1: Wash and dry the cabbage. Pull off the outer leaves. Stack the leaves a few at a time, roll them into cylinders, cut them into large ribbons, and transfer to a very large bowl. Cut the heads of cabbage into quarters and remove the cores. Slice the quarters crosswise into strips about ¼ inch wide and transfer to the bowl.

2: Add the salt to the cabbage and toss to coat thoroughly. Transfer the mixture to the pickling crock, pressing down to get all the cabbage in. Weight the cabbage down with an inverted plate to help keep it submerged in the liquid that will be released. Cover the crock with nylon mesh or a double layer of cheesecloth, securing it with butcher’s twine. Then cover the crock with a large plate.

3: Put the cabbage in a cool area with a maximum temperature of 75°F and let it ferment until pleasantly sour, about 2 weeks. Twice a week, remove the plate and mesh (or cheesecloth) and skim the top of the cabbage to remove any white scum, then replace the mesh and plate.

4: Drain the pickled cabbage, reserving the brine. Divide the cabbage among four clean 1-quart canning jars and add enough of the brine to fill them. Discard any extra brine. Wipe the rims and threads clean, place the lids and rings on the jars, and tighten the rings, then refrigerate. Tightly sealed, the cabbage will keep for up to 1 month in the refrigerator.