Sounds like there's a lot of experience out there with leaf mulching and gathering. We live with lots of huge southern red oaks and hickories that drop tons of leaves every year. I use them all and go seeking the neighbors too. Our method is to start chopping leaves as soon as they fall. Around here the grass is still growing so we get the greens along with the browns. We start with a first pass without the mulching attachment and just let the stuff fly out for the first month or so of leaf drop. When the leaves start falling in earnest we make a first pass without the mulching attachment and then a second with it. The third pass we put on the bagger and we have finely chopped leaves which we either compost, pile up for garden mulching later, or use for a new sheet composted bed. We never let the leaves get too deep, in the thick of leaf drop we can mow every third day or so to keep up. It's nice to mow after a rain so the leaves aren't so dusty but not after a heavy downpour or you do get the clogging. It is a matter of trial and error. Sometimes mowing in an overlapping style with one-half of the blade in the leaves and the other in a cleanly mowed swath helps. The red oaks drop their leaves slowly but continuously, even right up to the next spring. They do decompose very slowly which can be good or bad depending on what you use them for. I've used them everywhere, from starting a new garden bed to mulching in the wooded area in the backyard to top dressing beds in the spring. Gold as far as I'm concerned. I do hate all the carbon emissions I'm creating while chopping, I wish I had one of those super chopper/mulcher tow-behind thingies they sell on TV but they cost about $1,000 and I don't have that sort of cash onhand just now. That way I might avoid the three passes.

Hi Again: After a few responses from some very nice members concerning a feedback system, I wanted to clarify a few items! I realize everyone has special circumstances, about getting their seeds out in a trade. Pensioners, people on limited funds and members that can only mail once a week or so. I would never put anyone down for this, nor should anyone... Plus, post is very unpredictable around this country & around the world. Many people have mentioned in e-mails the last little while, there are a select few traders that are not coming true with their part of a trade. Some members even mention this in their trade lists, I'm sure we have all seen them. As concerned members have mentioned some people are making good money and others are on a pension. Some members don't care if they spend the time organizing a trade, packaging their seeds and spending the money to send out a package(Domestic not much / International three times as much). Now for a pensioner or someone on limited funds, that may mean something to them! Someone that has special seeds/plants/bulbs that are very limited, trades with someone, they take the time & money to send those to another member... Just for the other member to receive and not send anything in return... Meanwhile that bad member hides behind a phony trade list, probably fake name and never returns e-mail or blocks your e-mail. This can be very disheartening too... It happens... Seems to be more frequent lately! Now are these people going to prey on more innocent members... Probably, when we are suppose to keep "private"... Like I've stated, a very large amount of members on GardenWeb that trade, are very honest people and always come thru with their end of the deal! There are just that small percentage that aren't! Though there are always people in society that take advantage of situtaions to capitalize for their own good, not caring about others. It is disheartening... This happens in all aspects of our society, this is why we have laws in effect and people to enforce them. Thanks, Randy

It was a fun swap, last year. It was a great learning experience concerning bulblets and their harvesting and how to wrap and ship for best results. Considering the costs, even in this new less expensive venture, I believe my best personal option is to spend the cost of packaging, and shipping two ways, on one or two grand new full-sized bulbs from a merchant and shipping for same. Thanks again, Kenneth for starting the swaps. I think it will be a great experience for those who haven't tried it and would like lots of different cultivars. Nell

Caligal, it really sounds like you want to stay with your current home. However, I'll just point out that right now the inventory of foreclosed homes gives people unprecedented chances to obtain homes they could not hope to have before and many will not be able to afford in future (let's hope no more such "wonderful" home markets). I don't mean go looking just for a bigger home (although in your case some additional size would be nice), but rather a lifestyle improvement: A decent home in a location that is particularly desirable to you. You know, location, location, location. Things like good schools, a pretty sociable neighborhood, close to family, en route between friends and mall (they'll be dropping in), favorite amenities close by (cows in pastures or high-density shopping, your choice), good proximity and transportion to work. Whatever floats your boat. If you're not already in a place you'd really like to raise your children and even be happy growing old, this current opportunity to make your home there should not be passed up for any but the most important reasons.