Hopefully not too late - don't forget that distilled water containers are the same shape and size as milk containers... and they are usually inherently cleaner (at least that's what I've found at the recycling center I've pilfered jugs from lately, lol) so you might want to include them on your flyer in case people don't think of them. Are you needing eastern redbud seed pods again this year, Klavier (and how did that work out for y'all)? Next door neighbor limbed up their tree drastically this fall so I haven't noticed whether there are any up there or not, but if you need any I can check around. Terri

What a wonderful project! I have some U.S native tree seeds from a seed exchange, and I've already winter sown what I can use. Would you be interested in seeds for Kentucky coffee tree (Gymnocladus dioica) and Devil's walking stick (Aralia spinosa)? I have maybe a half-dozen seeds of the coffee tree, and about 15 of the aralia. I'm afraid I'm going to use all the milk jugs I can save, but I should have some 1-2 gallon plastic pots to donate - I'll have to check my car port. I usually save the pots from landscaping projects at my church. I would also be very interested in buying some native understory trees, if you have any extras this year. My parents have a large wooded lot where I can "play" with planting new trees. Also, my church has a large property in the town of Union that is mostly wooded, but definitely could use some new trees near the parking lot/picnic pavilion area, especially trees like dogwoods, redbud, and amelanchier. Also, may I suggest that some of the neighborhoods affected by the 2006 flooding could use some new trees. The properties that the county/state bought out and razed have opened up lots of "green space" that could be replanted with appropriate trees. I live in the neighborhood above Argonne/Verdun streets in Endwell, and we lost 20+ houses and an entire trailer park to the flooding. The bottom of our neighborhood is wide open. . . . Laurel

One of the problems you run into as a designer is the client constantly making changes because nothing was defined or put in writing at the beginning of the project. The questionnaire is the designer's bare minimum of getting your requirements in writing. I would suggest that you develop your own programming document and give that to the designer. You should be able to do that in 2-3 days if you know what you want and how your house should function. Start with an overall description of the house with the number of rooms by name and their function. Then describe the relationship between the rooms. Once you do that, go through the house room-by-room and describe, in detail, how each room should function, the features it should have, and the type of finishes. Make numbered lists for each room such as - Master bathroom shall be attached to the master bedroom and shall have the following features: 1. Dual sinks 2. Walk-in shower with no door. 3. Jetted soaker tub. 4. Water closet shall be separated from main bath area and shall have pocket door. 5. Wall in back of sinks shall be glass tile from counter top level to ceiling. Color as selected by Owner. 6. Counter top shall be soapstone. 7. Floor shall be plank style porcelain tile. Color as selected by Owner. 8. Shower shall be full Kerdi system. 8; Shower floor shall be black pebble type tile. 9. Shower walls shall be porcelain tile from shower base to ceiling. Tile size and color to be selected by Owner. Bathroom walls shall have 40-inch high 12x24 inch porcelain tile wainscoting. Color to be selected by Owner. Bath towel bar shall be ladder type and heated. Plumbing valve fixtures shall be Kohler with brushed nickel finish. Sinks and toilet shall be Kohler color as selected by Owner. etc., etc. You should be as interested in the house design as you expect the designer to be; and if you're not getting the attention to detail you want - then be proactive and create your own programming document. I created a programming document for the architect who designed my new house. The document is 13 pages in length and gave the architect defined design features that he could essentially use as checklist to make sure the house had all of the design elements that I wanted. It's a winning design strategy as it give everyone a common basis for the design, and should reduce changes later in the project as the basis of design is defined and in writing. This will serve as a reference document for the remainder of the project, and should be given to the builders to bid from in addition to the plans. It gives the builders confidence that the owner knows what they want and also gives the builders a reference source from which they can ask questions as they formulate their bid.

The thought that girls cannot attend school because they have their periods was unbelievable to me until several years ago when I saw an Academy Award winning documentary about it. I now donate monthly to The Pad Project, a non-profit that helps build simple machines that produce sanitary pads and are run by women in developing countries. We are so lucky to live when and where we do. Really worthwhile project, Sue.