Jsvand, I have been searching for more info online but haven't found very much. Can you let me know where you found info? I had to go to Buffalo yesterday and found cocktail grapefruit at a local grocery store. Big flavor! I really enjoyed it. Even though the fruit was past its prime the fruit was nice and juicy, and it did have a lot of seeds but I still enjoyed it. The fruit was darker then the pic on tropical fruit forum. I wonder if the fact that it was past its prime had anything to do with it. I also noticed the bitterness associated with grapefruit but maybe the tree it was picked from wasn't producing good quality fruit? All I know is I am excited to get it! Andrew

JMO but some of the best buys in used equipment, when you know what you are looking for, can be found on eBay. craigslist also has some bargains but they have to be evaluated more carefully so more basic knowledge is required. One way to save money is to buy a pressure canner (you need a canner, NOT a pressure cooker) that is also large enough to use as a BWB canner. That eliminates some needed equipment. The Presto brand canners are usually the least expensive. You may see some Mirro canners that are less expensive but they tend to have more problems. 12 qt. models or larger are required to qualify as a canner. Presto makes a good 16 qt. size. The qt. sizing is how they are rated and determines the number of jars they will hold. For example the 16 qt (model #1755) holds 12 half-pints; 10 pints; 7 quarts. The 16 qt size is deep enough for BWB half pint jars but nothing larger. For the best flexibility for both BWB canning and pressure canning, many consider the Presto 23 qt. model #1781 to be the ideal. It is deep enough to use as both a PC and BWB and holds 24 half-pints; 20 pints; 7 quarts. If you can find a used All American 21 qt. model (called Model 921) that you can afford so much the better but new they are much more expensive. Jars - the best sources used to be yard/garage sales. Not so much any more although you may still find some. If you have a Fred's Dollar store near you they have the best prices on Golden Harvest jars as well as lids and rings for the jars. Walmart is also a frequently used source although their prices are higher. Again eBay and craigs list often has some really good deals on bulk lids and bands. You can compare all these models side by side on amazon.com. You will also need a copy of the Ball Blue Book for starters. Here is a pic of it but don't pay this price. It is 1/2 this price at Walmart. This just scratches the surface but I hope it will give you some places to start looking. Dave

Sorry to hear about your fungus Anna - hate the stuff! Hoping I can pull through with my second batch of seeds. If not, sounds like we'll both be off to the nursery for transplants. I'm not opposed to them, just wanted to grow my own. So amazing to watch and heartbreaking when they get sick. Susannah, glad I could help. I sent a message over this morning. I'm honored to speak with you! I'm also very curious about your book. I immediately thought of Marjory Kinnan Rawlings and Zora Neale Hurston when I saw the year and subject of your upcoming book. Love literature about that period. I can enjoyably get lost for hours in the WPA FWP archives. Hoping we get some broccoli responses.. Love broccoli, but lots of spraying in the commercial fields. So growing here for the longest period possible is highly desirable in my home. My Mom talks to the brocolli seedlings everyday. Of course telling them how she's going to eat them all up may not be the words they wish to hear lol. Thanks for posting Carolb. I look forward to pics and the answers to the questions Tom has asked. Knowing those answers will definitely help in a successful outdoor start. Thank you so much everyone! I feel that I can honestly say I am not the only person you are helping with your knowledge and experiences. I lurked for months trying to learn before making the leap and starting to post.

The choice of seed purveyors is for me influenced by a number of criteria. As a market gardener for specialty markets, I look for flavorful and aesthetically pleasing produce that is not typically offered by most growers. I look for the best prices on commercial quantities. As an organic grower - for philosophical reasons, not commercial ones - I favor companies that share my beliefs. For political reasons, I prefer to spend my $ locally as much as possible, but for marketing reasons I often buy seed stock overseas. Also for political reasons, as well as ecological, I avoid seed companies that rely on large corporations that are directly or indirectly linked to the pharmaceutical and chemical industries. Then I look for varieties that will thrive in my particular microclimate, without the use of excessive petrochemical inputs (plastics, fuel). The return on seeds, when looked at from an investment perspective, is phenomenal, and increases, in proportion with the skill, in growing and marketing, of the grower. It's important to include seed prices in the consideration but that is the least worrisome of my operating expenses. Here is a link that might be useful: Where do seed companies get seeds?