Letters

“I am now powerless to do
anything else, including work,

I love your funky magazine. I like the eclectic mix of projects you feature ... kind of Mother Earth News ^{until I read every article and} meets Cutting Edge. Very cool. Finally, a magazine try as many of the projects for those of us who wander the aisles at Lowe’s and

Hancock Fabrics with equal abandon. as I can without leaving

^{—Beth Bess} the house.”

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Your article on fermenting wine in a plastic jug [CRAFT, Volume 03, page 102] is an interesting one, to say the least; however, I feel compelled to point out that your instructions ignore all modern sanitation practices. Fermenting any product at home poses a serious risk of botulism poisoning or other infection. By failing to include instructions for the proper methods of sterilizing fermentation equipment, you are putting your readership at risk of contracting a serious (and avoidable) illness. I think this calls for an addendum on your website and a correction in subsequent issues.

—Jason Schreiber

You raise a good question, Jason. We double-checked with a homebrew retailer, and with Linda Bisson, PhD, at the UC Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology. Both agreed that botulism generally is not an issue in winemaking because the bacterium Clostridium botuli-num can’t survive wine’s high acidity (pH below about 5) or its alcohol content (above 7%). Black mulberry wine clocks in around 7% alcohol and a tart 3. 5 pH.

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The three issues just arrived. I am now powerless to do anything else, including work, until I read every article and try as many of the projects as I can without leaving the house. This will surely lead to me being fired. Upside: I’ll have more time for crafting when I’m unemployed. Seriously, thanks so much. I’m entranced!

—Terri Stone

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Got my copy (subscriber!) today and am over the moon! I will have plenty to look at tonight. My husband brought in the mail, swiped it, and looked at it even before I could. Now the spine is all creased and the pages dented. :)

—Rosemary Waits

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However, “the caution against plastic is a good one,” says Dr. Bisson. If plastic bottles are not thoroughly cleaned, a “biofilm” can build up over time, possibly providing a home for nasties such as Salmonella, Staphylococcus, or E. coli.

If you aren’t familiar with our sister publication, MAKE, check us out online at makezine.com.

Our article advised readers to clean the vessel after fermenting and before drinking; we now also recommend a thorough cleaning and sterilizing before fermenting.

Got something to Say? Write us at editor@craftzine.com

“Finally, a magazine for those
of us who wander the aisles
at Lowe’s and Hancock
Fabrics with equal abandon.”