Don't forget the 'Sun visor' or slant the roof. In any case make sure the plants don't get misted otherwise they'll get a grey film in time. Keeping the unevaporated water on the ground prevents that. The wood stays wet all the time and probably will fall apart somewhere between 5 and 10 years. I know of some one who built one out of plastic and fiberglass materials. Can't take a picture of it but this thing is blasting out a stream of cool air that is just as good or better than any swamp cooler. Das is alles, good luck building it. Nick

Think I have at least 6-8 now.Some small males and think a few females and one larger male that is a real showoff and kind of a bully.He buzzes louder then the rest and likes to buzz right in front of you with wings outspread and red throat showing.He spent most of today chasing after the others to get them away from the feeders right over my head while I was potting up some flowers.Guess I'll put another feeder out back.Tried to watch the video of the nest but only got sound and a black screen.

I have tried and currently am trying what you are talking about with mixed results. There just is not enough mass to create and hold enough heat. My worms slow down and retreat lower during the cold months, but thrive when it warms up in the spring. The "lasagna style" beds with horse manure, UCG ect and straw mulch stay a few degrees warmer, but not warm enough!. I have had success in the winter creating heat with larger piles. Worms populate them and stay very active. I checked today and soil temp was 40F and the lasagna bed was 45F. I have a compost cage I seeded with bedrun worms and have slowly built up over the last 3 months. It is 2' deep x 3' wide and measured 70F. Another recently built pile is 120F. My larger windrow has cooled to 45-50F and the squirm is quite inactive. Love my new compost thermometer.

Hi, I am an occasional reader of this forum. We are in the middle of planning an addition, (which will give us a part of the house NOT in the SHADE. :-) I would really like to put up solar panels - PV or Solar hot water, etc... Does anyone have any suggestions/experience? If I am successful, I might want to do this as a business. Some questions come to mind. 1. Half of the roof will be (I live at 41 latitude, so that's the target slope), but facing East South East (compass heading is 60). Is that likely to work? Is it worth putting panels on the other half (WNW) to catch some afternoon rays? 2. Has anyone does this? - i.e., done the install themselves, or been the General Contractor for the panels? My thought was to give the builder the brackets and a drawing and say, here! - let the brackets be installed before the flashing. I might even "subcontract" with him to put the panels on (but Tom, Huck and Becky may want to help instead:-) I have done electrical work, with permits, at my house; I don't yet know if State law limits solar wiring. 3. My thought was to get a bigger-than-needed inverter, so I can add other energy sources to the mix in the future - wind, toddler energy, exercycle.... Thanks Seth