If people are still looking for a cheap solution I had the same challenges on a similar size garden plot. I added compost and manure but not enough. Before I planted for a couple weeks I sprayed Compost Tea on the ground to add moisture and then I added gypsum rock dust to help break up the clay a little bit. The compost tea was by far the cheapest way that I could help the plants. Because my soil needed so much help I ended up spraying with compost tea almost every watering, but they loved it and it was very affordable. I found DIY compost tea brewer instruction posting that really helped, and another one on the best compost tea recipes. After reading for awhile I decided I love Compost tea. Try this recipe, it's been proven under a Microscope. Compost tea: 5 gallon bucket 4 gallons of water 1.5 cups of Earth Worm Castings 1/3 Cup Molasses Aerate with 18-20watt airpump for 30 hours. Use immediately! You can pour the tea through a filter and into your sprayer or just water each plant with an equal amount. You Cannot hurt your plants with compost tea when done right. Just make sure that it doesn't smell awful, or sweet. You want it to smell earth and pleasant when you use. To sweet and the molasses hasn't been used up yet and you don't want too much of this in your soil. Also, if it smells foul, then it hasn't enough air and should be tossed!

Chestershouse, sounds like you have what I have. We took down a raised ceiling too. Ours had 120 or so ugly plastic rectangles that didn't all match. Once down we saw huge ac/heat ducts, uncapped hot electrical wiring, huge open holes that went into the attic, and 8' fluorescent lights. I guess the inspector never looked up. We also found a metal I beam with another wood beam that formed an L shape. They had removed two outside load bearing walls. The wooden beam was resting on ONE 2x4 on one side and bolted to the metal I beam on the other side. 3 out of 4 bolts had sheared off and the last bolt was really bent. That one bent bolt was holding up our roof. I am thinking paying for an inspection before purchase is not worth the money. I can walk around flipping switches on and off! LOL ( I know inspectors do more than that, but not where I live.) By the way, we have a drain in a closet. Used to be for a furnace, but don't know what it was before that. It was on an outside wall. Getting rid of all this "ugly" has been very educational. GW members have been instrumental in helping me. By the way, check out the amount of expensive oak in the ceiling grid. We reused all of it.

I germinated a few Canary Island Date palms a bit ago, and I have them in the gritty mix... Not sure what your palm would prefer though... Maybe ask the guys over on the container gardening forum? That is where I got my answers. Here you go: http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/contain Good luck! ~palmsandsnow

How far out is your remodel? I ask because Restore Habitat for Humanity store would probably rather have you cabinets donated unpainted, then painted - so if you are just a few years away, see if you can live with them stained. You really don't need your kitchen to look like a particular year. You need it to be functional and to suit your own taste - which marketers are attempting to influence. First, least expensive change - turn off HGTV. It is designed to make you hate your kitchen (maybe even you whole house) so you will go out and buy new stuff. It is also designed to feel like you must have trendy kitchen - which will also be outdated in 10 years and then you can buy more new stuff. Remove the wooden valence over the sink and paint the window trim white. Look into changing lighting - google "replace fluorescent light fixture". Chose paint colors that work for the room. Cool grays and warm tone woods do not mix - neither brings out the best in the other. You want a kitchen that looks clean, bright and functions well, not one that is trying to be something it is not. If you think you are more than 10 years out, consider new countertops, backsplash and sink. I did this and added a farmhouse sink in a similar kitchen for abut $5000 - I DIY the backsplash, so saved some $ there. (Pics are in my "my pics" idea book - no attempt was made to "update", only to refresh.) When you do remodel, or even before if it breaks down, consider removing the over the range microwave and put in a nice stainless vent. If you can live without the storage and tackle some ceiling repair, remove the cabinets and soffit over the peninsula. There are some online tutorials. You could look into buying some unfinished doors and staining to match or painting to match to replace the arched doors. A local cabinet maker can help you if the available unfinished doors are not the right size. You can also remove upper cabinets and replace with shelves - but you have to be comfortable living with that look and the work involved in keeping it clean.