You can find bonsai material at any garden center. Just go into the shrub or tree section and look through the plants for something that has a nice-shaped trunk on it, make sure you find where the roots start flaring away from the trunk, take it home and start pruning. The Milwaukee Bonsai Society does a session in our four part novice class where we take the novices out to a plant nursery and show them how to pick out material. Bonsai is not a type of plant, it's a style of growing plants so you can use almost anything that gets a woody trunk. The best place to find material for bonsai is to check out the dump section of the garden center. This is where they keep damaged or ugly plants that might not be suitable for landscaping but are perfect for bonsai. They are usually discounted so you don't feel as bad if they don't survive.

Greetings All, I am very pleased to see more women exploring natural options for various aspects of daily living. But I do have a curiosity about those who claim to be "environmentalist" but seem unsure about how to collect their menstrual fluid. Any female who is an environmentalist would have no doubt considered using a non-disposable product for handling her menstrual flow--I would hope. Since some posters have touched on it, but haven't gone into great detail about collection/reusable menstrual products I will provide more information. Menstrual Cups: Not limited just the Diva or the Keeper/Knock off MoonCup are a great option for both improving your foot print on the environment and allowing you to neatly collect your menstrual flow. Insteads fall into this category but because they are worn very high in the vagina, next to the cervix like a diaphragm I would not recommend it for those that want to stay neat or collect blood. I would imagine it difficult to remove the Instead without spilling the flow but you would have to check out a forum of actual Instead users to find out if I am right. I personally use a Mooncup UK. If you are looking to switch to a menstrual cup you should explore all your options and brands that are made world wide and get one that you think will be better suited to your body. If you look at the bottom of my article on The Culture of Menstruation http://theanthroblogogist.50webs.com/body/the_culture_of_menstruation.html you will see links to every known menstrual cup made. If you need more information you can indefinitely feel free to contact me through my website. I've also heard about people using the rinse water from their cloth pads. Thats great as long as all natural detergents are used to launder your pads. Try etsy or ebay to find very cute cloth pads, or find a pattern and make some yourself. With sea sponges I am not really sure how much of an environmentalist one could be, since these were actually living creatures at once. I can't assume but can only imagine how far down hill things might go in the harvesting/farming of sea sponges just to be used as your personal tampon. I wouldn't recommend it as they are not a readily renewable source & something like a menstrual cup has more positives on this option. I do not recommend using disposable products to harvest your menstrual fluid from as they are laden with chemicals which is why most truly heath and environmentally conscious people have looked for better options. I am sure that if these are just house plants and nothing edible it might be fine, but for your health benefit switching to one of the healthier options discussed would be an excellent choice for yourself and the environment. To all of those people here who are "grossed out" by this I can only lend a sad laugh that you think of your body that way. It is silly to think that far "grosser" things aren't being put into every product you could possibly buy in a store. I do think that there are valid points about pathogens and disease, etc. But I would expect a person to know their body, know if they are taking BC to be careful or avoid fertilizing edibles. And use common curtesy and not fertilize a public (especially edible) garden without the consent of those who share it. Other than that, there is little if anything gross or dangerous about using your own bio-goods to contribute to the natural life cycle of the earth. To answer someone's question about being married. Yes I am married & my husband knows about all of this. He was weirded out by me bringing up the watering of plants with the blood from my cup (I haven't done it yet) But he is pretty open minded and would never try to stop me from doing so. Also I am sure he would eat plants I have grown that way (We use natural methods of BC, so no extra hormones). Why do people think its accptable to eat plants grown from animal feces or even animal blood as fertilizer, but somehow our own is just disgusting suddenly? Goodluck & health to everyone, please visit my page if you would like more info, or to discuss any of these topics further. Sincerely, The Anthroblogogist http://TheAnthroblogogist.50webs.com Here is a link that might be useful: Visit The Anthroblogogist Website

I dont have any past dealings with the webb site you mention but if it's the price point you question or reliable delivery We got our lucky bamboo in Bostons China Town District ( a 45 minute drive for us) Priceing was very good from pots to rocks. Example: a 36 cane of different heights (5 to 8 inches no bends on stalks) lucky bamboo complete with a ceramic pot and ties 57 $ (no rocks) and kind of good packing for the trip back, bring some poland springs water bottles just in case thou. Perhaps your local china food type take out resturant folks can help you out in taking the trip for you feel free to ask them they may be very willing to help . I hope the timing is right for you. There easy care plants as seen in this forum. * ceramic pots that wont be any less in pricing and rocks which are lower in price can also be found at Home Depots indoor garden dept. I am not sure of pricing at Lowes and its to far off season at walmart to even bother looking

Hi everyone, just wanted to extend an invitation to our swap ! We will be doing a pot luck lunch, I have a HUGE yard, we can all relax, and share information...and enjoy getting to know one another. I have gotten a good response, so I beleive there will be lots of laughs, and nice plants to adopt. Please email Sue, or I and let us know you will be attending, as I am putting together some FUN..and knowing you are coming will help greatly ! Feel free to bring a friend..and any questions feel free to email me. We ask that you bring a covered dish, your plants well marked, and seeds if youd like to swap. Your great personality, and knowledge is good too..lol Looking forward to meeting you , even if I am not busy on this forum, I am very active on GW. Thanks for your interest, Kym and Sue