Traditional kimchi (통배추김치)

Ingredients:

For salting cabbage:

6 pounds napa cabbage (3 to 4 heads of medium napa cabbage)
1/2 cup Kosher salt
For making porridge:

2 cups water
2 tablespoons sweet rice flour (glutinous rice flour)
2 tablespoons turbinado sugar (brown or white sugar)
Vegetables:

2 cups radish matchsticks
1 cup carrot matchsticks
7 to 8 green onions, chopped
1 cup chopped Asian chives (buchu), optional (substitute with 3 green onions, chopped)
1 cup water dropwort (minari), optional
Seasonings and spices:

1/2 cup garlic cloves (24 garlic cloves), minced
2 teaspoon ginger, minced
1 medium onion, minced
1/2 cup fish sauce
1/4 cup fermented salted shrimp (saeujeot) with the salty brine, chopped
2 cups hot pepper flakes (gochugaru)