When I first found GW and WS- I tried to find folks who had seeds I was looking for and sent an e-mail out to them asking if they wanted to swap for what I had to offer. There were many folks who never responded- but of those that did some really were generous in giving many more wonderful seeds than were arranged for- my eternal thanks to those generous souls who showed me how to swap in GW. I was then introduced to the Exchange Forum (round robin)and entered into a few exchanges there- What a GREAT find! I was able to send in seeds I had to share- and received many different seeds in return! It is and probably always will be a highlight in my yearly garden seed procuring. There are many great ones going on right now! Sometimes I get just what I am hoping for- and many many times- I receive things I never knew how much I would love! Every year I try new things that have been sent my way- and gather seed from everything (everywhere) and send them on to be grown on by others- It is hard in your first year trying to find enough seeds to swap- but Trudi and Bakemom are doing wonders for newbies with their seed projects! Sending SASEs, Self Addressed Stamped Envelopes back to folks filled with new things to try. Keep your eyes peeled here as well, as folks do tend to share information as to where the great seed deals are on the web. I know almost every web seed purchase I have made is because of "sale" postings listed here in this forum. Check my swap list and see if there is anything of interest to you- click on the blue underlined "my page" behind my name- You'll find it! Send me an e-mail from my page as well if you see something you like. Your gonna love wintersowing!

to flora & Fatamorgana, I know for sure that the garlics that I have planted, starting from early September, will stay live and geen all winter.I have flat onion chives and leeks(same close family) that I have planted in the spring. They are still live and well. I have planted onions from seeds, they are growing. I have planted shallots(a month ago) from store bough shallot that are growing. I have planted onions from sets (from pearl onions to be exact) and they are growing as well. Of course, we have not yet seen a frost although there have been lows in mid 30sF few times so far. All along, I have been talking about the vegies in the garden not in the pots. Ground is a low heat source in the winter.So garden veggies roots won't get as cold in the garden as it does in the pots. Again, I am talking about my climat, wher temps can dip to mid teens-F. I also lightly mulch them (with oak leaves that will not soak up too muh water and will not rot or get compacted as fast).This is an extra blanket. I will report about my chives in a month or so. Until then happy wintering your veggies(Grin).

By not specifying the plumbing fixtures before the contract is signed you lose the ability to control their cost through competitive bidding and may therefore be exposed to multiple unknown markups and no accurate knowledge of the sub's price from the supplier since unrevealed discounts and delayed kickbacks are possible and sometime routine. This is illegal if the contract is written properly but I've never seen that in a contractor written contract. If you list your fixtures in the contract as allowances, they become little Cost of the Work contracts inside the main contract but there is rarely a procedure for controlling the costs. The plumber should be required to show a receipt from his supplier and include any discounts or kickbacks and add a predetermined markup (if any). The GC should be required to show you that paperwork with his fee added. Don't expect that to be the same price as a retail store. Allowances are handled very fairly in commercial work but not in home building. Since the contractors are used to add their profit to their cost it can be difficult to get them to embrace a cost plus approach. My contractors all allow owners to pay Ferguson directly with no markup since their labor, overhead & profit is already in the base contract.

With not much experience growing herbs i agree it is best to pot the mint. And keep the 'runners' that reach out of your pot from touching the ground...they will grab the soil and put out roots in a mater of days. Just cut or pinch off and use those cuttings. The basil could be potted as well. It needs all day sun or at least the most sunny spot you have. It likes a sandy, well drained soil. Does not like to be too wet or slogged. Potting it will allow you to move it if needed as the sun moves toward winter and makes it easier to bring it indoors...it likes full all day southern exposure and will thrive in a window. Oregano is very tolerant and will grow easily once established. Like sage it will keep contained all on its own and become a small shrub. Mine come up every year without talking to it. (both freeze well) And drying is an option. I use my food saver for most thick-leaf herbs. pureed with olive oil and frozen in cubes for tender-leaf ones. My gardens are not tamed per-say. I like a bit rustic, but i have been organic gardening for many years and know individual needs by experience. I've made plenty of garden 'fouls' but some happy accidents. My mints are running wild but in spots that i don't mind...and when they miss-behave and start to crawl, i mow them back. They have become a companion to my groundcovers in heavy clay soil. The GW herb forum is a fun place to stop by. Especially if you get the gardening 'bug'. : ) -herbs are much different fresh. Use less, experiment. They can overpower and make a sauce taste like a bottle of perfume. Yet so good in summer italian dishes when used sparingly.