Billme- the one constraint is that the beds cannot be a permanent structure, as there is a pipeline nearby. But thank you for the nod, I did spend quite a bit of time planning this out, lol. Weedlady- insight is much appreciated. This is in fact only my second year gardening, so this is more an aggressively planned expansion than a dream. The dream garden is more along the lines of Billme's operation, but this is baby steps. I managed to do almost everything wrong last year, so I've amended as much as possible this time around. To some of your devil's advocacy: during summer, only one corner doesn't get full sun - that'll be for leafy greens. I had great success last year using the fabric to kill existing weeds, but I do recognize the downside of it. That being said, it's still my most practical option at the moment. Once the sun starts hitting it, everything below exposed fabric gets cooked. It'll never be 100% weed-free, but it's the best start I could muster. The game plan for harvest is to give away/sell whatever can't be stored or used, and if all else fails, there certainly are tons of shelters near me to benefit. Compost plans are on the table, but some fencing needs to be moved prior to that, and I still have all summer to deal with that aspect =) until then, I get mushroom compost for $3/yard, and I'm starting with a very fertile gravelly loam, so I have a bit of leeway in that regard. As for help, I do have it, but not for the back breaking labor, (other than paying friends with Belgian beer, but honestly I'd rather save it for myself ;) but I knew that going in and planned accordingly. Harvest help is abundant and easier to explain, to boot. If I survive moving all the compost 200 feet and down a hill (estimating nearly 1 yard per bed at 24 beds) I'll post some pics before and after covering the boxes...from a wheelchair probably, lol. Thanks again all, the support and validation makes it all a little nicer =) Cheers -Rathos

.. Ideally turning occurs just after the temperature starts dropping from the peak temperature. As the process progresses the peak temperatures decline. I can't always follow the temperature trends and just turn once a week. Other variables may also be a factor. The mix of the ingredients in terms of greens vs browns. Clumping. Too much water. Not enough water. Ambient temperature - don't turn overnight during the winter. Turn and look and see what you're getting. If the dry woody stuff is sticking around and the wet green stuff seems to be gone then you have cause to add greens. Clumping just means you need to rough the stuff up as you turn. If it's dry add water. If it's too wet back off on the water. Worst case scenario you will have a slow pile. Not a major disaster. to sense ..

Thanks again. INCA PRINCE is one I think most folks would thoroughly enjoy having. When it blooms, you know it. Be warned about Spacecoast Seashells. It does have a tendency to not open all the way and then other times, it is fine. I've kept a very small clump here after I sold off my very large clump. I've put the smaller clump in a south facing temporary bed. I hear you Nancy about Ed Brown. So many have said it and others like me, have no problem with it. Julia

I guessing the rock came out of a quarry. the differences in the green might be than some of the rock was recently fractured and some of the rocks faces have been in the weather for quite some time, giving a different look. There could be varying amounts of the leaching ore in the quarry and that accounts for the difference. Either way I can't see how you're going to get rid of the green. I'd plant Sedums and Echeverias in the cracks of the rock wall to make the green less noticeable if you don't like it. Maybe, just maybe, it will go away by itself. Mike....I still like it....random and all. Anything new? Mike