wow, really good point. a cross cut. it's just the shredder i have in my home office. i think i'll just add hand ripped newspaper/cardboard and half finished compost from the compost tumbler from now on! and fluff the compacted part for now! thanks everyone!

I would either sprinkle water from my fingertips or use a spice jar. A spice jar normally has a lid with holes in it. Clean it out and fill it with water and you can lightly sprinkle water out of it. I would definitely not use that spray bottle, especially because you have mentioned money is tight and I would guess you can't afford to buy more worms if this goes south.

For what it’s worth, there’s a University Extension program that explains “a few .. tests are useful for back-yard composters [that] helps composters understand the many criteria involved in assessing ((( compost maturity ))) from pH to microbial activity to temperature.” I understand that what we are discussing in this article is different. However, understanding the properties of gel-pack contents and their impacts on plants can probably be tested in a similar manner. We many not be able to *directly* find out the properties of the gels, but we can *directly* observe the impacts that its (hidden) properties have on plant growth and germination. If you’re interested follow this link: http://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasota/natural-resources/waste-reduction/composting/what-is-composting/when-is-compost-ready/compost-maturity-test/ or type something like this into google: Compost Maturity Tests plant growth and germination Incase the article ‘disappears’ (dreaded 404 code!!) I’ll do my best to give a rundown of the type of procedure that can be used: PLANT GERMINATION TEST Performing the Test Put 1/4 cup of ((( the test agent eg: gel )) in the paper cup Add the 1/2-cup of clean water (( perhaps consider using bottled water )) Mix After two hours, filter the mix through cheese cloth and collect the liquid (called filtrate) Prepare six glasses by putting a piece of tissue or paper towel at the bottom of the glass and adding five seeds to each glass (( consider using radish seeds if you can easily get them as they germinate quickly )) Place about 20 drops of clean water on the paper in each of three glasses (this will be your control, to see if there is a problem with your seeds or your testing agent), seal the glasses with aluminum foil and tape, and then label the dishes "control"; Place about 20 drops of testing agent filtrate on the paper in each of the other three glasses, seal the glasses with aluminum foil and tape, and then label the dishes “gel filtrate“ and Keep the glasses in a dark place at room temperature (around 80 degrees F, or 27 degrees C), and then observe and record germination after 24, 48, and 72 hours using. PLANT GROWTH TEST This test helps to see if the test agent provides nutrients to plants or, potentially, robs nutrients from plants or even ‘poisons’ them. To complete this test, you will need the containers and seedlings started in the ‘plant germination’ test. Note: these seedlings will be y days old. Performing the Test . Trim samples to leave just three seedlings per container . pot seedlings up in a straight gel mix or a potting medium + gel mix … ensure all mix amounts are measured to ensure each mix is the same . Irrigate regularly to keep containers moist (( using a spray bottle allows a roughly controlled amount .. eg 3 full sprays each ))) . You may fertilize once, if you want, but fertilize no more than half each of the compost and control containers, taking care to add the same amount of fertilizer to each container (( perhaps add liquid fertiliser to watering spray bottle)); . After 21 days, harvest the crop from each container, wash the roots to remove gel / gel + potting medium mix, weigh the sample, and record the data from each container separately; . Calculate the average weight per plant for the fertilized versus the unfertilized plants in each media type; and . Arrange/rearrange your containers to set up a new random pattern of control and compost containers, and repeat this step every seven days. Hopes this is of use to someone out there! Best of luck, and remember: SHARING (your results if you do these tests) is CARING!! ; )

We only use the disinfecting wipes outside. We bring them into the stores with us to wipe the carts, and then to wipe our hands after we come out of the store. I have an endless supply of disinfecting wipes from work, but I really don't use them much beyond this purpose. TP and paper towels are still spotty for us. I have been in stores that were stocked and those with empty shelves. I think it is more the day of the week (on weekends there are likely to be no paper products) and time of day (earlier in the morning has been better). Even though we are stocked up on these products now, it is hard not to have a panic mentality and feel like you have to stock up at every opportunity because the supply could end at any time. I have been carefully talking myself down from these thoughts, but they do crop up.