Since I've been composting and making leaf mold since the 1970's and read and reread Sir Albert Howard I figured out that by creating and turning a hot pile the N is saved and weed seeds and pathogens are destroyed. I six weeks I can use this for a seed mix if I so choose. As for leaves in a pile; I would never do that. Leaves are fermented. Manures and forbs are composted. If I wanted to plug up and slow or stop my hot compost I would put a bunch of leaves in with the manure. When is the last name horses and cattle have dropped their manure in leaf piles...they do not live and eat in the forest.

Thanks everyone! The pots I got from Stein Garden & Gifts, which is a local garden center and plant shop. They have a good selection of pots, that's ever changing. The center and right pots were ones without drain holes, so I drilled them in. The left pot was one with the built on saucer, which doesn't work well for watering, so I tapped the saucer with a hammer and broke it off. I am a real stickler for pots.....I like them to have personality just like my plants. I don't use standard terra cotta pots or plastic pots. I have quite a collection of pots in my shed, of many sizes, so I'm always prepared. As for the mix, watering depends on the plant, and the time of year. I have a few more jades than shown, all around the same pot size, some a bit larger. Throughout winter, I watered maybe every week and a half to two weeks. In summer, maybe every few days. I like to maintain the pot sizes shown, for aesthetics, and for ease of watering. I basically have one drain hole in each pot, which I cover with a finger, and then fill the pot with water. I wait a minute to make sure the turface soaked it up, then release my finger, draining the pot. The turface is screened per Al's gritty mix instructions. I use Dyna Gro Foliage Pro 9-3-6, at roughly 1/2 tsp per gallon pretty much year round. My jades are in a south window, so they tend to grow year round also. Joe This post was edited by Joe1980 on Thu, May 22, 14 at 18:41

Thanks for the compliments on the annual pot! I worked for a private gardener one summer many years ago and my job was to do the annual pots and take care of them all summer. They ordered truck loads of gorgeous and rare annuals for their customers. I WISH I had access to something more interesting, but I make due (sp?) with what the local nurseries sell.... geraniums, million bells, licorice, potato vines, petunias, etc... I have 2 of these pots in my back done the same way and every year all I do is change the color of the million bells and geranium. It always comes out nice, but I think I'm getting bored with the same design every year. Oops, sorry to go on... thanks!

I scan Craigslist for garage sales daily. Some are great. Some are not. Craigs allows the person to list almost all the items they are selling and you can get a "feel" for a sale before driving all the way to get to it. I have found that if they list a lot of baby clothes and toys they are not going to have a lot of furniture and housewares or any 'collectibles'. I never find my size in clothing at a garage sale. I have great luck finding clothing at Goodwill though.