Sinfonian, yes it will, using urea is just like using greens but you have to use it sparingly. A little goes a long way and it will not hurt the micros or the worms if used properly. You also have to aerate though. I will rebuild my pile in 4" - 6" layers of shredded material; add the urea (about one or two pellets per sq in) and some water. I will only use the urea if I do not have enough greens or fresh HM. Dan, my first chipper was a large stump and a machete. I would use them today if I could have all those years back also. ;o) John Here is a link that might be useful: Johns Journal

I would be excited too upon receiving that wonderful swap package! The berry bowls from our local potteries look a bit different, but the purpose is the same. Here in NC ours look more like colanders with cut-outs instead of holes and there is a shallow saucer that the bowl sits in to contain the water. That cookbook looks verrrrr-y interesting! Good job, Katie!

Oh it was! I love sending swaps. Everyone here is so into them. It's better than Xmas ans birthdays when so often no one gets excited except me and the toddlers!LOL I hate giving gift certificates and items from a list that specify every detail. That's not gift giving! I opted out of the family name drawing after the year my brother told me just to send him the money and he'd order the wine glasses that were the only thing my niece-in-law (DNIL?) wanted. I'm sure they were at least $50 a stem so he didn't want to have her get only one from me. (I never pay attention to the limit if I find something great but don't give me an order!)

There is a lot of good in the world... DS grew up with a child in his class who had moderately severe spastic cerebral palsy. He walks unassisted, but with an obviously twisted gait. As a young adult, his arms are much more relaxed (from therapy and a surgery or two, I believe) than they were in elementary school, where it was difficult for him to hold a pencil, much less a bat. David was always included in every activity and my DH coached the baseball and basketball teams. He got equal playing time, and though his participation 'cost' the team many games, his teammates wouldn't have it any other way. He never made a basket, never stole or caught a ball, usually made it halfway down the court by the time his teammates were headed back, and never made a base hit. Until one game... The kids were in fourth or fifth grade. We were playing a team coached by a childhood friend of DH's. He and his wife had a Downs Syndrome child when they were in their very early 20s, and their younger son was DS's age. When David came up to bat, the other team 'threw' the play. David made a home run. Both teams were cheering, and all the parents were sobbing. The other coach hadn't said a word about letting David score. His kids did this on their own. And it was the winning run for us, costing them the championship. And they were elated for this little kid they didn't know. They are young men now, and hopefully they will help spread good in the world...