My potting mix is similar to the above recipe. My base mix is topsoil (Black Kow), composted manure (Black Kow), sand, and aged pine bark fines. I also incorporate blood meal, bone meal and super phosphate, but in smaller quantities than specified above. If I have cottonseed meal or pre-moistened peat on hand I may add that too. The last thing I throw into the mix is a big scoop or two of perlite. Altho perlite helps with drainage, I use it primarily as a visual aid of sorts -- once those stark white granules are distributed uniformly throughout each large batch of mix, I know that ALL the ingredients are evenly distributed. You mentioned that you've been curious about using sand in your mix . . . If you decide to use it, I suggest that you avoid the very fine sand. I prefer to use the coarse sand that's labeled as 'medium'. It costs a dollar or two more for a 50 lb bag. Many packaged top soils (like Black Kow) are mixed with sand to keep them friable. Adding additional sand to the mix enhances drainage and delays compaction. Personally, I think it's an essential ingredient.

You could spray and water with a malathion solution. I hate using the stuff but every once in a while there's nothing else that works. Before bringing plants indoors, I spray, wait a half hour or so, then rinse the plant thoroughly with plain water to take down the smell.

Thank you. I work for the department to conservation, state of Maine. Parks and Lands. This site has some useful information.

We had a small chest freezer and my dad cut down some sliding wire baskets units for it. He installed them to slide sideways, and used 1/2 and 1/3 depth baskets. Between lifting some out and sliding others around we had access to all levels with very little wasted space. My current upright freezer has a bunch of storage bins on the shelves for various classes of food. And it's organized with the least ready to eat stuff on the bottom and frozen pizzas on the top. I can tell at a glance how the frozen cheese supply is, or if I need to buy chicken.