In response to the questions above, let me offer some more information. First, I did not mean to imply that I do not use any heat in the greenhouse. I do heat, but the thermostat is set to 40. The only extra effort I put into heating for the tomatoes is to have the seeds germinate on a heating system (Hydrofarm) so that they are not adversely impacted by the low nighttime temperatures. I had initially planned on an all passive solar greenhouse, but the aestetics of such a structure caused us to go to a greenhouse that receives quite a bit of its heating from passive solar, with a propane backup. (We have thermal mass in water containers, and large raised beds filled with compost.) The greenhouse only ever needs to receive heat in the night. During the day in the winter, the temperature is regularly in the 90's, and the vents are open some. We are located in a zone 5 area, and only have about a three month frost free season outside because we are in mountains. The greenhouse makes growing so much easier. Our relatively dry climate also means that it is almost always sunny during the day, so there is lots of solar gain. I grow in several media: a peat-lite mixture that I make (based on the Cornell mixes), or vermicompost that I produce in the greenhouse. (There is a large worm bin in the greenhouse that processes all the waste materials from the greenhouse, as well as our home.) I grow almost all inderterminate tomatoes, so that they fruit for an extended period of time. I find that it is generally too much work to be replacing the determinate varieties. Yes, the vines can get to be quite large; I allow space around each plant to let them spread out: plants are in a row, spaced about 16 inches apart, and with about 30 inches from one row to the other. I use 3 gallon pots filled with my potting mixtures. Watering and fertilizing is done through a cheap fertilizer injector from Dripworks, and a simple timer from Home Depot. I water with drippers, 4 times a day, for 10 minutes at a time. Each tomato gets a little over 3 liters of water and fertilizer solution each day. The fertilizer mix is very dilute, and the fertilizer injector is always in the watering line. I use several different fertilizers, but really like the Hydrogardens products. Hope this helps. Renais

Annette - Bonfire night sounds like it would be lots of fun. It was interesting to read about Guy Fawkes night and the history behind it -- burning the pope in effigy, goodness gracious. Patti - The back and forth pumpkin stealing sounds like a hoot. I think I would have liked living on your block. Steven - I'm not aware of any big contingent of Dutch immigrants back in the neighborhood, but they could easily have been close enough to start the custom. I know that there a lot of Dutch names in Grand Rapids, Michigan to this day, and that's only about 100 miles west of Detroit. You may be on to something there. Cool. Edna - The window knocker was made as I said, and then it was held against the outside of someone's window. When the string was pulled, the notches in the spool were supposed to make the window rattle in a scary and startling way. I don't know that they ever worked very well, but they were very daring things for us to make -- especially because rumor had it that they could occasionally actually break a window. Because of that, I don't think that I ever really used one on a neighbor's house, not being what you would call a fearless little boy. :-) ThinMan

farmerdill I took a look. It is "English peas" that I am referencing. Never gave it much thought. We just call them sweet peas because of can labels? I do have wild sweet pea vines growing here, too. Of course, we don't eat them but enjoy their flowers, immensely. I find it interesting to note that sweet pea vines will flourish in the area with walnut trees (juglone). Then, I took a look online of the growth pattern of English peas and see what you mean about them being different. I appreciate the note on it. I'll be glad when I have some general growth patterns under my belt. Mostly, I've spent my time on soil biology and natural fertilizers after my first attempts failed. (Well worth it, though.) The beans and peas will be in separate areas. I'll probably just use a hardy common heirloom variety as I haven't experience to manage anything else. My goal is just to get something to grow in my soil. I'll think differently about the pea plantings. Not certain why I thought their vine growth was similar to green beans. I'll be certain to place the twin at intervals you suggest even if they're short. Tx

I ALWAYS begin to cry when I hear the song "Ooh Child". I was driving home from visiting a very close family member in the hospital one day when I was a senior in high school and it was pouring outside. As I was driving my windshield wipers stopped working and the rain was so bad I had to pull over and sit. At that moment I was so upset because I knew that soon that family member would die and I was also upset because here I was stuck in a rainstorm. All of a sudden whatever song that was on the radio cut out and "Oooh Child" came on. I felt like it was her speaking to me because she was in a coma at the time and died a few days later. Years later I had my son and had just left his father and was in the car driving and I was sobbing over my life. I was talking to that family member in my mind and again that song came on. Now whenever I hear it I become teary eyed and think of that special family member. O-o-h child, things are gonna get easier O-o-h child, things'll get brighter O-o-h child, things are gonna get easier O-o-h child, things'll get brighter Someday, yeah We'll put it together, and we'll get it all done Someday when your head is much lighter Someday, yeah We'll walk in the rays of a beautiful sun Someday when the world is much brighter O-o-h child, things are gonna be easier O-o-h child, things'll be brighter O-o-h child, things are gonna be easier O-o-h child, things'll be brighter Someday, yeah We'll put it together, and we'll get it all done Someday when your head is much lighter Someday, yeah We'll walk in the rays of a beautiful sun Someday when the world is much brighter Someday, someday, someday We'll get it together, and we'll get it all done Someday when your head is much lighter Someday, someday, someday We'll walk in the rays of a beautiful sun Someday when the world is much brighter O-o-h child, things are gonna get easier O-o-h child, things'll get brighter O-o-h child, things are gonna get easier O-o-h child, things'll get brighter Right now, right now, oh yeah Right now, oh baby You just wait and see how things are gonna be You just wait and see how things are gonna be Right now You just wait and see how things are gonna be Right now