Saggar atmosphere, or concentrate the effects of salts, metal oxides and other materials on the surface of their ware. Some pots may be carefully prepared for saggar firing. One method creates a smooth surface covered with clay slip, terra sigillata, which responds particularly well to the saggar technique. This slip covering may be burnished to achieve a gloss. Prepared pots are nestled into saggars filled with beds of combustible materials, such as sawdust, less combustible organic materials, salts and metals. These materials ignite or fume during firing, leaving the pot buried in layers of fine ash. Ware produced in filled saggars
Craft malting Craft malting Craft malting, also called micro-malting, is an agricultural practice of creating malting barley in relatively small quantities for craft beer. One guide says that craft malt must include 50% locally sourced grain, the figure endorsed by a trade industry group. In addition to beer, craft malt can be used for whiskey (peat malting), or as specialty grains for baking. The craft malt may be heirloom varieties that are not commercially viable for large growers; of tens of thousands of barley varieties, only 10 or so are produced in great quantity for beer. Craft malting also appeals to local