Thanks, it has taken me 7 years to try to figure out some of the best ways to compost with as little effort as possible. I'm in zone 6-5, 30 miles north-west of Cincinnati in Ohio. That thermometer goes in 18", not even close to to the center of that pile. Those 4' thermometers are expensive and I'm all about free or very cheap. That one was a gift, costs $23. Instead of turning the pile, I take a sturdy 1/2" diameter piece of rebar or pipe and poke holes all over the outside of the pile and on top too. This allows air (sides) and rain (top) to get into the middle of the pile. I send that rebar in 5-6 feet a hundred times or so (really not that hard, easier than turning). I do not want to turn because I do not want to loose all that built-up heat (and because I'm lazy). I have done smaller piles and have found 5-6 feet minimun works best, 4 feet tall. I collect hundreds of bagged leaves from my neighborhood in the fall and add coffee grounds every week in layers until I run out of leaves, then I just keep adding the ucg to the top of the pile until spring. Then I will use the ucg in my vessel composters once they are emptied. Pete

I like the design, too. This is an issue for my husband since he could care less what it looks like and thinks a cheaper one would be fine. It will in plain view from my breakfast nook and the family room so I want to enjoy looking at it! Also, if it is attractive, I am more likely to go down there and keep the area around it landscaped and pretty. Here's a pic of the inside, I think I'll order the shades that come with it and the fan and window would be nice too. How would you heat this? Annette

Thanks guys! Dave, I am going to get some of my bare root plants potted up soon! I put some of the larger ones directly into the ground though, so I have to make sure it is safe. Patrick, you are right. They do look creepy in close-up pics like that ! LOL! Karen, I think it was early November when I took my plants into the garage, but the weather was still very mild here. Some of my plants were just starting to show leaf loss but not all of them. I cut all remaining leaves on my plants that I stored bare root but I left the leaves on the potted plants that I brought in and put under lights. I have a flourescent shop light that I keep on all the time on a workbench in that garage but there is no other light, so the halogens have been the only real source of light all winter to these plants. The halogens do put off a lot of heat which is another reason I decided to use them. I intended to put a remote temp gauge by the plumies to monitor what the temp was with lights on and off but never got around to doing it. I also tried early on using a portable heater but it kept kicking the breaker off on that circuit so I didn't use it. I do feel that if I had another heat source and monitored it more closely to keep it more consistently warm that they would have grown even more through the winter.

Thanks, holiday-ers! ...appreciate your comments...am glad my t'scape brought you warmth...did me, too... it's 0 here tonight & supposed to be -14 tomorrow night...BRRRRR! jaybird...all 3 snowmen were bought diff yrs at diff places...I think I got the bigger chubby snowman at a "Ben Franklin" store (a dime store variety used to be called)...both the chubby snowman had "Made in China" little gold stickers on the bottom. The tall slender snowman with the cool top hat has no markings...he also has a couple brownish pine tree branches & pinecones at the bottom front of him. I don't remember where I got him...am guessing about 10 yrs. ago...sorry, not much help. Just keep ckg TS's, GW's, & specialty shops, etc. & one may pop up for you! Jeanne S. I tried to Google "chubby snowman" & came across this action rhyme that I am familiar with...took me back to "working days" ...tee hee: Chubby Snowman There was a chubby snowman And he had a carrot nose (put fist to nose like carrot) Along came a bunny (2 fingers up for ears) And what do you suppose (hands on hips) The hungry little bunny (rub tummy) Was looking for his lunch (hand to forehead, looking) He grabbed that snowman's carrot nose NIBBLE! NIBBLE! CRUNCH!! (Pretend to eat carrot)