I have peg boards and nails in the garage walls for gardening tools and other hardware. There is also a small workshop on the back of the garage which is now garden/lawn storage. One year I went to a garage sale in the neighborhood and bought two small dressers to put in my garage for garden storage. Gloves, small tools, yarn, hose connectors, bags, etc. go in those. The tools I use every day, trowel, and hand weeder, go in the bottom of a pail by the back door. Like gmjan, I have multiples that I don't often use but might. My favorites go in the pail so I don't have to dig through the drawer. I like the idea of a place to hang them so will consider that. We used to move every 6-8 years but have been here 13 years and "stuff" has increased exponentially. Need to do a good sorting and culling.

It isn't that I'm so wonderfully organized, Pam, I require some help in remembering what I want to do. Sometimes I come inside and remember that I had a wonderful thought about adding something to a certain spot, but I've already forgotten what it was. I can't remember what bloomed in April as compared with May. Sometimes when I read my notes, if there isn't a photo with them, I am not sure what they mean. Today I looked at a file with nicotiana and lilies together and a note about purple nicotiana that I don't remember at all, and it is only a month old. If there isn't a note with the plants I'm about to plant, they'll go in the wrong places when I get distracted. You all can feel free to worry about me at any time. If I kept all my plans 'in my head' they would rapidly leak out. There's just too much to remember it all. Nell

Are we done with the gang mentality? I guess I should have put a smiley face after my comment to botann :) ... Admittedly, a mischievous sense of humour did not translate in that post. My point being that I am aware bamboo doesn't grow "in" water and was struck (again) by how some regular members assume most non-regular posters are novice beginners. But since some took the time to formally announce that I will henceforth be ignored, let me ask the following. Why is anyone who is perceived as challenging or disrupting the "regulars" (even on only one or two occasions) immediately labelled a troll or accused of being "fueled by totally opposite considerations"? I have made dozens of posts on this and other forums because of a genuine shared interest I have in those subjects matters. I have on occasion agreed with the oft-expressed opinion that there is a sense of exclusivity among certain regular posters on this forum, and yet this single post is cited as evidence by George and Ink of an enemy in your midst. Actually my goal is more on promoting Japanese Gardens, and encouraging that interest in others - which is why I suggested Flickr to "adopted". It is inspirational to look through the photos on that site. My original post was nothing but complimentary, supportive and encouraging. That said, I do happen to believe that all should be welcome, that this is not the place for a private social club and I believe I am entitled to that opinion. Isn't this is a public space were people of all stages of interest share information? I don't think it's solely a place were a handful of regular posters should have private debates intended for their own amusement. That leads to the gang mentality witnessed above, whereupon internet cliques form and occasional posters, lurkers or "drop-ins" are made to feel like unwelcome outsiders. Just because someone is not a member of the frequent posters club, why under-estimate their knowledge level? Maybe if all queries are answered as though the posters experience is similar to yours, and not 'talked down' to or ignored, it will be a more enjoyable and educational forum for all. So if some of you have hopes of driving me (like others before me) off the forum, so be it. The fact that you attempt to do this, only speaks to the kind of power/control issues at work here (I disagreed with Inkognito on one single occasion, and he now vocally labels me a troublemaker - fragile ego indeed). No single group owns this forum. Anyone is entitled to visit and occasionally I will post - usually in a supportive and encouraging role. I have learned from some of you, and will continue to do so. However, I promise not to ask any more questions of botann for fear I will get another introductory lesson on the rudimentary basics of bamboo. But as I said, it was a very nice pic. He (or she) has got a lovely garden.

Garden and foraging and hunting influences on new kitchen design: 1) "prep" sink was chosen because it could hold lotsa produce, including pumpkins, squash, apples, etc. but also can hold flowers for hardening off before arranging or game being prepped for freezing; purchased a grid for bottom of sink to allow sand, etc. to fall through. 2) food processor and blender will live on countertop, at least in summer 3) knives, peelers, cutting surfaces, compost containers close at hand 4) cutting station has temporary reservoir for receiving cut-off veg material positioned under veg cutting board; sit-down stool; large countertop area for laying out veg and fruit for processing or doing flower arranging 5) pantry area will hold Foley food mill, dehydrators, blancher, apple peeler-corer, vacuum storage device. 6) three dedicated spots for flower arrangements within the room--in front of prep sink, at table, before window in beverage area 7) vases stored on top shelves of upper cupboards; "Oasis" and pinholders nearby; stool in vertical storage area for quick access to flower arranging gear 8) lots of knives, lots of spatulas, lots of containers for freezing all at hand 9) gel mats have been ordered for when I'm on my feet for sustained time 10) sufficient space for dehydrators to run two or three days without interfering with other kitchen activities (we're going to have to decide about using them in pantry soon, before we decide whether door to pantry needs louvers) 11) have just purchased an immersion blender and a hand-held chopper to speed summer veg and herb prep 12) have plans to add herb garden near entrance closest to kitchen; am arguing with DH about creating new compost heap close to this door to receive kitchen compost 13) budget has allowance for me to purchase plants to be seen from kitchen windows for morale We have decided to retain our modest refrigerator instead of buying a larger one; we have two freestanding freezers. Our goal is to NOT keep unprocessed veg material for very long--we're just two people, so we have to keep up with preserving the garden produce or just give it away; we don't need to store it fresh until it gets old. We buy very little in canned goods or frozen veg compared to our habits thirty years ago, so I guess we're doing pretty well at preserving for winter. We haven't canned for years, except jelly. I make some tomato sauces when we have a lot of tomatoes but I also buy canned Italian sauce typically. We're dehydrating tomatoes primarily, but also eggplant, peppers, morel mushrooms, herbs, summer squash, apples, wild berries, and prepared foods for backwoods travel. We freeze broccoli, brussels sprouts, some eggplant, pesto, apple slices, lingnon berries, green beans, game, fish. Some years we can keep onions and winter squash and apples in cold storage well into the winter. Some herbs go into small containers of vinegar for salads. We plan summer meals to take advantage of fresh foods. We have a concept called "Tuscany" for deck meals, which means "live as if we're the heroes of one of those food movies where other people discover themselves when they go to Europe and eat well." We purchase wines to fit the meals and have no guilt about this. We have the deck (two tables) and a dining room (two tables) so we share good meals with others frequently. We were planning to buy a new grill as a Christmas present (until building inspector told us we'll need an air exchanger before we can pass final inspection--not in the budget, wah!) but not sure when that will happen. This last summer was atypical for us in weather, growing conditions, and effort, so we're short on preserved veg this year, I fear. But...once we get the construction finished, we hope we'll be back in our groove. We believe that we ingest a lot fewer chemicals and generally eat better because of our garden and foraging.