Gardener's Supply now carries what they call "English Capillary Matting" that might be just the right size for an apartment-sized project (3-yard roll @ $15 - follow link below). It doesn't say what it's made of, so don't know whether it's the same recycled polyamide fiber cloth that Patrick Blanc uses, but I'll bet it's good enough and affordable enough for the purposes of experimentation. I've also heard Blanc's irrigation cloth referred to as "synthetic felt", but again it is important to know what the actual materials are that make it. If you purchase this or some other capillary matting, it could also serve a dual function as indoor seed propagation mats for growing the plants selected for the living wall, particularly if one has budgetary concerns and can't afford to purchase all the plants from a nursery. There are also Accelerated Propagation Systems (APS)available for easy indoor propagation, as discussed here: http://www.conngardener.com/samples/propgate.html Sounds like a fun project. If you or anyone comes up with a supplier with larger quantities and sizes of the appropriate polyamide fiber matting materials (perhaps used for green roof installations or roof gardens as well?) then I hope you will share it with us all. Here is a link that might be useful: Gardener's Supply Capillary Matting

Silicone is soft, easily abraded, doesn't adhere well to any surface, and won't tolerate standing water so I would avoid sealants with any amount of silicone in them. I would try a urethane sealant or an acrylic adhesive type like Polyseamseal. Don't limit yourself to home hobby-craft stores like HD or even tile stores. Ask a good contractor where he buys sealant in your area. Better yet, ask the installer what he used and buy some from him if it is a custom product. If it was silicone you're probably going to be replacing it in a few years anyway so I would be careful to match the stone not just the existing sealant.

Well, if you're talking about the larger mat, I wouldn't worry so much about ''Made in China'' since it won't likely be heated or go in the oven. If you think about how long your crust/dough will be on the mat, I think any problems are negligible. Even so, like with anything I guess it would depend on how much you use it. I still like parchment paper for the oven, so I'm not overly worried about using it. Our stores will be getting them in tomorrow. I keep going back for this, and hope I can finally score! Yes, I'm buying two when I finally see them in person, as I really like my mats for dough and would love to have something larger. Two will cover my entire work surface. I ran into a lady at the store who was going to buy them for Christmas gifts. I guess she knows people who cook!

Ci_lantro...yes, I did, but no "Macadamia" in the salon/shampoo mats either :-( The salon/shampoo mats appear to be the same as the GellyMats, at least based on the "Features" page. KitchenRedo88...I've checked at BJ's & Costco and they never seem to have them in when I'm there! Puppeez...I've been to BB&B and they have the same ones at the stores as they have online. My issue is my DH. He was totally against paying so much $$$ for a mat until he saw the Rattlesnake/Macadamia...it blends into our floor so it's almost invisible. He's now willing to consider it only if we get that pattern/color...but he wants me to find it less expensive! I haven't shown him the GellyMats yet; I wanted to "talk" to all of you first about it. I suspect he's still going to balk at any other color regardless of price, but if the mats are worth it I might try anyway. Part of the problem is that we now want two...I've been lobbying for the 20"x72" for the Prep & Cooking Zone side of the kitchen but now my DH also wants one for in front of the sink on the Cleanup Zone side ("his" side!)...but just the 20"x36"...so we're now talking about two!!