I'd better start working out so I'll be strong enough to dig those pots in. *** I hear you sister! This is not a task for the weak-backed. DH says that he used to be an engineer, but now he is a ditch-digger. :-) Is there a specific height to the pots? Are they wider than tall? If so, do they have a specific name to them for ordering? *** The ones we use are called "Squats." And they are in fact "squatty." They're wider than the normal nursery pot. If you look to order them as "Squats," you'll get the right thing. We HAVE used non-squattier pots. But of course, they need a deeper hole, which does not appeal to us. Do you prefer the 15 or 20 gal? *** We had only a few 20's, and they were used for things we particularly prized. "Old Town Novato," for instance, is in one. The size matters little, once they get their roots out of the squat, and headed downward. We are told that gophers (I don't know about voles) stay about 18 inches below the surface. I believe that, because Miss Brisa tracks them, listening and sniffing, across the "lawn." So as long as the roots are much below that point, they're not very vulnurable. The pictures REALLY help. *** They do. We were fortunate enough to first see it in someone else's garden. Jeri

If you want a really good workout you can so what I did the other day. The leaves were really dry and crispy, otherwise it wouldn't have worked. First I raked them into one of those large bags made out of tarp material (best $2.50 I ever spent). I jumped inside and danced around on them until they were pulverized, then added more and repeated about 5 times. When it got really full I just swung one leg over into the bag and stomped on them balancing myself with the rake. It seemed like a good idea at the time but I had to take some aspirin later because my abs were burning. I think the neighbors got some entertainment though. They probably thought I was even crazier after they saw me dump the crushed leaves back onto my flower beds. The next day I tried using the bagger on the mower just to use up the gas in it before winter. It was a little faster but it sure kicked up a lot of dust. I should have worn a dust mask and goggles, which would only make me look slightly more odd to the neighborhood:) I won't be doing any more shredding this year though. It has been raining on and off for 2 days and our two large maples have yet to drop the majority of their leaves. They are always the last on the street to drop.

Well, it's not the pots. It's damping off. :( The new tomatoes I set out to replace the other ones are, one by one, wilting and flopping over. The stems go all brown and from the soil line to two or three inches above, the plant starts to tip over and wilt, and within a day or two it is deader than dead. I don't think it's anything in my seed starting mix, since the tomatoes have all been fine until I put them out in the garden, and other seeds started in the same mix/conditions are doing great. But I also transplanted some basil and marigolds into the same bed around the tomato seedlings (really far apart, honest; I don't think crowding is the issue), and they all look great. Does this just mean that there is some kind of fungus in that part of my garden that likes to kill tomatoes, and tomatoes alone? One or two tomatoes are still alive. Do they have a prayer? At this point, I'm willing to say the heck with organic and hit them with whatever unholy toxin might help. If there's no hope for my tomatoes, can I direct sow some pole beans next to my tomato stakes instead? Or will my killer soil fungus get them too? Thank you for all of the help everyone. I'm a bit discouraged. I really gave it my all with those stupid tomato seedlings.

I finally got to see it today too, Kathy! The look of the pulp reminded me of Celluclay, but she had a nicer clay-like body to it and her surface was not as bumpy, but more like a pleasing sandstone texture. I loved her use of twigs and copper pipe embedded in the forms. What an inspiring show! I even liked Dee Gruenig's segment using resists to create images on the compressed stamping sponge. So which is cheaper Braun or Thunderstick? Any other similar products? Guess this non-cook needs to head to the small appliance department, lol!