Hi Khristle! It sounds like things were going well if your pile was heating up and you could not recognize the stuff you had put in there. I gather from your post that you know UCGs work as a green. How moist is the stuff you have in there with the shredded newspaper? Perhaps it needs more moisture after adding all that paper. Was the paper and coffee added to the previous stuff that had heated up before? Have you tried going a few days between spinning the tumbler? I have never used a tumbler but maybe you could try waiting a couple days between spins. If liquid comes off your stuff, I think that would be called a "leach" type fluid. It might contain coffee, veggie and fruit juices if you have just added wet greens. For "compost tea" I believe you use actual finished compost with it's beneficial micro-organisms and add some to (dechlorinated) water and then aerate the solution with device such as an aquarium pump or other air pump or circulator to keep the stuff from going anaerobic. I have never made tea but there are many discussion on this to be found - I am thinking of trying this someday when I have time for a new project! Personally I have not had success scoring spoiled produce from stores "sorry miss, we are not allowed to give this stuff away...", but some of my friends save kitchen scraps in an ice cream bucket and give to me since they are not composting their own stuff. (I have no idea why they have not caught the composting bug, but I still love 'em!) Good luck! It sounds like you have fun with that tumbler and will have some good stuff out of it one day! Rachel

As an herb, there are medicinal attributes. Here's what it says in Louise Tenney's book, "Today's Herbal Health". Catnip has been called nature's "Alka-Seltzer." The Indians used it for infant colic, but it also has a sedative effect on the nervous system. It is useful for many ailments" for all cases of fevers for its action in inducing sleep and in producing perspiration without increasing heat in the body. In children it is said to speedily overcome convulsions. It is also good for restlessness and colic and as a pain killer, especially for small children and infants. It has been known to help prevent a cold when drinking a warm infusion when you notice the first symptom. It helps in fatigue and improves circulation. It is said to help to prevent miscarriages and premature births. It helps in aches and pain due to flu and upset stomach and diarrhea associated with flu. Catnip is high in vitamins A and C, and the B-complex vitamins. It contains magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, sodium, and a trace of sulphur. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -I would caution using it on a regular basis since many herbals can cause liver toxins and even liver damage. I have an acquaintance who did herbal studies as a medical scientist this with a number of herbs and herbal blends on liver damage. -Dry it in the oven with the light on, between two layers of paper towels, rather than in the microwave if you don't have a dehydrator. Dry at a low temperature - 90-100°F. High-temp. drying will destroy many of the vitamins. -It is also suggested catnip be administered in the morning and evening. -If you take any Rx drugs or OTC medicines, check with a pharmacists for any possible drug interactions. -The tea is made from the dried leaves and flowering heads and is generally recognized as safe to use, plus it has a pleasant taste. There is one caution using it from a contemporary herbalist, Michael Moore. In general, "[catnip] may act to increase menstrual flow to varying degrees," so pregnant women should NOT use it. It can also cause spotting. -Harvesting: Gather the leaves and tops in late summer when the plant is in full bloom, and dry them carefully. Remove the tough stalks. Store in a dry place, away from light and heat. -If smoked, physicians have reported that catnip "was indeed mildly pshchoactive". -Culinary uses: as a salad ingredient -Catnip Tea: A standard beverage in England, where it is grown commercially, before the introduction of tea from China. To make catnip tea: Pour boiling water over the dried leaves/flowers and let it steep. Euell Gibbons [of the Grapenuts commercials fame decades ago] advised using a little more catnip per cup than you would ordinary tea. He also cautioned that catnip's flavor and aroma are very volatile, so he sat a saucer over his cup to "protect" his tea while it steeped. Euell Gibbons made candied catnip leaves to serve at the end of a meal, as a digestive aid or an after-dinner mint. His recipe calls for dipping catnip leaves into a mixture of beaten egg white and lemon juice. Then he sprinkled each side with sugar and let them dry for a day or so. Store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. [Grainlady note: use reconstituted powdered egg whites, or pasteurized egg whites in a carton, for food safety since the egg white isn't cooked.] -Grainlady

Helooooo friends! Here’s my total failure in air layering: I don’t know why, but all 8 branches failed. I applied rooting hormones on cuts, wrapped them with sphagnum moss and coco coir, I kept media moist with some rooting hormones as well, and.... nothing. Nada. Not even one scrawny root! To stay on a positive note, I’m glad that I didn’t kill those branches. Well, I have to take it back... I killed them other way. When I tried to root them as a cuttings, lol. 90% of those crocked, and a few still hanging in there, but again, no roots or signs of new growth. I’m kinda blaming it on weather, our April and May was cooler than winter! So I’m thinking I should try it again when weather will be warmer. All this torture was done indoors, and I’m thinking of taking my cuttings outside at least during a day. Nights are still 48-51 here. Forgot to mention, some of them in perlite/coir mix, some in perlite. And one in water with root hormone. I did water them tho.... didn’t know till yesterday that cuttings needs to be in dry media. Ugh.... Probably will kill the rest of them soon, lol.

"don't talk about me while I'm away! " I didn't say a word! actually, I forgot it was Tues. I was too tired to go to the store/bank on Mon, so yesterday I forced myself out into the big bad world. I was very low on cash here. well, until after I went to the bank - later I found another 60.00 in my purse so I'd have been fine... dang it. well, I was out of goodies anyway... I'd finished off my 2 slices of cheesecake... I'd finished off my pkg of those raspberry cookies last wkend... I hate to be without sweets! I did knock off about 4 errands tho. 3 were just quick in/out stops. I did get frustrated and panicky after 1 stop when I couldn't find my keys. in the heat (it was hot here) I was in/ out of the back seat, front seat (both sides). the door on the drivers side wouldn't open - something wrong with the handle. I had to crawl over the seat from passenger side. what a bummer. after about 20min or so (and checking in the store) I found the keys. I'd sat everything on the hood when the door wouldn't open. I then picked up my purse and pkg to put in car - but left the keys and forgot they were there. that exhausted me. and I know it means a trip to the mechanic to get that door fixed - again. They changed it out a few yrs back- and here I am again. by the time I got home, I just wanted out of my 'go to town' clothes (which aren't a big deal - just not the grubs or nightshirt I wear around here), get a cold drink and lie down. I didn't want to do anything! shades - I am glad to hear you got some extra rest.