It's the 'inside the apartment' that often makes the problem. If you have a balcony area - or the sort of windows that let you put up an outdoor window box so you can lean out to tend it- then you have a very good chance of growing those treats you desire. You would have to pay special attention to watering and, maybe, sun protection, obviously, but most of the herby, shrubby things do perform much better outdoors. If you have a sunny window area indoors then you could probably grow basil, chives, parsley while it's small, sage if you treat it as an annual. Be prepared to throw them out and replace them as they become older and woody. They need to be young and vigorous to do well, IMO. You might need to provide some sort of screen against westering sun as this can be very scorching for plants close to the glass. Leafy lettuces or a mesclun mix are also possibles - again, if you treat them as 'baby lettuce' for leaf-picking more than growing a full-headed lettuce. Personally, I'd avoid a planting mixture with peat in it. If it dries out - and it's bound to in a sunny window - then it can be very hard to re-wet. A soil-based mix or nosoil-no peat with added grit. If it comes with added slow-release fertiliser than will last for three to six months, all the better. Saves on having to provide liquid feeds. If you plan to recycle the mix when your crops are done you can microwave - or steam it in the oven. (You might need to leave home and leave the windows open...) Then add more slow release such as Osmocote before you use it again. If any plants rotted or were diseased - don't use that mix again. It is probably safe to scatter it outdoors in a permanent planting area where it is unlikely to cause any harm and the sun will help sterilise it. I'd put the pots up on pebbles or pot-feet so the plants weren't standing in water. And turn the plants every few days so they grow evenly.

I'm miserable. I signed a lease this July, and some new neighbors (really not sure how many), moved in above me around the 5th of 7th of September. I sensed something odd about them when about 10 pm on one of those days, I saw a man, and a teenaged boy and girl each carrying a large green garbage bag quickly upstairs. Long story short, the man is obviously unemployeed and is there all day. There is a woman who has a routine of someone who works; she has a evening shift. The teenage boy will ring the bell, but isn't always let it in by the man upstairs in the apartment(I guess he waits until the woman/mother arrives?)...I've seen him sit on the front steps and wait. The teenaged girl shows up once in a while, but does not stay. It appears that the woman is the lease holder, with her full name on the mailbox/bell. This is a one bedroom apartment bldg. I can hear them constantly walking, bumping and dropping large objects onto the floor above my head..I can even hear the man snoring. When I approached the man (because he's always there), he said he wasn't doing anything... and sneared at me. The next time something felt like it threatened to come through the ceiling, I told the super, who went upstairs and spoke to him. I actually heard him say to the super "I ain't doing nothing, I'm poor", after the super told him that he would have to be quiet if he wanted to stay here (?). The super later told me that there is a slew of pillows on the floor and no furniture. To date, they still have no furniture. They have a radio, and play it loud enough in the day, to be heard in the hallway by other tenants. Every apt is occupied in this building. Until they arrived, the only time I have been aware of anyone else in the building is when people are coming or going. I know that because I am underneath them, I hear more than anyone else in the building, and I am not sure if the young lady across from them or the couple above them is dealing with as much...or has even complained. I have contacted the super on several occasions when I just could not stand it anymore, and each time he would call them, they would quiet down for a moment. One evening they continued the noise, including a hand held vaccum cleaner,that they rub against the floor, until 5 in the morning. I was so upset and groggy, that I contacted the super again, who said they were "crazy" and suggested I contact the landlord. When I did, the management office asked about my previous complaints and they said that they would send them a letter from management and alert the direct person for the building. That was last week. I'm not sure if a letter was sent,and they just don't care...or the landlord could care less, and never sent a letter. I think I have been reasonable, I now know that the building is not sound, I'm not dinging someone for walking to the bathroom, or having visitors (which is really bad)..I even find myself turning up the television, so I don't have to hear the constant walking...but the attitude and inconsiderate behavior is really wearing on me. A house is out of the question and I just signed this lease. Not sure what to do. It's only October.

Unfortunatly you signd a lease. They could hold you to it no matter what. You could try to fight it in courth BUT at that point its the judgment of a third party who knows the law... and whats leagel and right are two different things. I would tell them they are not giving you the quiet enjoyment you deserve, and they are allowing other tenants to break apt rules, (if they have any) Let them know if they do not allow a transfer you will be forced to seek legal advice. Most likely they will just let you move to avoid more problems. Ask the manager for his/ her home number so you can contact them when the problem occurs. That way they could hear/ see first hand how bad it is.

First, your neighbor may be living in the building because he, too, likes the great rent and convenient location. Or he may have moved in years ago, before the building became full of college students. So just his presence in the building is not creepy. But, as to how to deal with his banging on the wall--this seems to be the major complaint? Start documenting. Every single time he bangs on the wall, note the time and date and what you were doing. "11 pm, Tuesday, Nov. 25. Reading in bed. BF out at library. Banging on the wall started at 11:04 and continued until 11:15." Note the screaming, as well. And if it wakes you up or is loud enough that you need to turn up the tv, note that. Get two or three weeks of documentation. Call the office and set up an appointment with the manager to go over this. Don't say what the appointment is about, if you feel she will refuse to see you about your neighbor. If you absolutely cannot get an appointment with the manager, copy your documentation and mail it to the manager, registered mail (or some other way that requires the office to sign for and acknowledge the mail). Ask them nicely what they are going to do about the problem. It would be best if you could also indicate what you would like the management to do--get the screaming and banging to stop, move you to another unit. That gives them something concrete to work with. "I have a creepy neighbor and don't feel safe," is completely subjective. There's no way they can go to this man and say, "Don't be so creepy." But they can go and tell him to stop banging on your walls. Call the police on the non-emergency number and ask if there is anything they can do. This is really dependent on the laws where you live. Whatever you do, do not call the neighbor creepy or dangerous. People will be less likely to work with you when you are making judgements about him. Stick to the facts and to the behaviors you want changed--no more screaming, no more banging on the walls. This is completely reasonable. To ask for him not to look out the windows is not reasonable, and will likely get you less help, rather than more. At the very least, if this is a large building, the management should be able to move you to a different apartment at some point.