All sounds great. Question: Do you lay the tape flat? Is the tape folded over with the seed inside? Do the roots go through the lower layer to get to soil, or do they fan out growing between the two layers? Does this slow them down if they are laying on top of a paper layer? How about the shout going up. If there is a paper layer over the top of the seed, can the new shout push up through this layer of paper, or do they go sideways looking for a chance to go up freely? As they push up do they push the paper up on top of the shout? It seems that if the seeds are between two layers of paper, it would change their growth shape.

Yama, You may be surprised to learn that I have followed all your postings here on GW very closely over the years. Thanks for sharing your expertise. Wish I lived closer to where you will be teaching. Many years ago I learned the Japanese method of growing moss which works well. I have used it in many landscape projects. Look forward to the methods you will post as I am always anxious to learn any new ideas. I have used a Kaki ita. However, one day inspiration struck when I was making bread using a bench scraper. Cady can tell you what this is. Note to Cady...I am talking about the bench scraper that is an all one type made of stainless steel that curves around to form the handle. Very inexpensive. With this in hand you have a superb weeding tool, soil leveler, edger/weeder along stone paths. Hard to explain just how handy it is in the garden, but urge everyone gardening in sandy and friable soils to try one. This simple piece of metal along with a linoleum knife are my two favorite 'down on the knees' gardening tools.

Update: Before the install, I did wind up modifying the track in the air handler for the 1-inch air filter. I used 2 pieces of steel banding, 2 inches wide, cut to length, and placed them over the manufacturer's track using a few dabs of automobile body putty (Bondo) to keep it secure. It is now a smooth track for the filter to slide on. Goodman used the track as part of the frame of the air handler so it had some crimpings in it and the filter would not easily slide in. I also trimmed away some foil faced insulation that prevented the filter from seating properly. A 20"x24" filter now fits perfectly. I am glad that I did these minor mods as I would have been fighting this monthly when I change filters. The unit was installed Friday, 6/22, after I had it for about 5 weeks waiting on the installers. It took two guys 8 hours. I fed them both breakfast and lunch (I treat my installers well). The old supply air plenum and the plenum after the air handler had to be replaced to match the new unit. The old 5/16" liquid line had to be replaced with a new 3/8" line. 3 holes were cut into the finished ceiling and 1 in the wall so that the new line could be run. I'll repair the holes when I get a chance - no big deal. The TXV sticks out about 8 inches from the air handler. Looks funky and I have to be careful not to hit it while moving things around in that area. The old outside unit had sunk about 4 inches into the ground. I filled the hole with soil that I was saving, packed it down, put a plastic condensor mounting pad on the dirt, and used 3" thick brick to elevate the outside unit (which is huge in size compared to the old 7 SEER unit; 14 SEER = more coils = larger unit). The outside unit is much more quiet as expected but the new mult-speed air handler is also a little more quiet than the old one. The fan is set on low speed and I'm not sure of the setting of the old unit as the lables on the motor had worn away after 21 years. The sheet metal in the new air handler is flimsy and the track for the air filter can be improved by Mr Goodman. The outside unit looks decent. These comments were also noted by the installers. I plan on taking the outside and inside coils to a local scrap facility and sell the copper. Maybe I can get a few $$ for a couple cases cases of my favorite beer. I can now start saving 40% on the cooling and heating part of my energy bill and use this to combat the 65% increase in electric rates in the State of Maryland. All in all, I thought that I got a good value for the money spent (only time will tell if I made the right choice with Goodman). I got a 14 SEER system with Copeland scroll compressor, thermo-expansion valve on the air handler, hard start capacitor, 15 kw heat strip kit, bypass humidifier, and 10 year parts warranty for $2477 from a local HVAC supply shop. I paid $1200 for a pro install (needed the pro install for the warranty). Total cost was $2k less than...

I do think the expectations of your real estate market are an issue. If the neighborhood would expect it, you can hurt resale -- if that is or may be an issue. BI's are taller and don't need the breathing room on the side so cabinet modifications are usually needed to make the change. I live in a neighborhood that MIGHT have 2 built-in fridges as far as I know. Mine is one. ;) They certainly aren't expected, but I would say we are in an area where a BI is a splurge but still appropriate in a remodel, maybe one notch below the tier where they would become desired to expected (possibly moving into that range as people remodel) and two price points below absolutely expected. We planned a CD fridge to open up the aisle between the fridge and island - the traffic path for the side entry to the house -- the one we use most. I didn't want to spend the money on a BI and I really didn't like the vent panel above. Then we got offered a deal on the Thermador BI model that had the arched top but had been returned because it had the wrong handle. Somehow we went from 90% sure we were going to take that one to getting the Thermador columns (I paid less than $7k for the pair at the time). The lack of the panel, the raised interior and full extension drawers were made for me! I could never go back to a fridge where I had to dig in a produce drawer barely above the floor. Yes, it keeps produce fresher longer, meat stays fresher, I can easily see everything and science experiments lost in the back are no longer regular occurrences (can't say nothing has ever been forgotten). And my aisle space is improved. For me, it has been worth it. If I weren't tall and didn't have neck problems that make bending a reaching an issue, I'd still enjoy them. DH doesn't have those issues and he loves them. Does that mean you need to spend 2-3 times as much? Probably not, especially if you are seeing the fridges and looking at the storage and use of space details and finding what you are happy with what you are finding in a CD model. It sounds like that is the case, so I would only steer towards a BI if you don't plan to stay in your home for the foreseeable future and are in a neighborhood where it would be expected or where it would be desired now but could be come expected as others remodel and upgrade. It may add a few thousand dollars to your resale (the fridge stays if BI), but it could also be that plus that makes your house sell faster even if not for more, and that alone can be worth thousands in carrying costs.