Another helpful tip I've discovered that makes using the tubes easier is to save the plastic "clamshell" containers that strawberries come in these days. The sides are high enough to help keep a full complement of tubes upright & the bottoms already have plenty of drainage holes. If you cut your tubes short, you can even close the top to make a "mini-greenhouse". I am also finding these plastic clamshell containers invaluable as "mini greenhouses" for seed starting even without using the tubes. Just fill with your soil mix, plant, & close the lid. Not only do these containers work great, but they are durable enough to be used several seasons. I have quite a collection now in all different sizes.

Steve, I believe that his concern was the salts and fats that are used in cooking and the fact that his composting is done in an urban setting and the resultant problems from pests like rats, mice and other undesirable critters. I don't think that there is a real problem with the inclusion of animal parts as they decompose on the surface in nature. We used to purchase free-range chickens from a local biological farmer and he added the feathers, heads and innards to his compost pile. Malcolm Beck mentions composting animals in his book "The Secret Life of Compost"(I know this should be underlined but I don't know how to do it), and actually advocates the composting of humans following the cessation of life rather than embalming with toxic chemicals. Beck contends that everything should be recycled including sewage sludge in order for agriculture to be sustainable. I see his point but I still have questions regarding heavy metals, chemicals including petroleum based cleaning agents and even medicines that can be in the waste stream. Using sewage sludge on my property still gives me the creeps although I've heard some informed folks advocate it's use. I've also read accounts of people fouling their land with it and the results are forever.

Not a problem.

I did that (kinda) with hand shredded newspapers under fall leaves/straw mix last year in one small bed and it was pretty much all broke down by spring. In another bed...a new one I dug up/enlarged last fall I layered whole newspaper sheets with cardboard and topped with straw to hopefully smother any leftover raspberry and quackgrass roots. I made holes in it and transplanted some perennials into it. Well the roots of everything I was smothering died off, but the whole sheets of newspaper and cardboard were still barely broken down even by June. I ended up removing the cardboard and ripped up the newspapers to add back and topped it all with bagged fall leaves that I crushed up. Normally I like to wait to lay fall mulch down AFTER a few hard freezes with just straw and leaves. Vera