George, Thanks for sharing dummies guide on Redworms cultivation. I just wounder is that ok to introduce redworms to compost pit. I built 4x8ft compost pit for the recycling the garden waste. Right now, compost pit is holding two years garden waste of the fall and spring clean up of mostly garden vegetable plants. I usually chapped or cut large plants (Okra, Eggplants, Corn, etc) into small pieces before adding to compost pit. We also add lawn clippings and some plant based kitchen waste in to the pit. Indeed I bought 15 Amp Chipper Shredder (1-1/4" Capacity) from Harbor Freight tools, but it is good for Okra like plants but not works for non-woody plants and climbers. I need to get it rid off it. I not turn compost materials often, because it is hard to turn. They are taking loner time to decompose. I am exploring the possibility of adding red-worms to work on it. But as they won't have grinding teeth, how they will help in breaking the plant woody materials? As our garden keep expanding and my thirst for the planting more and more types and varieties going up. I am just afraid of the garden waste at the end of the season. That is one of the biggest problem gardening in the city. I yet to find better solution soon. I look forward to hear more advice from the folks! Thanks -Chandra

If you're trying to get into babysitting for a few extra $$$? You're smart to assess the need. You really need to see what the situation is where you live. Ask around among your friends, your neighbors--most people do NOT want to hire someone they do not know to come into their homes and companion their children. So your best bet is to find friends and family members who might be interested in contracting your services. Now, I have a question? What do you bring to the job? Are you qualified/certified in first aid? Are you reliable? Are you educated in child development, child safety issues? What kinds of activities would you be bringing to entertain your charges? What experience have you had supervising children? Do you have a reliable car and clean driving record (in case of an emergency). How do you keep your head in an emergency, for that matter? These are all questions you might be asked by responsible parents looking for a babysitter. The better your answers, the better chance you'll get the job, and be invited back a second/third time to work for them. My suggestion would be to get yourself a first aid certificate that shows you've been qualified. Then put together a bag of activities for various ages, to show the parents that you really understand the role of a babysitter. You might consider putting together a questionaire so you'd have all the necessary info (where will parents be? emergency numbers if you can't reach the parents, pediatrician/hosptal/ambulance numbers, etc) The more prepared you show yourself to be, the more likely you'll get the job, and in some cases, the more you'll be able to charge.

Are you going to do this in your apartment? If so, then you better check with management. If you are management or are working in conjunction with management to offer this to the apartment complex, and the kids will be in the clubhouse or some other central location, then I think I'd charge by the day minimum. Otherwise, you might need 4 workers for one hour according to daycare laws, and then need 1 for the other 2. It'd be easier to schedule the appropriate amount of workers if you charged by the day, and you made them sign up and pay for the days by a certain day each month. Any other way, and it could become a nightmare. Of course, I don't know what the childcare laws are in your state, so they might not be very strict, but usually states have some very detailed laws covering childcare.

I live in northern Virginia and am a college student majoring in elementary education with more than 6 years of experience babysitting. I charge $9 an hour for one child and $1/hr extra for each additional child. My rates are actually pretty low and I do have a few families with three children who pay me $15/hour. As many others said, you get what you pay for! And a good babysitter cares for your children. I get down and play with the kids and if it is a night job, after the kids go to sleep, I tidy up the toys and wash any dishes that we used during the time I was there. Also, it does depend on where you live and the socioeconomic status of the area but for those who remember sitting for $1 or $2/hr, you have to remember that just like the price of milk and gas have gone up, so have babysitting rates. When I started sitting at 13 I made $3/hour for two children. Now I charge about $10/hr for two kids. Bottom line: If you want an experienced sitter who is going to take good care of your children, you have to respect them by paying them well.