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I still think it’s called gross lees because it looks gross 😂

Just as an update, my 3 gallon batch of persimmon was a bust. I guess it’s true that you can do the same wine twice and get totally different results. When I removed the fruit bag it was very dense and heavy, yet there was so much gross lees still. I have racked it from primary to secondary but...

This post interests me because I have several beginner mistakes going on. I did this batch of persimmon with about 20 lbs of fruit, thinking it would be a bit over 3 gallons. I did primary ferment in 5 gallon bucket, but didn’t account for the weight of the fruit (in a bag) so it was reaching...

If yours are past prime, mine are probably too. I just noticed this sprawling pink that I hadn’t seen before, probably because it’s been mowed over. It looks fresh now and I can maybe get a gallon. Depends on how quick I act 😂. I’m really good at procrastinating some things and then others not...

I’m getting Lady’s Thumb, polygonum persicaria. Also known as spotted knotweed. It’s very pretty. Guess I can try a tea and go from there.

I just found this growing in my yard and phone says it’s knotweed. Thoughts? Any recipes to share? 😊

Wow!

I’m pretty new to this and I probably bottled a little earlier than I should have. I would say I still tasted astringency at bottling, so time in the bottle helped. This go round I am going to bulk age longer before I bottle. When I drank it after about 9 months in bottle there was no...

I am getting ready to start a batch of persimmon. I have over 20 lbs and discarded another 10. This will be my third go with persimmon. The first was my very try at wine and it was not good. The second was my favorite I’ve made so far. Last year we didn’t have persimmons, this year there are an...

I did not get near as much color as you are getting. I can’t wait to hear how yours turns out! My Ph came in at somewhere around 3.2. I don’t have a meter and was using less reliable strips. I was surprised it came in that high but maybe it’s not even close to accurate. I still have my lemonade...

Can wait to hear how it goes and your process. Please keep me informed because I haven’t given up yet. I will need to use a ladder too and want to make sure I am not doing that when I am home alone.

I have a #3 in this bourbon bottle :)

Collecting the berries wasn’t quite as easy as I thought it would be. Quantity is not a problem, but I was covered in burrs from just the small amount I collected. Time to get the weed wacker out. Good to know they are shelf stable. I will need a project come winter. Fall is keeping me busy.

For my experiment I did not I did not take the berries off the stem. I watched YouTube video where a guy just cold soaked the bunches and then strained. Although, your suggestion to strip bunches from the inside stem makes more sense, as I think I had left too much stem by just putting the whole...

Scrapping this idea for this year, but may revisit next. As @Rice_Guy pointed out the berries of a smooth or shining sumac are different from the Staghorn. Without having a comparison I can’t say how the flavor differs. My little experiment was interesting, if nothing else. I cold steeped the...

Do you think cutting from a redbud will do the same? I found a few redbuds in very back of property, but I would like some up closer to house where I can see them. I was going to dig up a couple small volunteers and transplant them, but not sure if that will work.

I found some simply watermelon juice at store, no preservatives. I’m going to try using that instead of water. The sumac variety found most in KY is Smooth and Shining. I do have a few more questions, if I may. I am wondering if I waited too long, some of the berries do look a bit dried up...

Thank you for all that information! What I hear, and correct me if I am wrong, is that the sumac alone may be too acidic and may be better to supplement something with low acid like watermelon?

My phone (which I don’t totally trust, but a place to start) says Shining Sumac. Another picture came up as Staghorn, but I didn’t notice hairy stems. The berries have an oily feel to them. I could not count the number I have and some are not accessible. I researched poisonous sumac and these do...

Mine might be shriveled too. Just noticed they yesterday. Hadn’t been out in the fields much recently, but whatever I have, there’s a gazzillion. Will be checking again tomorrow and trying to positively identify.