Hi All, PLEASE DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS MESSAGE. Thanks :-) The Cottage Garden is kind of a laid-back place, and I wouldn't disturb that for the world. But we really should attempt to keep this side for "On Topic Discussions", meaning it should relate to Cottage Gardens or at least gardening. We have a very nice place for non-gardening stuff on our "Conversations" side where you can share recipies and home projects, send greetings, play Weekend Trivia and generally get to know each other better. "Try it, you'll like it!" I hope I haven't stepped on any toes, if I have, please tell me about it in Conversations. :-) Please do not respond to this message so that it will stay on top for a little while. Thanks! Patti

Patti recently sent me some tomato seeds. She did not even want a sase. Last Summer, we were in a RR together. A very generous GW'er!!!! Thanks Patti!! Annie

i would love some of these if i could!! that would be so cool!! armenian cucumber tortarelo cucumber golden gopher musk melon? royal golden melon lee okra zolotistala melon casaba melon 1 bosc pear 2 mustard gai choy 1 garden peach tomoto 4 okra mix 1 daikon radish 1 canary bell peppers 2 lemon balm 1 sweet chocolate peppers 1 bok choy 2 green zebra tomato 3 peppers yolo wonder 1 peter peppers this year, i think will be a great year for that square foot gardening!! especially with all that is needing to be put in the ground!!! **big smile** i have lots of 6 blazing star liatres 21 single white angel trumpet-smells awesome 14 lavender datura- don't smell but is pretty!! 4 sesamie seeds so if anyone want's these, let me know. :') these are filled pretty good!@! ~Medo

??? fresh vegetables? Why would you think that will help rebuild bones? Outside of quinoa, trying to combine incomplete vegetable proteins to equal balanced animal proteins is actually quite difficult. A 120-lb woman requires approx 20 grams of protein a day: BALANCED. If the protein is incomplete, the usable intake is proportionately reduced. Most Americans eat sufficient protein on a daily basis. It would be unusual if you needed more, but I have noticed vegetarians/vegans (there's lots of 'em in CA) often have very unbalanced diets. It's pointless, for example, to say that spinach has lots of calcium. It does, but it's 'locked up' in a form almost unusable to the body. Soy has calcium, but not anywhere near the recommended daily amt to prevent osteopenia and osteoporosis. It has to be fortified to be equal to cow's milk, and with either one, you would need to drink 3 cups per day, every day, just to meet the minimum 1,000mg recommended level. I don't know anyone who does that! Many people are deficient in Vitamin D these days, but you need a blood test to be certain. You should NEVER take Vit D without a blood test. Like all oil-based vitamins, it has a toxicity factor. The test is easy and cheap. Calcium supplements work best in combination with magnesium, Vit C and Vit D. All of these are cheap! There is absolutely no reason at all to spend an outrageous amount of $$$ on these particular supplements. I have taken those particular vitamins/minerals for decades, and usually use Puritan Pride (mail order). They have regular sales, very modest S&H fee, no state tax if you're outside their domicile state of NY. I've been a satisfied customer of theirs for decades. The calcium in dairy is actually better absorbed by the body because of the lactose acidity. Higher acidity is more conducive to calcium absorption. So an alkaline diet will make it harder for your body to use the ingested calcium (most calcium is wasted; only a small percentage of it is actually used by the body). What to watch out for: phosphate. Calcium absorption is limited by the presence of phosphate. Calcium triphosphate as an additive is 25% less effective for body absorption than using calcium tricarbonate to fortify foods. Also, a diet high in potassium and calcium is hard on the kidneys (renal system). Do not remain long-term on high supplement doses unless you have thoroughly analyzed your everyday diet and determined what specific deficiencies you might have - preferably with the help of a nutritionalist or someone similar. Most doctors, sadly, aren't experts on nutrition. Here is a link that might be useful: Puritan mail order vitamins