Been wanting mushroom spawn since our garden club had a presentation on growing mushrooms... if there's anything you want on my list for some of this please let me know, Sam..thanks GINA

Tim, I live in Missouri and our conservation dept. puts out some great pamplets on mushrooms. Check and see if your state has the same offering. Happy hunting!! Sara

Hi Signet I don't have any mushroom spawn but I do have the know how. I used to work in a fungal mycology lab and I have the series of books put out by Paul Stamets which are the best on the topic. Do you know what species you would like to try growing? Would you rather use a prepared bed of woodchips, grass clippings etc. or use some old logs that you could inoculate with plug spawn? There are different methods for different species but using an old stump or log and plug spawn is probably the best method to get a good return of fruiting mushrooms. If I get my act in gear I could always come to the garden swap and bring a book for you to look at. I have still to get my seedlings started so not much to trade other than Hoya cuttings right now. Mike Here is a link that might be useful: Fungi perfect and Paul Stamets

Samantha, Absolutely, lack of expansion joints could have also been the part of the problem, which is unrelated to grout joint size. When installing, manufacturer instructions comes first, then the standards second if there is missing or conflicting information and instruction. If there is a failure, an inspector (or a court) will first use manufacturer specs and instructions, because they are the liable responsible party in a claim, so their information takes presidence. Thats what installer must follow first if there is conflict, and if there is missing information, the TCNA/ANSI standards come in. Now, many manufacturers refer to the TCNA/ANSI standards. Additionally, some manufacturers do not offer all needed information which then the TCNA/ANSI standards kick in. Every installer should be well versed in both. There are many tile and stone manufacturers who still allow for ultra thin grout joints. In regards to the standards changes you mention in grout joint sizes, indeed the TCNA/ANSI has made recommendations for the first time concerning grout joint size and spacing. To completely understand the new changes you have to understand how recommendations are made. When they say "in general", these are not absolute standards. Simply guidance lacking any other source taking presidence. When they say "absolute", these are standards that are never to be strayed from. The new changes on grout joint width is an "in general recommendation" or situational recommendation. Ultimately, the project owner should choose the grout joint they desire. -from the TCNA website. Please view the TCNA link for more information. It explains it pretty well. If you have tile cut or manufactured to tight size tolerances, you can have any joint size you wish. Of course, as I stated before, not all tile is able to be installed with the ultra thin grout joints. Again this is situational. There is no absolute standard for tile joint width. Tile it is a finish topical product, relying on the subfloor/framing/substrate structure for rigidity and in-range deflection for its stability and structure. Now if you continue to believe otherwise, that the tile system itself aides in overall system stability and structural integrity and/or that grout joint size matters at all when tile sizing is withing parameters, I really dont know how else to convince you. Since this obviosuly matters a great deal to you, I would suggest you buy a copy of the standards. Its relatively inexpensive. Then you can read for yourself in context. Also I would suggest that you start reading up on tile manufacturers installation guidelines and instruction for various products you may be interested in, as they take presidence, although they usually are in line with the standards. Here is a link that might be useful: TCNA Standards For Grout