While I have seen a light sprinkle of decent photos over a fair length of time, they are, as a rule, the exception. I have never seen an offering of photos that I would consider good and complete so there is no benchmark example to point you toward. If you're asking because you're looking for help and want to create a thread, I would just do the best you can and not worry about it. We can always ask for what's missing. Without digging too deeply, the recent thread linked below is a pretty decent example of photo-taking. It has a panned sequence of the house, but the third photo is missing (because it was too embarrassing of a mess to show publicly!) The photos were taken at a distance (which is fine) but it necessitated closer in shots be taken of the same area in order that detail can be seen. Because the drive is long, the OP included a sequence of photos that nicely convey the entry experience. If you include in your photos some extra space at each end of the house, avoid dark shadows and be in focus, you'll be doing as well as anyone. Here is a link that might be useful: decent example of photos

Hello Ted I saw your post over on the Brit allotments forum and they gave you very full replies. There is only one thing which I wanted to add and it concerns your question,"Must you pay a yearly fee even if you only use the allotment during gardening season?" In the UK there isn't really a 'gardening season'. There is a peak growing season but we garden all the year round, if you see the difference, although we are busier in spring and summer. I've had my allotment (in a city and 5 mins walk from my house) for about 18 years and as long as I keep at least 2/3 cultivated I retain the tenancy. I'm down there 12 months of the year. In the winter it's digging, pruning, making and spreading compost, keeping the grass mowed and checking the brassicas. In spring it's preparing the gound and sowing. Then there's successional sowing until the last things which for me are broad beans (favas) and garlic which go in in November. By February I'm off again with sowing peas and favas. There is something to harvest pretty well all year round even if it's just a bunch of herbs. I don't recall exactly what this year's rent was but it's round about £30(ca $50) including water.) (There are several taps (faucets) and there is one right by my allotment.) The site is owned by the local county council and they also mow the paths around the perimeter of the allotments, and supply piles of leaves in autumn. We have an allotments association and through them we can buy seeds, fertilisers and garden sundries quite cheaply. Allotments really are great. When I first got mine they were easy to get and many were lying untended. But now it is very fashionable and there are waiting lists in most places, especially towns. But remember our home gardens are microscopic compared with the typical US 'yard'. (Heather has explained the nomenclature). I live in a city centre and the garden (Brit use of the word) at my house is about 15 ft x 25ft in total. Not exactly Texas scale!

Years ago, in the early to mid 80s, I took the factory tour in Troy, NY. At the time I had (and still use) a 6hp Horse. I also bought many of the other items that Garden Way produced, including 2 carts which I've rebuilt a few times and still use constantly. Our most used tool was the Cultivator Plus. I seriously abused that cultivator digging trenches and carving out our mountain side and it still sits in the barn, and I don't think i ever had to replace a single part, not even the tines. I also had the Snowblower attachment, which I sold new to someone on ebay, after it wasn't being used. About 10 years ago, we found a second Cultivator Plus at a yard sale for $35. That is still used to cultivate our shrinking garden of about 500 sq. ft., after the Horse digs it up. the original one sits in the barn because of starting problems and the yard sale item is used all Summer. Any original Troy Bilt product was built like an iron tank and worth the price.

Depends on what kind of mushrooms you desire to grow, and you might want to consider better places to grow mushrooms than your veggie garden. I only know one person who grows a Japanese mushroom variety, in straight manure, indoors under lights. To my knowledge, mushroom plants do not decompose sawdust, which could cause a nitrogen deficiency. But maybe not in mushrooms? Hopefully somebody on this forum will be able to help you more with that question... Can help with the question of mycorrhizae though - see the link below. Dr. Mike will want to know the scientific name(s) of the mushroom(s) you intend to grow, to answer your question. Robert Here is a link that might be useful: Mycorrhizal