Where? I have a 24x48 vacuum thermoformer and a concrete mixer. A perfect and simultaneously odd combo. I can mold existing or create the unique. I will not take money though. Just for the art and knowledge. I am a rookie and would appreciate some direction on composition. For example, I want to try rice grain sized biochar, both because the biosphere is improved but also as the materials become recycled the carbon base is far superior to the glass beads of the perlite in terms of integration into the food soil web.

Our swaps are unusually at the Etowah Master Gardeners Greenhouses at 3200 West Meighan Boulevard, Gadsden, AL 35904. The hypertufa class will be there as well.

The swaps are generally followed by a potluck lunch so that people can get to know each other. The Master Gardeners are great-they are friendly, enthusiastic, generous people, who you will enjoy meeting. Besides them, there are gardeners from Birmingham and other parts of Alabama. Please make every effort to attend and invite your friends and neighbors- you will have fun and come away with more plants than you bring.

Susan

Alice, how are the plans for the workshop coming along?

yeah. I need to show up just to break out of my fall rut.

Sorry to have been AWOL for so long. Yes, Virginia, there will be a plant swap: Date: Saturday, October 28

Time: 10:00 a.m. – Gates open by 9:30 a.m.

Place: Etowah County Master Gardeners' Greenhouses

3200 West Meighan Boulevard (behind the Etowah County Bd of Education), Gadsden, AL

I'm working on having a hypertufa demonstration after lunch.

Bring friends, a dish for lunch, a chair, and lots of garden-related swappables. See you then.

Alice,

I will be there! Thanks for organizing the swap and the hypertufa workshop!

Is there an electrical outlet for a crock pot, or a stove to warm up food? I'd like to ask everyone to post here to let us know what food you plan to bring. I am thinking of bringing chili or a soup- unless someone else is.

I am looking forward to seeing everyone again-the plants are a bonus. Our swaps are always fun!

Susan

I sure wanted to go but its off to NC, to attend the final affairs of my in-laws estate. Plus Dear Wife has a sister that got some attention from the the tornados through that area so this weekend is shaping up to be a lot of driving and chainsawing. Perhaps next go round.

There is electricity available for a crock pot or two. There's 100% chance of rain Saturday, but only 1/4" expected. Just bring your umbrella and come on as long as it's not storming. We should be able to get everyone in a greenhouse and the MG building.

So, do we build around Susan's chili? If so I can bring some salsa, cheese dip and guacamole, along with chips.

Nelson

Sounds good, Nelson. There will be a variety of things coming. I'm bringing slaw, a friend is bringing hot dogs to go with the chili. No telling what else. The MGs will provide drinks, ice, plates, and utensils.

Sunita and I worked over there this morning clearing one of the greenhouses. There will be plenty of room for everyone, plus plants, inside if it really does rain.

Thanks to Alice, Sunita and all the others who worked hard to make our swap today such a success. The "warmth" of good friends, old and new, was the perfect antidote for what would have otherwise been a miserable day, weather-wise. The food and plants weren't bad, either ;-D

See y'all again next Spring!

Nelson

It was cold and rainy and FUN! The Master Gardeners' greenhouse that will house thousands of vegetables next spring is vacant for now and made a good place to display plants and visit with old and new friends out of the rain. There's also a building that made a perfect place for lunch [Gardeners are great cooks!] and learning about hypertufa. Our hands were too busy and messy to take pictures of the hypertufa party, but here are pictures of the some of the swappers and of those who were able to stay for lunch. So glad to see Nelson, Susan, and Rebecca!

Looks like great fun! Hope to be able to participate in the future, move is still a few years away, though.

The swap was great fun as was the hypertufa class! Thanks to Alice, Sunita and the master gardeners for organizing the swap. The food was delicious too! I look forward to seeing everyone again next spring! Susan

Susan: Have you checked on your hypertufa leaf? How's it doing?

Alice,

Thank you so much for teaching the hypertufa class. Here is a picture of the leaf

Parts of the leaf and plastic adhered because I delayed their removal until several days after the swap. I do like the green shading but I think it will go away with time. There is a hole where the stem was, which I will plug with caulk or hypertufa so that it will hold water for a birdbath. I am planning to make some hypertufa planters after the holidays. Thanks again for the class, Alice. It was so much fun!

Susan

That leaf is wonderful! The green looks so good you may have to stain it when that goes away. I'm glad you enjoyed with it. I did, too.