Based on your question I did a long search trying to figure out (1)what antibacterial/drying agents are added to the rice hulls and (2)how do the manufacturers of this product suggest disposal when it is removed as animal bedding? I could not find an answer to either question. I am not comfortable with the thought of using treated rice hulls on edible gardens. Will check to see if this bedding product is being used in this area by our throughbred and polo horse farms.

You don't need to purchase pots or cups to start your seeds either. I recyle soda bottles, any kind of plastic container that food items come in, paper towel and toilet paper rolls for sowing seeds of plants that dislike transplanting (just plant the entire roll, soil, and seeds in the. ground, or a pot Sometimes nurseries and garden centers will sell you their discarded black nursery pots for el cheapo. For seed starter mix, you can buy a big bag of milled sphagnum moss and mix half and half with perlite. You can get a bag (3 cubic feet or so) of peat, and the same for perlite, at American Plant Products. They are wholesale but will sell to public if you call in advance and tell them you can't find source at local garden centers. This will make a ton of seed starting mix. It won't have fertilizer or starter growth ferts in it like the seed starting mixes sold at garden centers and such, but you don't need it to get your seeds to germinate. You can then fertilize with a diluted water soluble fert. Other pot suggestions: plastic see-thru to-go containers. For instance, I got a Sundae to go at Braum's today and it came in a clear, domed container that I will wash and use for seeds. You can make a seedling flat out of the waxed cardboard boxes that fruit arrives in at the market. They will part with them for nothin. The waxed coating will prevent the cardboard from getting wet and deteriorating long enough e to start some plants in. Clean these or wipe down with a cloth in 10:1 bleach/water solution. Always make sure you have drainage holes in the bottom, and a few holes in lids, too. You can get tons of other stuff from APP in larger amounts and for much cheaper than it is sold retail. Use old blinds cut up for making plant labels, or I have also used the larger size popsicle sticks with a sharpie or pencil. You'll probably have to figure out something different for when they go into the garden if use the wooden popsicle sticks, tho. Right now is a good time to start looking at the curbside trash for items like blinds, buckets and other containers, etc. to be converted to garden use. If you need veggie seeds, I've got tons I will give to you. I got several last year from Seeds of Change and I will never use them. They include beans, eggplant, corn, cukes, sunflowers, cilantro, peas, and so much more. If you want them, they are yours. I never used any of them. Plus I have tomato and papper seeds and many other vegetable seeds from last year, too, a few used from the packs, and some unopened packs. Susan Here is a link that might be useful: American Plant Products

eMachines were/are notorious for the cheap power supply failing and in many cases taking out the motherboard too. Sadly that seems to be the case with yours. A repair is costly. Not only the expense of the motherboard and the installation fees if you cannot do it yourself but you also have to buy another copy of Windows unless you are willing to argue with Microsoft. Microsoft changed the rules last year so that folks like you could not re-install the operating system if the motherboard was replaced. However if you phone Microsoft and let them know the situation you will be allowed to use your existing copy of Windows. Again this will depend on the tenacity of the person doing the repairs for you. Whoever phones may need to be firm with them but I understand they can and do make exceptions

Good point. BTW, I noticed that the braided lines at my building supply seem better because the rubber gasket is thicker than on the stuff at our local box stores - which can sometimes be really flimsy. On a side note, oen of my clients just bought a cheap handheld shower from target - it's actually below "dollar store" quality.