The cheapest thing I can think of for you to use is woodchips. Every tree trimming service is the country is looking for a place to dump their chips where they won't have to pay to dump them. Contact them and tell them where you live and see if they will bring them next time they cut in your area. I got twenty loads one time that way. They won't work with you unless you make it easy for them. Give them a map to your location. (several of them) Put a big orange stake in the ground where you want the pile and tell them where it is so they can just come by and dump without worrying about finding you and all that stuff. They will do it if you make it easy for them. One day you will come home and there will be a big ol pile of chips for you! Let them compost or just start speading them around the yard and garden.

Check with your local green waste recycler. Here in North San Diego county, the El Corazon Oceanside Blvd center allows you to haul away as much as you want (if you're local) or for a $5 fee (waived if you ask nicely). They carry 5 grades of mulch and toppings. ...diana

Well, 30" is better than a 4ft pallet (not by much). Let's see how berries do at market today - last year I always sold out of wild blackberries, but last week only sold 1 out of 4 pints of blueberries - guess too much competition, even if my prices were in line with other vendors', grocery stores are selling them cheap right now (not organic ones, but a lot of people at this market don't care - I might do better at a different market). That guy DH works with who bought the potatoes (and I gave him greens) last week "ordered" more this AM - took all but 1 of my zukes (I have to go hunt for more on some other plants), plus chard and mixed greens (the same kind I gave him free last week b/c they were leftovers). But he didn't want any more potatoes, or blueberries. I wonder if that means I've overpriced them? Yes, Marla, I will add the cost of any baskets I buy to my price (or at least when I do my taxes they will come off as an expense, as will gas to go pick them and free ones up). I do the same with jelly jars - people gripe about the cost of jam but when I explain I have to buy the jars, sugar, lemon juice, labels, ink (which I actually don't write off since we use the printer for other things but maybe I should deduct 1 cartridge a year), and pay for electricity (again, don't deduct b/c I haven't figured how much actually used to run well, can), they understand. Now if they would actually RETURN the empties like I ask, maybe I could drop the price (or actually, I've offered a deposit but no one's ever come back - I think I need to put a sticker on the jar). I think I'm going to make up a sign for today asking people to please return empty containers, and another one offering 10 cents for every canning jar they bring next week. Oh, and we're getting a drizzle now! Looks like it rained overnight too. Maybe I can plant the rest of my squash (Early Prolific, so short season, and maybe more Raven just in case SVB get the plants I have now). I hadn't wanted to plant anything else if we weren't getting rain. I'll check tomorrow to see how much we get today. At least I won't have to water my berries with the lettuce-washing water (though I will save it)!

If I were to dream of buying a home in Colorado that once belonged to a celebrity, it would be Dan Fogelberg's home. It sits on almost 600 acres. According to the link the price is one third of what it originally was listed for. That tells you something about the economy when even those with money aren't snapping up this beautiful estate. Here is a link that might be useful: Dan Fogelberg's home