To jump in way at the end here, I think the comparison that would be more valid concerned which is "more work" would be the complete cycle from "seed to seed". As far as heirloom goes, it is a pretty basic plan for "seed to seed" - plant seeds, grow plants, pick quality fruit, save seeds. (While each step has some more complexity than I enumerated, it really is that "simple"). There is very little cross-pollination between tomatoes (although it CAN happen). If you are worried about it, a simple net can be placed over your fruit branch that you want to save the seeds for, and not worry about cross-pollination, as most tomatoes self-pollinate. Compared to hybrids, you cannot go from "seed to seed" in most cases. So there is no cycle. You MUST purchase new seeds every year (that have been crossed from their parents, year after year to produce new hybrid seeds). If you want to talk about economics - there is NO comparison! Even if heirlooms were twice as expensive as hybrids (which is not the case for the spectrum of varieties available), it would still be more economical in the long run to go with heirlooms and save the seeds. Tomato seeds are viable (if properly stored for up to 4 or 5 years - many times longer), so you could save yourself the hassle of saving seeds every year and just save MORE seeds than you need and save them every second year or every third year. In short, heirlooms can be a one time investment, if you so choose - hybrids are a yearly expense. (And yes, I did mean to use the different terms - investment vs. expense.)

Hi David, I just reread my post and think I came off as pretty arrogant. Sorry. Price doesn't always translate into quality, but it usually does. Sometimes it just translates into an overpriced store. I can't really tell you how to determine a good quality tool - I just "know" from years of using tools. If you have a low quality tool next to a high quality tool you'll just "know", too. Good quality tools tend to weigh more at the head. Shovels are made of higher quality, heavier gauge steel. The connection point between the head and the handle is solid and strong. The handle itself is strong and of good quality materials. Of course, another important factor in a good quality tool is its comfort in use. I mentioned a common hoe. You can buy an excellent quality hoe, and still have a torture device. Much better hoes to use are the oscillating stirrup hoes and collinear hoes. D-handled tools today are made with a too-short handle for a 6 foot tall guy like me. I tend to stick with long handled tools for this reason. I wish I didn't have so darn many D-handled aluminum scoop shovels because each and every one of them are uncomfortable for me to use. Pick up a copy of "The Tool Book". It not only shows lots of excellent quality tools, it also gives a good review on what to look for in a tool and tips on how to use them. Good luck!

For $150 you can get steel 4-wheel carts from FarmTek or other greenhouse/nursery supply companies. I agree with virgo91967 that homemade ones won't be worth the trouble. And, if choosing between 2-wheel and 4-wheel, I recommend the 4-wheel. At the nursery where I work, we have both, and I've found that the 2-wheelers tip forward when the load is uneven, leading to spills of plants. No reason for your customers to have to put up with that. :) The 4-wheelers vary in quality, though. Some are clunky, heavy and ungainly. The ones I like most are rectangular (not squarish as some are) and have hollow rubber wheels that give with the bumps. The longer-rectangle carts seem easier to maneuver on turns, and are narrow enough to fit between tight rows of tables with breathing room to spare. Keep the wheels oiled so they turn corners properly and don't squeal.

As has been said more eloquently already, everything is relative. Not everyone here at the Table is in the same income bracket; and not everyone that is in the same income bracket has the same recurring expenses -- for example, hubs and I don't have any kids, grandkids, or pets, so we have more disposable income than folks with the same income level with kids/grandkids/pets. If someone with less disposable income is frugal and sets aside money to buy something "expensive" why shouldn't he/she treat themselves to it? I'm going to be buying a new car within the next couple of months. Hubs has me deciding between a Mercedes C300, Lexus ES350, and a BMW 325i. I said that perhaps I didn't really need one of those three, and that I'd price out a Toyota Avalon (because I have always loved my Camry). Well, imagine my surprise when the Avalon priced out more than $2,000 higher than the Lexus. So, why should I not buy a Lexus just because some folks see it as an "overpiced Toyota with a superiority complex" when it's less expensive than a Toyota? As far as watches are concerned, yeah, I wear what some would consider an expensive watch (msrp is about $3,000). Not as expensive as a Rolex, though. It's a Tag Heuer, from the Link line: It's (in my opinion, anyway) not "flashy" or "attention getting." Hardly anyone realizes that it's a Tag Heuer - most folks think it's a Seiko! But this is the watch that I wanted because I like the quality of workmanship that goes into a Tag, and, most importantly, I like the looks of it. I also wear, right next to the watch, a diamond tennis bracelet that's over 5.5 carats. Retail price now would be somewhere between $20K to $25K. But it was a gift to me from my brother, and he paid significantly less than that to have it custom made for me 15 years ago (I have a brother-in-law who is a Certified Master Bench Jeweler). Yeah, there have been a couple of times that I've been nervous wearing it, but only a couple. Most people don't think it's real. :-)