I'm doing great, thanks! so relieved that my final exams are done and I can be human again LOL. Then I'll probably keep the post on it to be sure that it is supported (i'll take it off probably in the spring), and I'll use some gift ribbon that I have to tie the post to the trunk, I'll just tie it on slightly looser than the green ties that are on now so it won't be so tight around the trunk. So excited that this mix will work out well for me! it took me forever to find it! the last place that I thought carried it in their store messed up, I drove there (it was a good 40 minute drive) and found out that they didn't have it! that it was a "misunderstanding" but that their on site worker could make me a custom mix. They showed me what her mixes looked like and they looked no different than regular bagged potting soil! LOL (Granted, I'm sure she had good knowledge on how to make mixes, just not the one I need). I politely declined and requested that they order me a bag of fafard 52, and the guy actually started to argue with me about how I need a custom mix for my citrus (this was after I had to convince him that yes, I was indeed growing a dwarf citrus tree in a pot in my house, and that yes this was possible, that many people do this and are successful at it). I tried to explain to him that the fafard 52 mix is a specialized mix that would work for a citrus, but he wouldn't take no for an answer, and told me he would contact the woman who makes these custom mixes and that she would call me about ordering the fafard 52 mix. That was several days ago and I still haven't heard from her LOL! I can't believe how rude they were! I don't think the guy took too kindly to me when I cut him off after he was trying to convince me for the 10th time to take one of their custom mixes instead, geeeeez! -_-;;; At that point I just drove away, feeling pretty irritated. I finally contacted the head customer service rep. on the Fafard site for help and she directed me to a place in Belleville MI (granted it's pretty far for me too, but at least I know they have them, I called and made sure they had them, and that they actually have them on site and not some other fafard product LOL), in the meantime I ordered a large bag of 52 online, to ensure that I have something to put my tree in LOL! it's been a rough couple of days, but I'm not going to allow someone to push me around into buying something that I didn't come there for, so I'm so glad I've finally gotten what I need. and my tree is still doing very well in the container it came in, which is great! I can't wait to get it settled in its container and once it has settled in after about a week or so, I can give it a little hit of the romeo fertilizer I bought. thanks for your advice! MSUgrl I'll post a picture once I get it potted. By the way, whats the best way to pot this little guy in the new pot? he seems really snug in his container, how can I get it out without harming it? oh, I also got another pot for it and its the right size :). MSUgrl

I have been a member of the Backyard Growers for the past 5 years. I even traveled back to Ohio for one of Mike's "Shindigs" (a picnic style get together at his nursery, for members of his group). As a retired attorney, I am wary of most internet offerings, but decided to join the group, knowing that I had a month to back out and get my money back if all was not as promised. Shortly after I joined, I traveled to Ohio to check him out in person. Well . . . he is the real deal, exactly who he says he is. There is nothing phony about that man. He is a genuine expert at growing and marketing what he grows . . . his system works. In person, he talks just like he does in his videos. And he really does keep his pet donkeys around. For me, one of the real benefits of joining the group is having access to the message board for the members. There are hundreds if not thousands of members, some more active than others. If I have a question, issue, problem . . . I can post it on the Board and get good advice from people who know what they are doing. Also, I have access to the Buy/Sell Board, where members sell small plants for prices you can find anywhere else unless you are buying in bulk (a few hundred plants at a time). I was able to build my nursery on a budget because I had access to many, many liner cultivars (young plants) which I potted up and took cuttings from to make more plants, rinse and repeat.

Dick, I found your post very interesting. I've read lots of questions about Mike and as you say, some are positive, many are negative. I have been searching libraries and the internet for a couple of years trying to find the information that I need to help me, my son and daughter start and run a small nursery. I sure wish we had somebody like you nearby to mentor us!!! It's a scary business world out there especially since I know so little about business stuff. I never had to work, my husband made plenty of money and I was able to homeschool our 3 kids. Then he was injured at work and is now on disability. Worker's Comp has not lived up to its promises but that's another story. The bottom line is that we have to make this nursery business work and we're doing our best. I appreciate you and all the folks on this and other forums who have given helpful advice. I appreciate the folks at the local SCORE and Small Business office. I need every bit of good advice I can get LOL!

I have attached three pics. I don't have the specs for either the sink or my faucet at this point but maybe these will help you figure out your concerns. I am betting the center of the single hole is right at 3 inches from the back of the sink. If it helps, my faucet is a Price Pfister Ashfield model. You should be able to get the specs online. Here's an overall shot of the tolerances I have with a tape measure in place... Here's a shot of just the space behind my riser... Here's a shot of the space left in front of my riser... Like I said, if the shot isn't good enough to tell, when I look in person, near as I can figure the center of the hole would be right at 3" away from the wall. Hope this helps. Ne