fliptx I don't think I want to overwinter any plants again. They will make it, and be the first to prodiuce the next year, but they are definitely not as healthy as the year before. Last year I got lazy and let frost get my cherry tomato in November. Two nights of frost and they were dead. I have to tell you, we did not get anymore frost for over a month. I could have covered them twice and kept on trucking for all of December. Dang. I agree with those that say let them live until nature takes them, but I have the itch to clear the area and reshape the area with a new lasagna layer for next spring. They longer it can sit the better off I'll be in the spring. But I just hate pulling good plants, even though they are but a few. It's like the few homeowners who won't sell to the developer who wnat to build a new mall. Thanks everyone for the input.

Hi again ethnobotany! I don't mind the play as I am not that touchy, it merely was a typing error and I in fact stopped using 35 years ago LOL. I'll remember that accidental pun for later use, though ;-) I am actually not (more of) a chemist at all, neither by trade, nor by conviction - but came to the conclusion that mineral based salts and chemicals (how would you call them best objectively?) are in fact clean and safe. And yet it's ideologically more complicated than that, as the manufacturing process is extremely energy consuming and polluting as well for sure (without the need to go into any details in this context). But isn't that the case with all kinds of stuff that surrounds us, including most of our favourite commodities, we wouldn't exactly be the first volunteers to abandon "including most hydroponic supply anyway..... "? But yes, I guess I see exactly what you are wrapping around your head at your end and what your master plan might be. I have been doing worm casting (liquid vermi-compost) with modular "worm farms" some twenty years back and would do it again anytime if time and space would permit. It's one (good-one) of a multitude of choices you have got. It's all about choices and the time you can- or are willing to spend on something, anyway. In my case, there is a semi-industrial (yet organic) worm farm at some agricultural university nearby where I can get cheap liquid and compost. There are other points that cross ones mind in a next step, when thinking "home made natural fertilisers or nutrient solutions" (instead of using the term organic). One is that you can't, or let's more like say you wouldn't mix both, natural and chemical ingrediants. Thus, if going natural you gotta give up all the mineral-chemical part in the first place. You don't absolutely need to do that, and yet it would be odd somehow if you wouldn't. One more crucial point is that you have to move from "calculation" and perfect dosing, - to intuition, less control and somewhat random. I am not saying that it is a bad or hard thing to do and yet it may take much getting used to it. If going down that road, there are several interesting and worth considering methods and means, you might look into. EM (effective micro-organisms) are still controversially discussed about there beneficial properties, but as a fermenting agent they are indisputably a good thing to use. Nitrogen isn't a problem as it is abundant in many organic substances and biomass of all kind. But to have sufficient amounts of Potassium, you have to "gather" it with specific bio-mass or ingredients that are exceptionally rich in Potassium. Seaweed extract (powder) is one of the key (additive) ingredients you would consider. If using manure, rabbit, horse, dunky and goat (elephant and some other exotics too) manures are the richest in Potassium. These are just a few examples how you would firstly need to find out about all dots, before you are able to make choices, to eventually connect them. As for manufacturing extracts, teas and concentrates, there are also a number of options. Machinery and tools range from simple bubblers over air lift pumps to high capacity Vortex Brewers. You may go for cooking a "quick fire" compost or rather have the patience and only use naturally fermented 1 year plus matured "stuff", rich in beneficial micro-organisms and with more readily available elements and trace elements. As you can see a whole new world and realm with multiple choices and options is opening here, waiting to be discovered by you! ;-) Cheers, Lucas Here is a link that might be useful: Vortex Compost Tea Brewer @ YouTube!

wow the coneflower rage is still on! I have to tell you I'm loving the blanket flowers & think I need to do a little hunting. I know I got some seeds in trades last year. Margo, sounds like you got some really sweet deals! I'm neck & neck with mamasllamas! I'm not really competitive. I just wanted an excuse to say mamasllamas. tee hee. Love that name! :) Shirley, I was in Milford PA / Lake Wallenpaupack area. Nice because it is always a few degrees cooler there, higher elevation, more dense forest & waterfalls than NYC. There's also a raptor rescue center that always has some amazing events. There was one including a golden eagle, peregrin falcon & snowy owl, with a surprise cameo from a wild bald eagle that happened to be around. Crazy. Also the most amazing sugar baby watermelons & local raspberries. Yum. I love summer fruit. Suzanne, I had a black goldfish that used to play with me. I would stick my hand in the water & she would swim into my open hand until I lightly pulled on her tail & she would swim away & then swim back into my hand for more! It started with an especially hot summer where I kept sticking my hand in the water to check the temp in there. She also loved it when I added "air conditioning" (aka ice cubes). I know it's not supposed to be good for their scales, but she *loved* it & would swim around in the cold meltoff. Holly, Suzanne, send some of that rain my way, because my garden is suffering. Unless Margo wants to pawn her hubby off to me in this trade to water my plants (will he fit in a large flat rate? I'm assuming he's considered a perenial) :0 stay cool, folks. grace

Hi ravencajun, Thanks for the information, I put this in my favorites so that I can go back and research those later. I hope you don't mind but I do have another question about those type of programs. I have never used Quick Time or itunes, they were on my computer when I had it built. My question is what are the purpose of these programs and what are they used for? Please give me an example. I was use to Media Player because of my music and I learned how to put some music into the Media Player. I know there are programs out there that you can use for music n't open media player why?" size=40> Message: Optional Link URL:    Name of the Link: Information about Posting You must be logged in to post a message. Once you are logged in, a posting window will appear at the bottom of the messages. If you are not a member, please register for an account. Please review our Rules of Play before posting. Posting is a two-step process. Once you have composed your message, you will be taken to the preview page. You will then have a chance to review your post, make changes and upload photos. After posting your message, you may need to refresh the forum page in order to see it. Before posting copyrighted material, please read about Copyright and Fair Use. We have a strict no-advertising policy! If you would like to practice posting or uploading photos, please visit our Test forum. If you need assistance, please Contact Us and we will be happy to help. Learn more about in-text links on this page here Return to the Computer Help Forum Most Recent Posts Compost now?Bunny poop? â¢Â by kimmsr Bernhardt leather â¢Â by Freethinker99 Raised Garden Bed soil help â¢Â by marymcp mycorrhizae for old pasture land? â¢Â by kimmsr UPDATE: January O.B.F. Member's Re-Purposed Fun Part 2 â¢Â by pmb2005 Quality sofa from Restoration Hardware? â¢Â by Freethinker99 Luna Moth Eclosed â¢Â by woollybear69 blueberries blooming too early! â¢Â by jbclem Leather-look blended sofa? â¢Â by Freethinker99 the f4f forum â¢Â by fespo Explore GardenWeb Ann's Cream Cheese Babka Perfect for Holiday Baking Feeding...