20 gallon tubs from Home Depot ONLY $6 !!! You can get these and they are intended to last outside in the elements. Read the label on the side and KEEP the label. (I only kept one label.) I got several couple of years ago and only one cracked - I returned it and the Home Depot folks gave me another one no questions asked. You will see 20 gallon tubs at WalMart and other places but they are not intended to stay outside in hot sun and freezing temps. If you want decor then build a surround for these tubs with inexpensive wood from Home Depot and paint it whatever color your pool area looks good in. You will still get by with less $$$$ than buying whiskey barrels. I noticed those 1/2 barrels are going up UP UP in price. Around here the plastic ones are $20++ each and the real wood ones are almost $50!! Cheers, DL

Will you be coming to the green elephant trade in March? There will be plenty of plants for you to fill as many containers as you have.

EG, When I empty out the 'Tainers, I get bottom water that is the color of tea, as well as it has a sulfur dioxide odor to it. While probably not harmful to the tomato plants, my judgement is to purge it completely and refill the 'Tainer with fresh water come about July 15. I am going to put a small piece of stocking over the inlet tube to prevent large particles from being sucked up into the impeller and possibly jamming it up. This is too good a tool to have break. Raybo

My turn if this post works ;-) The iced coffee bottle is what I use to soak and rinse potting pebbles. I put the plug in the sink, put the kitchen sieve on the bottom then use the tea strainer over the open top of the bottle and empty the dirty water. Refill with water, rinse, refill, rinse etc until the water is clear. Any pebbles that tried to escape don't go down the sink. I also use the kitchen sieve to rinse perlite. Spray bottle for seeds (when I get some) or for dampening my Irish drum. Nail cutical tool, to nudge tiny plants, stones etc. Different sized droppers to water next to tiny plants without fat juicy leaves. Ruler to measure anything eg pebbles. Surgical knife I got from my G.P. (blunt now). Knife to replace surgical one. But its too blunt. Going to try King Of Knives, they used to have this style - cheap and really sharp. And/or;ask my doc. Various sized spoons for mixing and potting. Fork is for combing out roots. Small, wide spoon is to put mix sideways into difficult spots.