Okay. Last year, farmerdill gave me his planting schedule for fall gardens. I copied it all into my garden journal so I wouldn't forget. Here goes. Mid July: Start collards, brocolli, cauliflour, and cabbage from seed. Sow it into pots, barely covering the seed with a light dusting of potting mix. Set the pots into dappled shade and water daily. Dappled shade for me is on my deck under the deck benches. Underneath there, the plants get full sun in the morning until approximately midday and light to full shade the rest of the day. It works. This year too, remarkably. Also, in July, I pull most of my first crops: tomatoes, beans, squash, etc. which are now finished and replant them, beginning to leave room for cool season crops. This year I have successfully seeded okra, cowpeas, cucumbers, and squash, though last year mildew got the squash and cucs. Also, it's helpful to keep the squash under row covers to keep squash vine borers away from them at least until they begin to bloom. August:Late month direct sow turnips, rutabagas, mustard greens, and Asian greens. You can also sow carrots and beets, though I have yet to get a good stand of beets. Septembmer: set out your seed started brassicas from July around the middle of the month. You can still direct sow leafy greens too. Mid month, start onion seeds (short day) in flats. And in the third or fourth week, plant lettuce, garlic, spinach (tough), and red mustard. Plant the onion seedlings into the garden in late November or early December. It helps to get better germination in extreme heat if you cover the sown beds with fabric row cover and water through the fabric. I guess it holds the moisture in the beds longer. You certainly need to water daily until germination, which is really fast, 3-4 days for most things. I have only had a fall garden two years now, but it's wonderful! I keep all my greens and lettuces under floating row covers draped over fence wire hoops and both years, absolutely everything lived and produced all winter long. (Temps above 10 both winters.) I also mulch the beds well with pinestraw. This is for freeze protection, but it also has a benefit of keeping the greens perfectly clean. If you harvest the leaves with scissors and don't pull the plants out by the roots, cleaning the greens is a snap. I hope this helps you!

Well this usually goes, you know you are in Texas when... But right now it's so true for so many other western states. Bless your heart, and have a laugh on me. I think the squirrel has the right idea. You know it's hot in the Western US when... * Ya no longer associate bridges (or rivers) with water. * You can say 110 degrees without fainting. * You notice your car overheating before you ever drive it. * You eat hot chilies to cool your mouth off. * The temperature drops below 95, you feel a bit chilly. * You can make instant sun tea. * Your computer won't work unless it has it's own AC blowing on it. * You learn that a seat belt makes a damn good brandin iron. * You discover that in July, it takes only 2 fingers to drive your car. * Hot air balloons can't go up, because the air outside is hotter than the air inside. * You discover that you can get a sunburn through your car window. * You notice the best parking place is determined by shade instead of distance. * Hot water now comes out of both taps. * It's noon in July, kids are on summer vacation, and not one person is out on the streets. * You actually burn your hand opening the car door... * You discover that it only takes two fingers to drive your car. * The swans in the Zoo come in "original recipe" and "extra crispy." * Hotter water comes from the cold water tap than the hot one. * The strawberries are ripe and the cab drivers are riper. * Your pool water starts to boil in the sun. * The hot-dogs sold outside Yankee Stadium are actually hot. * Pigs complain about sweating like fat humans. * A scalding hot shower still cools you down. * You've been getting hot flashes, and you're a man. * People walking down the sidewalk spontaneously burst into flames. * A $20 surcharge is added to your bill when you eat at air-conditioned restaurants. * The politicians take their hands out of your pockets to fan themselves. * You need a spatula to remove your clothing. * When the beer gut and big butt don't keep you from wearing shorts. * You wish you had gotten the cloth seats instead of leather. * You ask your boss for extra work so you can be in the FREE air conditioning as much as possible. * You are sweating in both directions -- up and down! * Lawyers kill themselves because they know it's cooler in Hell. * It's noon in July, kids are on summer vacation, and not one person is moving on the streets. * Sunscreen is sold at the front of the checkout counter, a formula less than 30 SPF is a joke, and you wear it just to go shopping. * You are sitting inside reading these jokes. * Your brother's braces make blisters on his lips. * You break a sweat the instant you step outside...at 7:30 a.m. before work. * No one would EVEN dream of putting vinyl upholstery in a car not havin air conditioning. * Yer biggest bike wreck fear is, "What if I get knocked out and end up lying on the pavement and cook to death?" * Airplanes can't land because the asphalt is too soft. * You realize that asphalt has a liquid state. * The city is rationing the water supply, and it aint even summer yet!

I have mixed food and bedding before with no problems. I think it depends on the food. In this case too much UCG caused the heating. I have learned something. In the past I have used a lot of USG, but it did not absorb much water, and there was no heating. This time I got it good and wet. I was just trying to do something similar to Bentley's home made manure. I even let it sit for three days before I fed it to the worms. It did not heat up until I put it in the bin. I'm guessing that there were not enough microbes outside of the bin to cause a bloom. Here is a link that might be useful: Home made manure

We are remodeling a lake home that has limited heat and no airconditioning in MN. Installing electric baseboard on individual thermostats, central propane stove/fireplace as backup heat in the event of power outage. Adding 2 through the wall 240 volt air-conditioners. We can section off our home for heating purposes in the event we have power outages. Battery fans and natural convection will distribute propane provided heat. Design of house does not allow ductwork, mini-splits won't cut it in the extreme cold, and slab/floors not suitable for radient heating.