I haven't read the book, which sounds interesting. But through trial and error, I have chosen similar wide spacings, and have been very happy with the results. Two factors sent me down that path initially. Disease was often a problem for me in closely-spaced rows, especially with beans. Then when I began to save heirloom seed, I often had a limited supply initially, and wanted to get the maximum yield out of whatever plants survived. I observed enormous increases in plant vigor with the wider spacing, and have used the method almost exclusively ever since. 24" spacing for pole beans seems excessive; while they will usually fill in the trellis (depending upon the degree of branching), I found a default spacing of 12" to be optimal. Not all varieties will require the same spacing; some pole beans do well with 6" spacing, while a few very rampant varieties require 15-18". Yardlong beans do their best for me at 15-18". Pole limas need even more, I use 24" spacing for them... and when I grew the large-seeded pole limas (in warmer climes than I have now) I spaced them up to 36" apart. HOWEVER... this year one of my small-seeded pole limas died, leaving a 4-foot gap between plants. By the time of harvest, the gap was no longer visible, even upon close examination. And a rare bean last year, with only one seed germinating (!!!) covered a 4' X 6' trellis by itself, and produced over 8 ounces of dry seed. Pole beans will take almost as much space as you give them, and a pampered plant can give astronomical yields. For tomatoes, I use 24-30" spacing each way for determinates, and 36-48" for indeterminates. Eggplant does well for me at 30-36". 24" seems to be optimal for okra where I live now, but in a long-season area (San Diego) I used 36" - and could barely walk between the plants. I have arrived at default spacings for most vegetables which are generally much greater than seed packet instructions. This will vary with the variety; I observe the initial performance, and make adjustments as appropriate the next time it is grown. As a rule of thumb, the widest spacing that I can use, while still covering the ground or trellis without gaps, seems to be optimal for plant health. Castorp, my own observations are in agreement with what you stated in your last post. I experimented heavily with various spacings for one of my favorite crops, yardlong beans. At the closer spacings (4-6"), they did not climb as high, and the majority of the yield was close to the ground. At the spacing I use now, the vines are rampant & heavily-branched, and bear continuously. With pole snap beans, the results were similar. At closer spacings, I would get one very heavy picking, followed by a long period of inactivity. This was even more pronounced in bush beans. At wider spacings, the yield was more continuous, and the pod quality was better. I do not believe that there is one "perfect" spacing. Differences in climate and fertility will cause variations in optimal spacing; there are even differences between my backyard garden, and the same plant grown in my main plot 6 miles away. Then too, the space between plants is an influence on their behavior, and can be used as a tool to the gardener's advantage. If you live in a short-season area (or want multiple rotations within the growing season), want heavy one-time crops for canning, or have limited space, then closer spacing might be appropriate. If you want a more prolonged harvest, are trying for "whopper" produce, live in a long-season area, or have problems with foliar diseases, then wider spacings may be preferable.

The oils do smell wonderful. It is a really a small world, I lived in Sandstone, WV all my life. I also love growing flowers, and other tropical looking plants that grow in different areas. I like to try to grow plants in the ground, that many people don't think will survive the winters here, like banana plants, and palms. I got a Hardy Musa Basjoo Banana last year, and it survived the winter, and so far this year it has grew 13', and summer of 07 it grew 8'. I've got a Hayes Stiffie Windmill Palm last year, and it survived almost zero degrees, for a few days, and it was unprotected, and had no leaf burn, and then about 1 1/2 months later the deer killed it, they got to it so bad that it couldn't survive, but I sprouted some different types of Windmill Palms tracycarpus fortunei, and they are growing well, but took 4 months to sprout. I've got a plumeria that has an inflow that is about 5 weeks old, and it could bloom soon, and yesterday the inflow grew 1/2", and it is 1 1/2" now, and the inflow is spreading out. I just repotted it, and it was rootbound, so it likes its new pot now, and out of that other pot. I can't wait to see the color, I've had 4 chances to see blooms on it, It produced one last year, but it couldn't bloom, because it didn't produce the buds to bloom, and this year it branched 2 times, but the inflos were absent, and now I might have a chance, the inflo is finally growing properly, instead of something missing, this plumeria has alway been a strange one, This year I've seen 2 leaves growing together on it, but they were connected at the branch of the plumeria, I've never seen that happen on a plumeria. I've got got some hibiscus plants, but I've seen the texas star hibiscus in pictures, but I haven't got any yet, I've seen a 3-in-1 hibiscus at a Home Depot near Daytona Flea Market, and it was pretty, the flowers had about 3 colors in one flower, and it was $30, and it was all one grafted plant, and the whole plant had at least 9 different colors. Lee

Yes, sadly, Fleurissimo is expensive. My kids never know what to give me for Christmas, so I tell them to get me a bottle. It works out for everyone! I first found it at Harrod's in London. At that time, it was very hard to track down in the US. I only found one store that sold it; the store was in Seattle, so shipped it to me. Now it is more available and several of the better department stores carry it. However, I haven't found anyone who discounts it very much, even online. If you like it, buy the larger bottle. It lasts well and is much less expensive per ounce that the smaller. A word of warning: Do not be tempted to keep applying it because YOU no longer smell it. It's one of those perfumes of which the wearer loses the scent, unless applying nose to wrist. But everyone else can still smell it and love it. I get so many favorable comments every time I wear it. Some people do not even realize it's a perfume they smell, because it is not at all perfumy-smelling. It's a clear, light floral scent. I hope you enjoy the sample. Just remember to keep sniffing your wrist!

Well I did try them out and I was surprised. I actually like them. And that surprises me. While I agree about the measuring can be adapted, I seldom change amounts anymore. My big thing is stench. This was the biggest surprise. I really noticed a time difference in popping in a pod verses taking down the bottle or box, measuring out the detergent, rinsing the cup (for liquid) and putting it away. OK, maybe 30-45 seconds but it was actually noticeable. Plus my shoulders didn't feel the "creak" that grunting the jug or box did. And I would imagine that for people who do a lot of laundry the time could add up. Coupled with a Stain Release packet rather than scooping Borax, Oxi, dishwasher detergent or other boosters, that could be a few minutes of time savings per load. For me, not a huge thing, but as I said for people who are washing clothes non-stop... Effectiveness? It's Tide. It works. Now the biggest surprise I mentioned. I use the stench-free version so I was very apprehensive about the smell. The first load I noticed immediately that the smell when taking the clothes out of the machine had next to nothing for smell. BIG surprise. I expected the usual stench that people think means clean clothes. After drying there was nothing noticeable. Thought it could be a fluke but I've done about 5 loads so far and the smell just isn't there like with the other versions. My sister and another friend tried them too. One said they noticed a "faint" smell but both of them were shocked too. So, will I be buying them regularly? Probably not. Not because I don't like them or anything but simply because I have about 2 years worth of detergent sitting on the shelf to use up. However, should I take a trip and plan to do laundry on the road, you bet I'll buy some of them though. Thought about trying out the Arm & Hammer version since I could get them for free but given my experience with A&H in the past, even being free, I'll pass.