers back in the 50's.  I have pictures of us on the summit, but that registry calls.  A good reason to go back.  I'm sure I'll see P3 again, just maybe not with the children...at this age.

Machine Free Cloth Diapering (Hand Wash Method)

Why in the world would anybody be interested in washing diapers by hand?  Well, there are some of us that temporarily use laundering facilities.  Honestly, when you can buy a case of diapers at Walmart for $20 and compare that to the amount you spend to wash a load of cloth diapers at a mat, it really does have you wonder if you are cloth diapering for cost-efficiency or if the health nutty earth moms' exploitation of cloth diapering turned it into a trend for you.

I am a health nutty hippy mom myself, but I am also more so of the camp that refuses to let go of the budget-friendliness of cloth diapering.  I just can't spend $30 a diaper that I would actually use, and in the same sense I just can't spend $30 a week on cleaning diapers!  Even when we did own a washing machine before cloth diapering, I would limit its usage, and so adding diapers into the load adds amounts of time I'd have to use it and my head would be counting the costs.  Simply, I had to learn to successfully hand wash my diapers.

Since I've been doing it in this way for nearing a month and we have had zero stink, zero stains, and zero infections, I figured what we are doing is very doable and so here is the way our house makes the most of cloth diapering, keeping it eco-friendly and budget-friendly.  This method is essentially equipment-free cleansing, it does not require a plunger or other device, just your hand.  Truly, a hand washing and agitation method.

Prepping
Since dry time without a dryer took a tad longer than...a dryer, I had to invest in a few more prefolds for my PUL covers, so I wouldn't run out of diapers while awaiting ones to dry.  This meant I had to put a well known non-machine prep method to the test:  boiling.  I purchased both bamboo and unbleached cotton prefolds.  The instructions for prep mentioned natural oils in the material that need to be broken down.  Logically, I just thought what it was essentially saying is that you need a degreaser -- a sulfate.  Now, we don't own any chemical sulfates in our house, but our dishsoap does use a plant-based one.  So, I boiled the diapers in dishsoap water for 30 minutes, let them cool down, rinse really well (to get as much soap out as I could), then I did a second boil in straight water to release the remainder of the dishsoap out of them.  Ta-da.  Prepped diapers.  I know they prepped correctly because those bamboo ones have lasted a minimum of 4 hours between changing.

Washing
Okay so before I even wash, I immediately rinse the diaper I just took off of baby.  Since correct cleansing without a machine is greatly dependent upon the soak, I had to rinse the diapers of urine to ensure they aren't soaking in urine, tainting the cleanse.  All I really do is run faucet water into the prefold to its max absorbency and squeeze out, flip to the other side and do the same thing.  I repeat this twice and throw into the baby's bathtub for a soak.  I use baby's bathtub because it is a water-saver.

As for the detergent -- as of this moment we had been using Trader Joe's pH balanced plant-based regular laundry detergent.  I only need 1-2 T for her baby tub.  My goal this week is to develop my own laundry soap that I can use instead; howbeit, it cannot be predominately baking/washing soda like most others, because bamboo breaks down in high pH.  I'm sure that soap invention will make its way into a post sometime -- stay tuned.  In the soapy tub, I knead each diaper for a couple of minutes like I would bread dough -- I consider it practice for my once-a-week challah making.  I then let it soak all day until after dinner.  I wring the diapers out and repeat the faucet rinse I mentioned above to get the detergent out (run water over one side to its fill, squeeze, repeat on other side, repeat each side again).

Final Rinse
From my days of being below the poverty line, as well as my days in Spain and Costa Rica -- times when I did not have a dryer -- I learned that hang drying creates stiff clothes.  So for this purpose, a fabric softener comes in handy.  Of course you would not use one on your cloth diapers, but an excellent alternative is vinegar.  Likewise, vinegar will also further sanitize.  My second soak (which lasts until I go to bed) is in vinegar/water in the tub as my final rinse soak.  I knead the diapers once again to get the vinegar in there and the remainder soap out of there.  Before I go to bed I will wring out and do the faucet rinse mentioned above.  I do not put my covers in a vinegar rinse, as I read that vinegar will break down the PUL.

Drying
This is simple.  I keep them on a rack overnight and then throw them on my car's dash in the morning and they are dry in a matter of a couple of hours.  The sun is whitening and sanitizing.  In the overcast days (which we do see in Washington), I keep them on the rack and will use the fan or throw them in front of the heater and they are dry in a little over an hour.

It really does not take up that much time to knead a diaper and wring it, etc.  Don't be intimidated by all the instructions of needing x amount of washes for a good prep or machine washing.  It wasn't too long ago that cloth diapers were the only option and not too long before that hand washing was the only option as well.  We didn't always have machines and, hey, it worked out.  I am determined that it can still work out.

Mt. Ellinor

All of last week we had intended on taking a week off of hiking.  All of last week up until Friday.  Even then, after we changed our mind we decided we really will take a break...from the Snoqualmie/Cascade area anyway.  So deciding to try the Olympics' side, the initial decision was that we would do Mt. Rose, especially since it was one of the permit-free trails.  I read on Washington Trail Association a man's recent trip report wherein he said he took his 6 year old, his 1 year old in a backpack and his wife.  Seemed like an encourager for this family.  However, when we looked at terrain pictures, it seemed like its neighbor, Ellinor, was more of our style.

Mt. Ellinor nears 6,000 ft in elevation, but don't let that scare you -- there are 2 trailheads to summit.  The lower trailhead is fee-free, and is 6.2 miles RT.  The upper trailhead requires a Northwest Forest Pass and is 3.2 miles RT.  However, before the last bend into the upper trailhead parking there is a sign that says "U.S. Fee Area" -- I am making an intelligent assumption, then, that any parking before that point (some dozens of meters) wouldn't require the pass.  Since we were pressed on time, having needed to also go grocery shopping, and since forest hiking (lower to uppper trail path, gaining elevation) is just not my thing, and also since I heard there is plenty of actual rock mountaineering/scrambling to be done on Ellinor, we decided on the upper trail and to use any free time to do some of the traversing along to Mt. Washington.

I remember a mountain I knew I would have to rock climb in Germany, and having thought that taking a cable car to the highest point before I could do the rock climbing would make me less of a mountaineerer, I opted to do some of the elevation hiking to get there.  I hadn't known that the rock climbing would take as much time as it did for strategy and safety (hiking 3 miles is not the same as walking 3 miles; furthermore, rock climbing 3 miles is not the same as hiking 3 miles), and for that reason I ran out of daylight and could not summit.  I learned a lesson to reevaluate what I enjoy more, and what I consider to be an accomplishment:  I am not too proud to bypass the forestry ascent to swap for more rock climbing and ridgelining time.

The plus side from looking at the numbers and others' reports is that taking the lower ridge gives you a nice warm up with its easier ascent unto the upper trail.  The upper trail tackles the elevation very quickly.  The first half of the upper trail starts with a straightfoward and upward approach, then switchbacking until some exposure where the terrain gets rocky, but generally safe.  This starts the later half (in time anyway).  At times the rocks work like stairs -- stairs of rocks that are as vertical as they can be before rock climbing.  The rocky mountaineering often requires long legs.  Some parts to summit even require a help of pulling yourself up with your hands along the rock.  Before you reach what probably is considered the leftmost (from the trail) prominence, you will walk the avalanche chute.  After that you will be alongside the ridge until you are scrambling for your piece of the summit.

It took us 2 hours to summit, we spent an hour up there, and then 1.5 hours to descend.  We were going to try some of the ridgeline traverse to Mt. Washington, but there did remain large patches of ice, so it did not seem like a smart idea.  It offers 360 views -- to your east is the Hood Canal, the Puget Sound, and Mount Rainier in the distance; to your west is a neverending view of the Olympics; to your south is Lake Cushman; and to your north are mountains like Mt. Constance and The Brothers.  Just gorgeous.

Exiting the forestry ascent into big views

The terrain after the forestry ascent

Summit, with views to the north

After the avalanche chute

Mountain goats -- can you see them?

Summit, views to the west

View of the southermost prominence and Lake Cushman

View to the east -- Mt. Rainier, Puget Sound, and Hood Canal

On the way up we were asked many times about the children and maybe some let us know of their concern a bit.  Bam interjected with a quick, "That was easy," on the descent.  Amira followed off to a group of trainees (I believe for Rainier) saying how she used to do Bavarian Alps.  Now I wouldn't agree with Bam and say it is easy.  It is difficult, as other official sites rate it, but it is short.  Definitely an interesting family hike and it is so short that you could take your time.