Well, we moved across the property two years ago and the garden is/was still over there. So I have been working on building a whole new garden by the new house. New (saved from a local fence builder) fence, cinder block framing (from job sites) and lots and lots of seedlings in the back room. Broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, onion, pepper, tomato and herbs all grown from seed. Laundry room has overflowed into the dining room and kitchen. Then hoping to finish the new pens for the turkeys, bantams and muscovies. Bought a bunch of moldy lumber when I worked in the lumber yard that has just been waiting for me to use it up. Almost there, have to call the old boss and see if I can find some more lumber cheap. Hatched about a dozen ducklings and one goosling in the last week. Our first turkey poults EVER hatched today, I am SSSSSOOOOOOOOOOO excited. They look like they are Royal Palms. I think our Bourbon Red tom has a fertility problem, so I wlll have to put the other tom in with the girls and hope he does the job. Chickens are laying like crazy here too. Have been for a while. I need to post my ads and start selling eggs so I can help with the feed bill. sullicorbitt - why will your hens stop laying in the summer? Heat? Happy Harvesting Billie

Okay Mailman, Patrick, and George, here is a true story. It is not racist, it is the gods honest truth, I was there, and saw it happen. A number of years ago one of the drivers brought in a medium large dog crate that had the door and vent holes covered with paper. It was labeled, "Rush, Live Animal". The crate was so heavy it was all one man could do to lift and move it. Anyhow, some of the overally curious dock workers moved the crate and whatever was inside hissed! Well, one of them asked the driver, "do you have any idea what is in there," to which he said, "no, the office was closed and everyone was gone when he picked up the mail. It might be some sort of cat." So the dock worker went over to the crate and gave it a shake, and whatever was inside hissed again. His curiousity overly peaked, he decided to pull a little piece of the paper off the crate and looked inside. Upon observing the contents of the crate he instantly became several shades lighter complected and ran inside, refusing to return to the dock. Word quickly spread from inside what was in the crate, and most of the black workers made a bee line off of the dock, leaving us white folks behind. Inside the crate was an eight foot Burmese Python! As to the bee situation, what happens is many of the workers fear being stung, due to allergies. As you are aware some of the bees occaisionally escape from the wood and wire crate they are shipped in, and the workers fear the loose bees will sting them. I have explained numerous times to them that if they set the crate in one location that is open the loose bees will come to the crate and stay there with the rest of her pals. I further explain to them that the only thing they have to fear, regarding being bee stung, is if one of the loose ones gets caught in thier hair or clothing and stings while attempting to get free or if they were to crush one. I am seriously allergic to bee stings, and generally do not fear handling them, but those people who have never been around them do not understand how the domesticated bee acts, or how to treat them.

I have Chris, Nichol, Mark, Jeanne, Wendy, Tammy, Nancy and Angela down for the following: Chris-Grolikecrazy Prickly Pear Cactus Nelly Moser Clematis - That was the last offer. Valerian Root Lilac Hen& Chicks Chives Violets Wild Blackberry Garlic - Oregon Blue, Purple Glazer, Chesnok Red and Silverskin Italian Brandywine Sudduth's Strain Nichol-Gardenmom prickly pear cactus Nelly Moser Clematis - Out- If I have more to offer I will put your name on the list. Rosemary Hens and Chicks Forsythia Brandywine, sudduth Garlic, one of each please Wild Blackberry -Mine are literally WILD. We try to keep them in their place but..... Mark-markcase1964 Valerian Root Rosemary Lemon Balm Wild Blackberry - 1 of each - Garlic - Oregon Blue, Purple Glazer, Chesnok Red and Silverskin Italian Barb-rosepedal forsythia garlic Jeanne-sandlapper rose Snowball Bush Quince garlic - all four Wendy-sassybutterfly 2008 Honeysuckle Nelly Moser Clematis Out- If I have more to offer I will put your name on the list. Valerian Root Lilac Snowball Bush Hen& Chicks Tammy-greenthumbgrow 1 Nelly Moser clematis Out- If I have more to offer I will put your name on the list. 1 Snowball Bush 1 Hen & chick 1 ea. of the garlics 1 Brandywine Sudduths 1 Valerian Root 1 Lilac Nancy-luvgadening2 Wild Blackberry Garlic - Oregon Blue, Purple Glazer, Chesnok Red and Silverskin Italian Angela-angelady Lemon Balm If I missed anything please let me know. I will send extra of anything that I have a lot of so you all get some good starts. Patti

Angela, that is what I did. The prob. with it is I zip tied my tiny little lights on and have to prop up my flats until the plants are big enough. It is a huge pain. There is also really only room for 1 flat per shelf. I figured it out according to Lowes $ for lumber and the cheapest shop lights they show online and I think you could build one for around 75-80. In my opinion, by the time you purchase the shelving unit and a couple lights, you might as well do this. I think you will have much more room and it will work better as far as moving the lights up and down. Just my opinion, though. If you already have a shelving unit, it might make more sense to do that until later, but the lumber is only going to cost around 20 bucks right now, at least in my area. OSB is $6 and 2x4 or 1.77 here. I am not sure you can buy a shelving unit, even cheap plastic for that. I just need an upgrade or more room or something.