This year I created a new bed for veggies. I've been flat out, so I just dug holes for the veggies, added compost and planted. Did not till the soil or bother weeding in between the veggies/herbs. Then, after we had a good soaking 3 inch rain and the ground was nice and wet, I spread wet newspaper in between all the plants, and then spread a couple inches of compost over the newspaper. I may add straw or grass clippings as a final tidy mulch, but the compost looks pretty good. The newspapers were about 4-8 sheets thick, I don't really fuss too much about that. The pile of newspapers had sat out for several weeks, and got good and wet. Discovered that it's much easier to work with when it's damp!

Oh my. What is a passionate rose lover like you doing in that glacial hell hole? Reading about your endeavors has exhausted me and I haven't even lifted a shovel. I admire your grit and determination, but would love to see you rewarded with thousands of blooms on your rose bushes for all your hard work. I bet they could use engineers in zones 7 to 10!

I just wandered onto this forum, and have a few recommendations of sites to see in our area, Bigutehort. Old World Wisconsin in Eagle, Waukesha County Historical Society located in the old courthouse in Waukesha, and I believe there is an historical society in Germantown, WI as well. The Waukesha county Historical society has info on the wealthier folks as well, as Waukesha lakes area was playground for the rich and famous (Fontaine and Lombard, among others.) There were quite a few landscape photos available at the Waukesha County Historical Society last time I went through with a 4-H group. Old World Wisconsin would be my first choice. I'm sure they have some German-immigrant buildings set up. They focus a both on farm and urban. I believe they are closed now for the winter, but I'm quite certain they have a website. Someone mentioned New Braunfels TX. The architecturelandscapes have some similarities, especially in the use of indigenous limestone, but heat made some differences. However, if a road trip to see New Braunfels would be in order, I'd recommend it. (Selma/Schertz is my favorite little community in Texas, just south of New Braunfels.) But, any road trips to south-central Texas need to be made during bluebonnet season ;-) (March) Best of luck to you. Sounds like an interesant project. Guten aben.

You should make a solution of milk of magnesia in a flat tray of distilled water.....just add some...like maybe 1/2 cup to a quart of water. Wet the news paper...unfloded...carefully remove it and spread on a towel to dry....carefully because wet newspaper is very fragile. It's the acid in the paper that causes it to get yellow and brittle....so the M of M neutralizes that. I would be tempted to spread the dry paper on a towel and fill a spray bottle with the solution and wet it that way...so you don't have to handle a big sheet of wet paper. I've used it only for small clippings. Linda C