I've learned a lot here from you, kimmsr, and others about conditioning soil, and that is my preferred anti-bug war strategy. I have 12 very large compost piles going under the snow, and spread shredded leaves, horse and llama manure and spoiled hay on my entire two acres last fall. I know this will help with pests. I was just curious about the possibility of the silver mulch as extra insurance. I don't like using row covers due to the looks. I have to use them for frost protection, so am hoping to not use it for the bugs. I am interested in any personal evidence on the silver. It's surprising how much data is NOT out there considering that many of the seed catelogues are selling the stuff. Thank you Ronalawn for the university study information. I think I will get some and try my own tests this year. Thank you all Laura Here is a link that might be useful: Silver mulch

Ron, I kind of figured something like that. Of course, this box has a two fingered clamp, kind of a inverted V shape. The project I'm working on is going to be pretty easy, I just need to pick up power in a box and only go a short distance (maybe 18-24") and install a new box. In a metal box I'd just pop the knock-out and fish one way or the other. I'm sound (and feeling) like an idiot here but do I pry back the fingers, push a fish out the back, grab it, pull it out the other hole, tie my cable on, and then pull it back?

The term "BX" is sometime used a little loosely but I'm going to presume you have some kind of metal jacketed cable without a ground wire. For those kind of cables, the jacket is the equipment ground. With type AC cable there is also an aluminum bonding strap but that can't enter the box. You need to either replace the box with a metal box or replace the cable with something with a "real" ground (NM-B [Romex] or metal clad cable, type MC). I'm not sure an old work box is designed to support a fixture. Maybe someone could comment on that.

I got rid of anything without a mate. (in a couple cases I found the lid later, but no regrets!) Recycle bin. Anything that got discolored over the years (which was most of my old Tupperware). Anything that got remotely "sticky". I didn't bother donating any of this stuff. If I don't think it's safe, I don't think I should pass it on to others. I am glad to see there is now BPA-free plastics, but there's still some question on safety, especially if heated or used to store acidic foods. Anything I plan to use to re-heat in - glass. My supermarket carries Pyrex for cheap. These were great for taking stuff to work in, for nuking - yes, the glass gets hot, but I always kept the tray nearby for unloading the MW. Lids could fit tighter, however - not good for soups! Glasslock is good, too. I think mine are at least MW safe -- they're packed for moving so I can't go check. I never had the urge to put them in the oven. They are better for soups. For pantry storage of rice and such, I've been getting the Oxo things, as their lids are reasonably air tight. And they're pretty stackable. Discovered that they cost a LOT less at Home Goods than at Bed, Bath and Beyond.