Combine 2 gallons of water with the pickling lime in a large, non-reactive bowl. Add the cucumbers and stir. Let this mixture soak for 24 hours.
Place the rinsed cucumbers in a bowl filled with ice water and let them soak for 3 hours to firm up. Drain the cucumbers and place on a clean cloth to dry off.
In a large pot, combine the cold white vinegar with white sugar, pickling spice, salt, celery seed, whole cloves, and the optional drop of green food coloring. Stir until the sugar dissolves completely