Last year was my first year too at this location. I use a lawnmower or weed whacker to mow the paths (and I scatter clover seed on the paths (I use a modified Square Foot Gardening style but do not have raised beds - I use 25' by 4' patches. I think some call it French Intensive). I cover the beds in black plastic. I bought a roll of it at the hardware store (they call it "vapor barrier) - I lay it loose on the dirt and hold it down with some bricks. I still have half a roll left, I think the box was something like $30. The plastic holds some moisture in the ground (there is still a significant amount of ventilation, I have poked holes at the bottom of water puddles, etc., there are large (3-4") holes for the plants, plus the edges are not "tucked"., early in the season, the black plastic warms the soil, but by the time the sun is HOT, the plants are so big that the sun doesn't hit the ground. Should a weed come up through a plant hole or a vent, it can be easily dealt with. It is ALMOST weed free. I also tried doing one bed with newspaper--I had a lot of trouble with that bed(we get a lot of wind here), and it took a lot longer, and I had to do a lot more maintenance...

just join .. its worth it .... BTW.. WELCOME ... i/we am/are willing to teach you anything you want to know ...so understand... what follows is about club politics .... and not about getting you fully enabled .... with the friendship plant .... now.. forgive me.. but you just slandered a bunch of my friends.. unattributed ... so if i get this straight.. you would rather rely on the opinions of unknown peeps who apparently like to complain.. rather than actually do stuff ????.. when i hear that kind of stuff.. i usually look them right in the eye.. and say something along the lines: IF YOU CAN DO IT BETTER I WILL BE GLAD TO NOMINATE YOU TO **** DONATE **** COUNTLESS HOURS OF YOUR TIME ... only to be rewarded by being crucified for whatever complaint rolls around ... and that usually shuts them right up.. because.. the only thing they are good at.. is complaining .... i have been a member for about 20 years.. best money you can ever spend ... JUST DO IT ... but lets be clear.. if you want to gossip about garden club politics.. [hmmmm i wonder if there is a forum for that ...] ... then go for it [preferably somewhere else] .... but i am not going to enable you ... in that regard .... never!!!! ..... COMPLAIN .... ABOUT PEOPLE WHO VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME ... unless you are fully willing to take the mantel.. and do a better job ... now.. sorry about that ... good luck ken ps: back in the day.. at the advent of computer forums.. and round robin emails .. etc ... long before GW.. it was all the rage.. to sign up for such.. simply to slander other peeps .. it was said.. if you really liked arguing.. join a church or garden club .... you brought up ..... apparently ... a whole bunch of bad memories .... and i am sorry for having vented on you ... [is that you clyde???] pps: doug's been pres for a number of years [google fails to claim anyone else is the Pres] ... i was not aware he has a successor???? .. which makes me wonder who gave you what info.. and why .... my is my radar flashing here on motive .... Here is a link that might be useful: link

zep516...you are right, calling Apple is a good place to start. Thanks. owbist....Not sure I am following you. Is the DVD-R the one that records things permanently and the DVD+R the one that can be repeatedly recorded over? When you say you didn't perservere with the DVD+R, was there something more difficult about using it? Were you recommending to buy the DVD-R because they are cheaper? urlee....first of all, thank you so much for that link. I did not have a good website to go to with audio/visual questions and that looks like a good one. Not sure how you managed to copy/paste the 'visual' directions for where I needed to go, but it is sure impressive! No, I don't need directions on how to do it, because I am probably never going to do that myself, but amazed that someone can...lol. I did a google search on Pioneer 640 and found references to 'not available' any more as you state. That is too bad. Do you know if there is another comparable Recorder on the market? Right now I am renting a Box from Comcast that records TV programs and I have just loved it since I have gotten it. It is so easy to use and fairly reliable. The problem is that you are not 'saving' anything permanently and you can't take anything on the box off and transfer to dvd. Obviously I can't use it to transfer home movies to dvd either. That is a long thread on the Pioneer 640, if I read the whole thing will it answer the question about whether I can actually buy one or will it point me in the direction of a substitute for it? I am just not a person who understands Audio/Visual very well. I can manage most of the time to connect and learn to operate a new piece of equipment by just following along with a manual, but connecting all the equipment and getting it all to do what you want it to do together...well, it is just very intimidating. It is like learning a whole new language and I just don't have the interest, time or energy to do it. If I knew someone who was proficient in it, I would be asking them to come and just set it all up for me and cooking them dinner...lol. But alas, I don't. I could very easily and quickly get to the point where I will throw up my hands and just take the vcr home movies to Ritz camera and spend $30 per vcr tape to have them do the transfer for me. So what I am looking for is easy and simple. That is why I love my comcast box, it was easy to rent it, they installed it and all I have to know is how to work the remote and set up the recording schedule etc. That I can handle. Maybe I should find an Audio/Visual school to send one of my kids to? [g]

I like most of the stuff at Costco, as others have said you have to know your prices. I can purchase some items cheaper at my local supermarket or from Amazon (usually with free shipping and no sales tax). The Costco I go to also has a travel center, photo center, tires, gas, pharmacy, optical center & services like carpet/flooring, kitchen counters, window treatments, I think they also have partnerships for deals on insurance, cars & tax returns. I've used the optometrist & ordered glasses. You'd want to check your insurance plan to see if it's cost effective. I love Costco's bakery, all the things are fabulous, especially the apple pie and chocolate cake. They have samples so you can taste before you buy. Seasonal items like holiday decorations, patio furnature, BBQ grills, bikes & outdoor plants are gone quickly and usually once the items are soldout that's it (they even had those big wooden outdoor playsets). I've purchased so many different things at Costco and really can't say anything bad about any of the products. Some things: books, electric keyboard, humidifier, stamps, landscape plants (roses, trees, bulbs), cut flowers, clothes (socks, flannel pants, jeans, coat, sneakers, under garments), printer ink, Wii/DS games, pool accessories, camping equiptment, cordless phone set, sterno, Kirkland brand (paper towels, napkins, dog food, laundry & dishwasher detergent), dog bed & toys, grocery items, party platters, makeup, shampoo, toliet tissue, snacks for the kids lunch box, mixed nuts, choc. covered raisins.... to name a few LOL!