I have always made pickles with vinegar. Then I read that not all fermented foods are pickled and not all pickles are fermented. Huh? Naturally, I did more research. Here's what I found... Foods that are pickled have been preserved in an acidic medium. But those don't offer you the same probiotic and enzymatic nutritional value of homemade fermented vegetables. If you ferment vegetables, they will create their own self-preserving, acidic liquid that is a by-product of fermentation. Ubiquitous and beneficial lactobacilli proliferates to create lactic acid that pickles and preserves the vegetables. Okay, I was ready to try... Ingredients 6-7 cucumbers (I used organic seedless Persian cukes) 3 whole garlic cloves, peeled 2 to 3 fennel stems 1 T fresh fennel fronds 3 to 4 sprigs fresh dill 2 to 3 sprigs fresh thyme 1 to 2 sprigs fresh oregano 1/2 t fennel pollen filtered water 3 T Himalayan or unrefined salt 1 large, sterile glass jar with a lid ...