On the one hand, water that is saved in a rain barrel and then used on the garden is keeping more water from local rivers and streams than just letting it run off while it is raining. Rain and gutter run-off does not penetrate grass lawn very well, and especially when it is raining, any extra will flow off the yard and into the storm drain, ditch, or local stream. If you hold it until you need it for watering (i.e. when the ground is dry), it will be taken up into the plants, which will then breathe it out into the air. On the other hand, I think that the Colorado gardener has more right to the rain that falls on their own roof than the Arizona residents who want pools or the California yard-owners with green lawn mandates in the desert. Possession is nine tenth of the law. Finders keepers.

There are actually two good ones in that area, Hallet's my favorite is the one just south of Adams, that is another about a mile north of Adams that has a nice selection of perenials, both do actually. Hallet's seems to have the nicest plants I have seen around here. I went to a local plant swap and sale today put on the a group of church ladies in Adams. What fun I had. I bought columbine, bleeding heart, Astilbe for fifty cents each, Hosta for a dollar. large pots of red poppies with buds for a dollar. Ispent a whopping $13.00 and had to make three trips to the car. The plants where small. but healty and I know they will survive the cold winters here. Helped the chuch ladies out too. I am going to take them a bunch of my leftover seedlings in the morning on my way to work, I had such good luck I have way more then I need. Tell them the raglady sent you, they will get a kick out of it, I am one of thier best customers.

Harriethomeowner, And, do you still have any of the 'business attire' from your court reporter days, or did that transition into the new career? The equipment....What to do with it? If it isn't state of the art for today (and I doubt it) I would get it out of my house ASAP and use the space for something else, even if it is blank space. So, my houseguest still has her college books (she is 67) and her mother's, also! I asked her why she kept them, and she feels they would be useful if someone wanted to learn Swedish, chemistry, english, etc. That's for the mother's books. She doesn't feel the information is outdated at all........yup, a 70 year old chemistry book is my idea of a great way to learn about atoms and molecules......and polymers too. So, I've been driving around with all these clothes in the back of the van since the Goodwill store moved from downtown to a strip mall that is out of the way. I have a friend that does a lot of closeup photography and lost some of her backgrounds. Shazam, do we cut up this black silk skirt, or donate it and go buy some black silk? No brainer! Oh, look, there is some more in varying colors, double shazam! Wonderful repurpose!! Barbara

I live in Gainesville, former home to the infamous Koppers plant that made creosote and arsenic treated lumber, mostly utility poles from what I understand. The soil within a 2-mile radius of the former property is so polluted still that no one can plant anything edible in the ground. The most dangerous health-threatening component of creosote is dioxins, which can be released into the air and settle everywhere as dust. Lethal levels of dioxins were found miles away from the Koppers plant site. The statistics on cancer and especially miscarriages within that two-mile radius is unbelievable. If you care anything about your health, don't use creosote treated lumber in your yard, much less in your veggie garden. According to the EPA, it is illegal to use anything treated with creosote in your landscape. http://www.gardensalive.com/product/railroad-ties-are-not-legal-for-home-landscape-use/you_bet_your_garden