Hi Steve, To address your original questions about soil heat cables.......we live in a very cold climate here in Wyoming at over 6,000' elevation with winter temps as low as -40 degrees F. We have not used soil heat cables in an outside grow box - but did decide to experiment with a grow box inside our unheated GH. We bought the cable length we needed based on the area we wanted to cover - 30" X 96" and according to the spacing the cable manufacturer recommended. We followed instructions and mounted the cable to 1/2" hardware cloth and then mounted the hardware cloth to cattle panel for extra stability and ease of moving/storing. We purchased a thermostat and set the temperature at 55 degrees F and placed the cable buried 4"s in a raised bed within our GH and made a polycarbonate cover to create a box with lids. We tried to grow salad veggies during the winter months - November thru March. The daytime temps in the GH on a sunny day were between 30-70 degrees F even when OS temps were 0 degrees F so I would raise or remove the lid during the day and cover the box at night when OS temps were as low as -30 degrees F and IS GH temps as low as around 0 degrees F. The soil heat cables were usually only running during the night so I did not notice much difference in our electricity bill. The photo below was taken on January 31st. We are in Zone 3 where danger of frost remains through June 1st and there is snow on the ground usually through April but we have had snow and frost in every month of the year during cold spells. I think most would agree the experiment was a success! The cons in my opinion is the cost of the cables, wire and thermostat and the daily covering/uncovering of the lid (although the polycarbonate only needed to be removed on sunny days because of the heat build-up). When I retire I may do this every winter but for now - it is nice to have a winter break from the GH. We also use the Soil Heat Cable as a germination mat on top of the soil in the GH in February - March as an overflow box from our inside grow lights - that works well too. We are building grow boxes this year OS for our squash and other warm weather plants and appreciate your design!

OK, I finally did the video for days 16 and 17. It was a hard one to do. Again this morning I have seen the parents take mealworms into the trees, way up high. Now I'm counting the days till Daddy brings them back. Here's the last video. I've had the phrase 'up into the high trees' and I think I know why: "Somewhere over the rainbow Way up high, There's a land that I heard of Once in a lullaby. " Bluebird blessings, Linda... Here is a link that might be useful: Somewhere Over the Rainbow

No Donna they don't overwinter here but they do at Karen's (Bluebirdbaby) and shes only about an hour drive form here. I'm really kind of glad they don't, I would worry myself sick over them. I only have enough live worms left for another day or 2 so I am hoping they will bring these babies back for the dried worms ( I have been mixing them in with the live ones). I hope you will be able to be there for this fledge, if the younger ones try to leave when the older ones do there could be trouble. 2 days is 1/2 inch growth for those baby feathers! I will say prayers. Here's to the "empty nest blues" ! Only 8 more months.......LOL

I really agree with the posters who suggested foster parenting.I am a school psychologist and I work with kids who desperately need a stable environment. They are not bad kids at all. They have just been in unbearably bad situations. For example, one child who just went into a foster home is 13 years old. We all love him and he was rejected by his adoptive mom for no other reason than that she is a messed-up person herself. We have worked with them for more than three years and SHE is the one who has the problems, not him. Now he is in foster care again and feels very very rejected. Some people are in foster care for the money only, and they do not really nurture the children--what if his current situation is one of those? I hope not, but it could be. Think of what you might be able to do for this young man that I am speaking about. If you have the love in your heart to give, why not give it to a child who has been hurt and rejected? I really mean this. Your love could do a lot of good for someone and it would also help you to "let go" of your children who are leaving the nest. It does NOT mean you love your kids any less. Just that you are expanding / sharing your "nest" with someone who still needs it. It could make a life-changing difference to a child. Anyway, JMHO. Hang in there.