Ooh, it sounds like you have an Earth Box! These can be much fun, and since I have a bindweed problem, I plant only in containers of similar design, but they're from Garden Patch and they're called Grow Boxes. They're AWESOME!!! Google both, and read on what you can plant, how dense, etc. Here's an important question: do you have an elasticized cover that is black on one side and white on the other? This is KEY to your success using the EB; if not, there are ways to improvise; I currently use a hybrid of the EB & GB versions using some 4-mil plastic that I bought at Walmart, cutting it to size like the GB does, and using some good fertilizer, also purchased at Walmart, and using it ala EB instructions. (if you're totally lost after googling and reviewing the box instructions, email me and I can give you more specific details) You can plant alot into one box, if you plan accordingly. Since you have limited sun, you'll definitely want to get the biggest babies you can find (try Walmart, Lowes, look for garden centers in your area), because they may not grow a ton; you may even want to consider getting some additional lighting to supplement. As far as what varieties do well with less sun, you may want to post a question in the vegetable gardening forum--I would think a tomato on one end, but in my experience, peppers need full-on sun to go anywhere. Maybe you could do a pizza & pasta garden, and do a tomato plant, and some herbs on the other end--chives, basil, oregano. Don't know how well the herbs do with the limited light, though. Again, there are other forums where you might get better answers there. If you find yourself shopping at a nursery, seek out the most experienced gardener there (usually not the clerk, right?) and ask if they know of something you can plant for your sun exposure. They may not be familiar with the EB, so don't let them talk you out of planting the number of plants that you can put in there. The other thing you can do is to maximize the light that you do get, as well as the ambient light, by putting up thing that will reflect the light. Your patio may already have a reflective coating; if not, it's a minimal expense to put some up, and I wouldn't think you would even need to ask the building super if you do a nice job on it. If you're not concerned about looks, of if you can do it nicely, put up some white sheets on the non-glass portions to reflect as much light back onto the container plants as possible. Good luck!

Thanks so much for the help! Using the search + zipcode (which I read about first) I did get more appropriate results. Most were places that deal in custom windows, but after skimming through all the websites, one place did turn out to be a store/workshop that also sells glass and supplies! ItÂs only about half an hour away in Skokie. It shows up on the Google map one too. Odd that my other searches turned up window dealers even further away but not this place. I see thereÂs one in Naperville too but thatÂs too far. I canÂt believe I did not know about these tricks before. Better late than never! GinGin, IÂm in Buffalo Grove. Where are you? The Skokie place (Stained Glass Emporium) does say on their website that they carry fusable supplies. I took a workshop in fusing at NIU and the teacher got all her supplies from Ed Hoy in Warrenville. But thatÂs pretty far for me and I have never been there. I think it is all wholesale too. I liked fusing (I used to do a lot of enamelling) but decided I needed to work with the equipment and supplies I already have before starting on a new tangent.

With black and white tiles you don't have to use black or white grout, you can choose a dark gray that will have less issues with dirt and staining. Also, depending on the style of your home, you could consider some natural stone. I don't have a picture, but I used Ostrich Gray Slate/Quartzite in my entry and I love it. It's a natural stone with a lot of pattern in gray/charcoal/black and it's honed smooth. The dark gray grout never looks dirty. (I have the same tile and grout in my mud room/laundry room too.)

I'm not saying I want to spend $200 but would if I need to in order to get a nice one that is good quality. I've seen many Labrazel priced much higher. The one below is just over $300. I'd be thrilled with just a nice quality white one for $20. I was asked my price range and hadn't thought about how much I would pay so threw out that as a general price I would go to but not a hard line. It depends on how much I loved it etc.... i would like the kind where I can keep the tissues in the box. i like this one but not sure that it is white white. I like the York one but some mixed reviews on it. this is the Skyros one I really like but they have "distressing" that I don't want. Not as evident in this pic. Otherwise perfect - nice quality and simple design.