Kristimama wrote: > Is an all-plant compost (OMRI certified or not) sufficient OM for a productive veggie garden? I'm a complete beginner, but I don't think an all-plant compost is inferior in the least. Not sure but you seem to want to give all-plant composts an inferiority complex :-) Here's a quote from Ann Whitman's and Suzanne DeJohn's book called "Organic Gardening for Dummies" (for dummies like me): "Before buying the compost, ask about the primary organic-matter sources that were used to make the compost. Compost made from yard waste (leaves and grass clippings) is considered to be the safest and best. Other compost may contain ingredients that had contaminants, such as herbicides from agricultural crop residues and heavy metals from municipal wastes, which may affect the growth of your plants or accumulate toxins in your soil. Ask if the finished product is tested for contaminants." When I read above that "Compost made from yard waste (leaves and grass clippings) is considered to be the safest and best," I was spurred on to make my own compost. I don't think there's anything inferior about plain old leaves and grass. To the contrary, they seem to be really good stuff. So good in fact, that tomorrow I'm going to transfer the 3 cubic feet of chopped leaves, grass, and fruit peels from my small trash can to a much bigger round plastic barrel and add even more leaves and grass, doubling the size of the organic matter from 3 cubic feet to 6 cubic feet. "Let It Rot!" seems to be a popular book on Amazon.com about composting. Ordered it a couple days ago.

Hi All, I've been so busy. I made cookies and stuff all night after work and then I answered some email. I wasn't going to write anything tonight because I'm tired. I was ready to go to bed but I realized it may be awhile until I can post again. So I want to tell the story I promised before. 11 years ago in August, Gary's brother, Joe, died helping a motorist who's car had been hit on a major highway. He got struck by a motorcycle that was speeding and then a car driven by a drunk driver. It was as you can imagine was quite an awful time. We as a family decided to donate all of Joe's organs. We felt that he died trying to help someone and it is what he would of wanted. Thanksgiving with Gary's family wasn't the best that year of course. Christmas as far as I could see wasn't going to be much better. On Christmas morning Gary and I got up. He was watching tv, and I was reading the newspaper. I started to read the letter to the editor part of the paper. There was letter from a woman from NJ writing to thank the family who made the decision to donate the organs of the man who had died on the highway. At that point, I just started to whell up with tears and Gary of course couldn't figure out why the paper would make me cry. I tried to read out loud to him, but I couldn't get it out and by that time I was bawling. The woman's brother had received Joe's heart, and surely would of died. It was a wonderful thing she did sending that letter. We were very sad, but we were also very happy to know that people were alive because of him. It made a tough Christmas bearable. So the best gift we ever got cost no more than the time it took her to write a letter and the stamp to mail it. (As a side note,Gary's parents eventually found out about all the people(info without names) he helped. And they did meet the man who got his lungs and became friends with him. They also are active members in UNYTS, the local organ donor group. Also the next year Gary's sister had a baby, the first grandchild. There's nothing like a baby to help lift people's spirits.) Ok, I've got to go to bed. Tomorrow is a long day at work, and then I've got to visit my baby brother and his family in the evening. Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas, Remy

Sewnmom7, Nimble Thimble is the name of a swap group on the forum. Several people on here have participated in Birthday Block Swap groups where there are 13 people per group. Each participant picks a theme and when their birthday rolls around, the other 12 in the group make a block matching their request and send it to them. There were so many people participating on here that Amy, the swap hostess, made several groups and gave them names such as Nimble Thimbles, Rippettes, Scrapmasters, etc. so we could keep track of our groups. The sign ups for 2008 groups are closed but if you're interested you could contact Amy and if they have anyone drop out she might be able to work you into a group. You can read more about it at the link below where people signed up for 2008. Here is a link that might be useful: 2008 birthdy block swap sign ups.

This is an old post, BUT, I must say that Jan, with those bunnies you are getting the best fertilizer. I used to have 2 bunnies many years ago, and now I actually buy bunny poo (my bunnies have since passed) on Ebay. I would love to grow Citrus (small oranges or Mandarins) in MY greenhouse. I jut got it a couple weeks ago, so, I don't know IF I can get it to be at least 25 F for them. They would need to be potted, my greenhouse has shelves on both sides and only a small space in the middle, I can't plant them in the ground. I am in zone 6a. I would move the pots outside in spring once it is NOT going to be cold anymore. All of the posts above showing people's pots and contraptions are interesting, sorry, but many would have to be explained to me though. I am HOPING to be able to heat my greenhouse 12X8 enough to maintain at LEAST 25 F in winter. I have only electrical cords as a way to have a heater. I have read that having a fan (even a regular stand mounted fan) in winter is a good idea. Maybe a regular room heater in winter, I had that told to me, I could do that. I will be only trying hardy plants the first winter, just in case it doesn't hold heat. Maybe THEN IF it holds heat, I'll try small Citrus, maybe a Cordyline or 2, also a Oleander. Other tender zone 8 ish plants. I do have a Windmill palm baby that is semi tender now, since it is very small and young, maybe a zone 7b right now.