Regarding tebuconazole/water contamination, the EPA is investigating: "SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency is publishing the third Contaminant Candidate List (CCL 3) since the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) amendments of 1996. The CCL 3 is a list of contaminants that are currently not subject to any proposed or promulgated national primary drinking water regulations, that are known or anticipated to occur in public water systems, and which may require regulation under SDWA. Today's final CCL 3 includes 104 chemicals or chemical groups and 12 microbiological contaminants." http://www.fralerts.com/2009/10/8/E9-24287.asp It is my impression that our federal government moves slowly. ------------------------------------------- This what the EPA stated in a December 13, 2007 report: ( http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/chemical/foia/cleared-reviews/reviews/128997/128997-2007-12-13a.pdf First in the summary: "A screening-level (Level I) risk assessment, based on proposed new uses, suggests that levels of tebuconazole (parent compound only) in the environment are likely to result in direct chronic risk to freshwater and estuarine/marine fish, acute risk estuarine/marine crustaceans, chronic risk to mammals, a& risk to listed terrestrial dicot plants. Based on the potential for direct effects to these tqa, there may be potential indirect effects to species of concern that depend on these taxa as a source of food, habitat, pollination, etc. Specific risk conclusions for each crop can be found in the assessment." Please look at Table 1. Concerning water contamination, the following 2 sections appear to apply: "Ground Water Advisory ) Tebuconazole is known to leach through soil into ground water under certain conditions as a result of label use. Use of this chemical in areas where soils are permeable, particularly where the water table is shallow, may result in ground-water contamination. Surface Water Label Advisories This product may contaminate water through drift of spray in wind. This product has a high potential for runoff for several months or more after application. Poorly draining soils and soils with shallow water tables are more prone to produce runoff that contains this product. A level, well maintained vegetative buffer strip between areas to which this product is applied and surface water features such as ponds, streams, and springs will reduce the potential for contamination of water from rainfall-runoff. Runoff of this product will be reduced by avoiding applications when rainfall is forecasted to occur within 48 hours." ------------------------------ As previously pointed out the European Union has acted. It is my impression that Ontario has a ban for home use; I am not sure about the other Canadian provinces. Could any Canadian readers speak about this? ---------------------------------------- California in a July 16, 2009 report ( http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/risk/priot.pdf ) has placed tebuconazole in its "HIGH Priority" list to be studied for "TERATOLOGY". Teratology is defined at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teratology

I've been watching this thread because I too am a newbie to lasagna beds. I see much helpful information. I do have a question, well many but I'm only asking one. I have rocky clay soil and thought I would try this lasagna thing. I actually scalped the bermuda from the area but added it back to the lasagna. I started with layers of newsprint. Then added things I already had on hand. I used the soil from the prep work, pine mulch, moldy leaf debris from the rock pile you see in the pic, leftover soil from planters including the deadroots in it, some shredded paper, had about 20 lbs of regular potting soil. Then I went to the frig and found some spent celery, lettus and some green onions. Chopped this up and added the salad to the mix. I tossed it all together and added it the bed. I soaked the paper before adding any of my mix and kept watering as I was adding the mix. It was rather soupy. Now, here's my question. I then covered it with black plastic and lined the edges with brick. I thought that baking the lasagna would speed up the break down process.I have read that others use clear plastic. Is that just to be able to see whats going on underneath or does it have to do with the sun actually getting to the mulch mixture? I finished the bed Wed. night (7-16-08) and last night I looked under the plastic which had lots of heat escaping but it seemed dry so I sprayed more water under there. Oops, Guess I had 2 questions. 1. Color of plastic to cover? 2. Should I spray with water to keep it moist? Before I started Bed with some soil mixture, I added more. Covered with the black plastic I don't mean to barge in someone else thread but I thought others looking for information may appreciate finding it in one location. Please advise. Happy gardening to all, Deb

A pound of worms in that container is "fine". More would be fine too. Less would be fine too. NO DRAIN HOLES! There are nice folks here at The Forum that might help you with your first start. Some did for me. As soon as my initial batch has grown substantially, I will "pay it forward" as well. Barring that, you (and I) just have to bit the bullet and pay for worms by the pound. The most recent lesson I have learned is "LEAVE THEM ALONE AND THEY DO JUST FINE!" However, I sincerely appreciate that when starting a new venture, one wants to "learn", and observing is often learning. So, I will say the following: "Play with them (disturb) them as much as you like until you are bored of it. Then leave them alone for a month or two, and you will have a VERY pleasant surprise when you do look in on them. ("Not disturbing" includes raising the lid once a week or so to make sure 'things' are OK.) Paul

I set up the "bookmarks toolbar" in firefox, so that I have most shortcuts right in front of me. I just drag new shortcuts right onto it. Simple. In the upper toolbar, do this: View, Toolbars, Bookmarks Toolbar, and check it. Now you have an extra row up top for your shortcuts (and if you have too many, there's a >> to see those, too. Just drag from your address bar right onto it. Simple. BTW, you rename them (if you want) by Right-click, Properties, and call it each whatever you want. This way is better than desktop icons.