Fred Meyers and various Oregon nurseries sometimes carry Turface as "Profile Clay Soil Conditioner" repackaged in slick plastic bags by Schulz. Wal-Mart used to carry the Schulz bags. Smaller bags repackaged by Schulz, labeled as "Aquatic Soil", is sometimes available at Wal-Mart, Fred Meyers, Home Depot, etc. Johnson Creek Rental in Portland may still carry Turface "MVP". Play Ball may be available from Concentrates, on 8th Ave. I got some "Axis", at Portland Nursery on Stark street. While Turface is fired clay (ie., sort of minature bricks made from something like kitty litter), Axis & Play Ball is fired diatomaceous earth. If I recall correctly, Axis was slightly more fragile and dusty than Turface. Axis is slightly cheaper in Oregon than Turface, because it is mined in Nevada. I have never tried Play Ball, but I was told that it is finer than Axis (Axis is similar to Turface MVP in size). Elsewhere I read that Play Ball is available in 2 sizes; one a useless dust or fine sand, another similar to Axis. I don't know which to believe. Heck, I may have even read that Axis is available in two sizes; one like very coarse sand, another like Turface MVP (which is the Axis I got). Some orchard and aquarium stores carry a product similar to Axis; way too expensive because it is imported (from Australia ?). Sunmark Seeds, In Troutdale, has Diamond Pro in sacks and a bulk pile. Diamond Pro is similar to Turface; but a different company & a different clay quarry. I never tried Diamond Pro, I just e-mailed Sunmark a few years ago to inquire. Pro's Choice (yet another equivalent to Turface) may still be available in Southern Oregon (Eugene) and Northern California. I never tried Pro's Choice. Auto Parts and Hardware stores may carry oil absorbant. One type is made from fired Diatomaceous Earth (usually made by EaglePicher, the same company that makes Axis & Play Ball). Another type of oil absorbant is made from fired clay. Oil absorbant clay is fired at half the temperature that is used for Turface (= Profile), Diamond Pro, or Pro's Choice; so oil clay is more fragile than Turface or competitors. I don't know if oil absorbant diatomaceous earth is fired at the same temp as Axis or Play Ball. Still other types of oil absorbants are probably useless for us. Kitty Litter is fired at an even lower temp than oil absorbant clay, or not fired at all, and is probably a different type of clay, and falls apart in soil quite quickly. A type of Zeolite is quarried in the Pacific Northwest; in northern Utah, Southern Idaho, Colorado, Alberta, British Columbia, and a little in Oregon (plus a little in Arizona and Texas). I think that it should compete with Turface in our neighborhood since Turface (and its competitors) is mined in the American southeast, and uses a lot of energy to fire and transport. But I don't think that zeolite has caught on yet for gardens (last checked a few years ago). The cheapest source is from Farm & Feed stores as "Sweet PDZ" (about half the price of Turface!); used to deodorize poop in horse stalls. PDZ comes in two forms: powder (you don't want this) or granular (this is what you may wish to try). The latter is about 16 to 40 grit (peaks around 20 grit), which is like a very course sand. Al may think that this is too fine (?), but I think it is OK. I screened out about 1/5 to 1/4 of the finest fraction of the bag (put it in the garden soil) and the coarsest fraction goes into the pots. Next time I get it, I think I will skip the screening -- too much work. You can get coarser zeolite (slightly larger than turface) from aquarium stores -- way too expensive. Zeolite acts as a sponge for ammonium, potassium, calcium and magnesium -- releasing these just as the plant needs them as the plant acidifies the soil. Zeolite retards acidification of soil (acting like dolomite lime). In other words, Zeolite is a better cation exchanger than Turface; while Axis isn't even a nutrient sponge at all. Zeolite is available in 8 to 20 grit (equivalent to Turface), but I found the minimal order and transportation cost from Utah to be too much. How do I know all this? I thought that at $20 a bag, "Profile Clay Soil Conditioner" at local nurseries or Fred Meyers was too expensive. When the season ended, Freddies would offer it on "sale" for $12. When our local Wal Mart discontinued it, it was on sale at $8. Still too expensive!! So I tried to look up all potential replacements from kittty litter (don't try it!!!) to zeolite to Axis to Pumice. About pumice: much cheaper than Turface when found in bulk from several "bark and landscape" stores. Cheap bulk potting mix, from bulk landscape supply stores in Oregon, often contains about 10% Pumice; the largest pieces of white pumice (about marble size) are easily seen in the piles of mix. Screen and keep the middle half for pots (about 1/4 is too large and 1/4 is too small). Screen in a tub of water because the dust is really nasty (and scratched my eye glasses too!). It is hard to find cheap pumice in Oregon that is prescreened into any fraction similar to Turface; while several types of specific screened Perlite fractions are available in four cubic foot bags at Oregon nursuries. Pumice is heavier than perlite; only about 1/10 floats while almost all Perlite floats. Because of floatation, I gave up on Perlite after trying only one small bag. Pumice is quarried in Oregon and Northern California, so energy cost of transport is low and no energy cost to fire (LOL, Pumice was pre-fired by nature). In contrast to Turface or Zeolite, Pumice (like Axis & Perlite) is not a sponge for cationic nutrients.

Some of the evergreen Glenn Dale Azaleas naturally drop leaves during colder weather. Anchorite is one such example so do not worry. Luis

This was a good one last year. The address is is just a few blocks south of Powell Blvd. Jules From: "Kathleen Sawchuk" Subject: 2nd Annual Brooklyn Plant Swap - April 23rd Hi everyone. If you haven't heard, it's time for the 2nd Annual Brooklyn Plant Swap. Sunday, April 23rd, 10am - 2pm 3522 SE 8th Ave., between Rhone & Rhine Last year we had a terrific turn out. I think everyone was happy to get rid of unwanted plants and thrilled to take home some new & fresh ones. Soooo, bring your divided and spreading, your too bigs, too pinks, or extra veggie starts. Please mark your plants clearly. Don't have plants to share? Bring pots, tools, seeds, books or a bag of potting soil. Master Gardener Helen Hiczun will be on hand to answer all your gardening questions. Also, we'll have hand outs on propagation, dividing and water conservation. Please feel free to call if you have questions. Spread the word, the more who participate, the more selection for everyone. Thanks & hope to see you there! Kathleen Sawchuk 971-212-5702

thanks for the feedback demeter. i feel foolish asking, but how would one know if there are burrowing critters around (i've just moved in)? i was thinking i'd just knock-off the back of the case, lay it down on an area that's pretty devoid of grass/weeds. use a mix of new potting soil, free fill dirt from the neighborhood & some of the yard-made compost -- should i buy/add some steer-manure/fertilizer? is it better to use a barrier (atleast newspaper/cardboard that'd break down & potentially benefit the soil) or use nothing between the ground and the soil of the raised bed? should i be starting this process now, or would that be very untimely & i'd better wait until the tail-end of winter?