Just a note "Dio Tenaceous" earth is actually "diatomaceous earth" (aka "DE"), as it is made of diatoms. :) When you use it either for garden or pet, there are some cautions to take. First, always use "food grade" DE. Pool-grade DE is too sharp and can be harmful; it is not meant to be ingested or used on pets or plants where humans or pets could ingest (or lick). Fresh-water food-grade is best, but most organic gardening places and many online shops sell food-grade DE. Second, as with ALL dusts, please do not use so much that you can really see it or breathe it, and always make sure either to not breathe it and use eye protection if there is a wind (and cover your pets' eyes), or use a dust mask, etc. One way of distributing it is by using a pizza cheese sprinkler. Planting tomatoes: When you plant them, pick the leggier plants. Pick off the lower branches of your transplants, and plant the tomato at an angle / Various: Look up "companion planting" there are many plants that grow well together. If you plant companion plants at the base of taller plants, you will have to do less weeding, and you will water more efficiently. One example is planting greens between onions, or basil at the feet of tomatoes. Strawberries. Plant radish patches near your strawberry patches. The radishes will draw the lygus bugs away from your strawberry blooms. You can them vacuum them off of the radishes or use your organic chemicals there without hurting your delicate berries.

The mere fact that they are selling the bags brings reusable bags to the minds of customers. I got super dirty confused looks from cashiers when I tried to bring my own bags before. The bag I saw for sale today (for $5) was made from reused target bags. Or I at least hope they were reused. They just took several layers of the regular bags, and sewed them together so they were stronger. You could visibly see all the little red circles from the old bags overlapping one another.

We've done a skeleton move like yours 3 times. It's easy if you pack in layers just like you'd unpack. First to pack, label with "storage" and put color dot sticker on 2 sides, is the "decor layer". This is all accessories, pictures, couch pillows, dustables. Keep out 2 items from each of these that make you smile, you'll need them in your temporary space (my last temp space was supposed to be 6-9 months, was 30 months in 1100 s.f with 3 businesses). Next, are "extras"- holiday dishes, plates, pans, extra bedding, all extra craft/hobby supplies (like a sewing or knitting stash...you won't have time or space to do these). The same with most books. These get a second color dot on 2 sides, meaning "unpack next to last". All extra furniture and the stuff you store there gets put into storage. rugs also. Now you should be down to your basics of life. You won't be entertaining at home, so keep a couple of nice lamps and candles and store half of all of your remaining dishes, pans, etc.with a 3rd colored sticker (means "unpack first"). Keep the movies and video games, you'll need the stress release. Kids get two plastic tubs of toys, the rest get donated or stored. You and spouse get 1 plastic tub of extra non-clothing stuff. Think stress relief (this is not the time to pack away sexy lingeries). Put everything, everything not kitchen into plastic storage boxes, plastic shoe boxes, plastic drawers. When you move again you'll just grab the storage boxes from cabinets and drawers and slide them into your next home. Plus, you're more organized every day. Every single thing in your bathroom should be in a wicker or plastic container. I can pack a 3500sf house in 3 days, unpack in 5 days (time off for walks, movies, restaurants because you hit a wall the 3rd day). Lastly, know thyself. Let yourself have a few little luxuries. If you usually surround yourself with vibrant color then don't stop now. Put down some great rugs and don't try to live with white walls. if baking is your stress release then have the muffin tins. If you have to garden or go mad then get a small greenhouse from Harbor Freight and go to it. The one thing you cannot ever, ever do in a temp space is shop for stress relief. One item comes into the house,a similar item must go out. This is especially true for clothing and kids toys. My kid got anything for Christmas that would fit in a plastic shoe box. Think video games, they're small. I love gameboys. Keep an eye on the spouse, make certain that their downtime has what they need...for example, living with my husband when he doesn't have a garage for his project cars is both stressful and makes for some ugly yard art. We're in a larger house for 2 years right now, then we pack up and move again. I honestly don't know how other people can live with the accumulation of stuff that builds up even in 2 years. Moving is a terrific chance to purge your life of old and outworn possessions and energies. It beats spring cleaning. Good luck!

I have one canvas bag that is never used for groceries. I use it for packing picnic things or other non food items to carry somewhere. Seems to me the poly bags are more sanitary by their design. And keeping them clean is not difficult. You don't put meats and sloppy things in there without a liner. Simple concept. But effective. But it wouldn't surprise me to see grungy bags. People are such pigs in virtually every other way, why would it be different with the bags? Was at the store the other day with a friend and she wanted to pick up some makeup. Talk about overpackaging! And we're not talking about a bag in a box! These hard-shell cases inside plastic wrap inside a blister pack on a card. For the little dab of war paint in there it requires a tackle box for a container?! However I disagree with criticizing cereal in a bag in a box. I'm disgusted with anything that isn't in a plastic liner, for instance pasta. That requires immediate wrapping in plastic and insertion into the freezer. This part of the country doesn't have the trouble with bugs and rodents like other parts experience. My cousin in Texas talks all the time about the need for Tupperware. And for the outer box, it isn't totally mandatory but the storing, transporting and the like is far better by using a lightweight box. Less damaged product too. So much of the packaging can be reused and/or recycled. I laugh at people who cry about all these bottles "going to the landfill"! LOL Simple laziness. Recycle it. But I realize that people are slobs. There's lots of ways people can help themselves, the planet and all the feelgood folks but I don't think people really want to make the effort. But people are gullible pigs.