Questions on fermenting in bags and buckets

[Figuring it out]

I've seen a few places where leaves are being fermented in bags, and sometimes the bags are placed into sealed buckets. I have a couple questions that I haven't been able to find the answers for yet around this:

1. Do the leaves within individual bags need to be spaced any particular way? I suppose this is a general fermentation question as well. Like, there are examples of leaves being tightly bound, like in a carrotte, and then there are also leaves lightly piled or hung, implying more air flow. So does the space between leaves matter, or is it about getting even moisture and temperature, and not about air or oxygen?
2. If spacing doesn't matter, does that mean you can really pack those bags and minimize the space you need for fermenting?
3. When the bags are put in a bucket, and then the bucket in a kiln (such as with ChinaVodoo's invertebrate kiln), is the idea that the moisture is controlled within the bucket, and the temperature is controlled in the kiln?
4. I don't see a lot of people using this method so far, based on the forum posts I've read, but it seems like it really simplifies things. The bucket can retain moisture, the bags reduce the space needed, and so the only thing you need to build is a box to keep a higher temperature going. Are there any good reasons not to use this approach?

Thank you so much!
Chris

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

I've seen a few places where leaves are being fermented in bags, and sometimes the bags are placed into sealed buckets. I have a couple questions that I haven't been able to find the answers for yet around this:

1. Do the leaves within individual bags need to be spaced any particular way? I suppose this is a general fermentation question as well. Like, there are examples of leaves being tightly bound, like in a carrotte, and then there are also leaves lightly piled or hung, implying more air flow. So does the space between leaves matter, or is it about getting even moisture and temperature, and not about air or oxygen?
2. If spacing doesn't matter, does that mean you can really pack those bags and minimize the space you need for fermenting?
3. When the bags are put in a bucket, and then the bucket in a kiln (such as with ChinaVodoo's invertebrate kiln), is the idea that the moisture is controlled within the bucket, and the temperature is controlled in the kiln?
4. I don't see a lot of people using this method so far, based on the forum posts I've read, but it seems like it really simplifies things. The bucket can retain moisture, the bags reduce the space needed, and so the only thing you need to build is a box to keep a higher temperature going. Are there any good reasons not to use this approach?

Thank you so much!
Chris

1. I open the bags and give them a shake every week so the leaves, over time, all have equal access to air. I've never compared to not doing it

2. It does save space.

3. Yes. The leaves are at a predetermined moisture level. Since the buckets are very thick plastic, the leaves do not dry out; therefore negating the need for a humidifier.

4. I recuse myself