Fermentation Station
Fermented & Cultured — What?
My question exactly.
In all honesty, my first exposure to anything in this arena was advice to buy and drink acidophilus milk for some issues of the tummy. I did, and it helped. I think that was probably about 40 years ago.
I also happened upon probiotic yogurt and some sort of kefir in the local health food store and had heard some good things about that for tummy issues (recurring theme) so I bought some of that. Although there wasn't near the choices we have today and it was hard to find, it helped me. That was about 20 years ago.
Tummy issues persisted, and in those days I was not consistent in use of any one thing. Enter some friends about 6 or so years ago talking about their "kombucha." Kombucha? What's that? Well, I learned a lot about that and a friend gave me her extra scoby and basic instructions to brew my own. She also pointed me in the direction of a website that was selling kits, offering videos, etc. (don't have permission to post their name here yet.) It went well for awhile and then, as usual, I was not consistent. And let my scoby pass.
I also fooled around with trying homemade kefir from a kit. Nothing wrong with the kit, user error completely. And I wasn't committed. I also bought a scoby kit and rehydrated that to try once again my own kombucha. User error. And lack of commitment. Was very happy though for the company that provides these kits and their website/phone support. I learned a lot. I just wasn't serious yet.
With the onslaught of readily available kefir and kombucha hitting the stores I was being provided with more options and was getting by.
Until I took my gut health seriously.
And that's where I am at now. Somewhere around 2015 I began to realize that I kept coming around the same mountain of issues. Plus new ones. And I was drawn to certain foods and drinks (cultured veggies, kefir and kombucha) and needed to understand why. And I needed to make my own. Yikes.
Enter my new found source of wonder. Who I don't have permission (yet) to post about here in my blog but talk about in person all the time. She's been doing this fermented and cultured life for almost 20 years I believe. And it was her website and books that really launched me to take this seriously and that I could do it, consistently.
I was blessed this past year to attend two of her Southern California classes. She hasn't done many here in the past. They also sell out quickly! I waited 3 years to be able to see her in person (as she was out of state) and it was worth every minute. The second time she held one locally, I took my daughter. What's even better, she now calls Southern California her home which may mean a few more local classes! Our gain for sure.
If you are on the fence about fermented and cultured, time to do some serious research and soul searching. You just may find the answer to some of your health concerns within.
So that's my intro to this page. I'll be posting more soon with my trials, successes, research and resources. As my favorite "mentor" says - science is finally catching up with what she, and many before her, have known about the power of fermented and cultured. Here's to our health!