--------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 208 HOME & GARDEN Ref: F1G00001 Date: 01/11/98 From: CHRISTOPHER GREAVES Time: 10:20am \/To: LYNDA KENDRICK (Read 2 times) Subj: Compost "Chris" is fine. It's what I'm known by (most of the time!). On email it's "christopher" so people can determine my gender. LK> Found a book just the other day at a library book sale called "Let It LK> Rot". it said just about what you did about balance ..but they said ry LK> and do it in 6 inch layers of whatever ... and Now matter how you do it LK> ..or how bad or well ..it all comes out compost in the end at sometime You got it. In fact, you could probably get away with alternating six-inch layers of books and librarians (grin!). Like many natural machines, the closer we can get to nature's balance, the better. I suppose one guide might be the depth of the topsoil layer (one foot in many places) and the amount of vegetable debris that rains down on it (not an awful lot, when all is said an done). If we then average out the dead-squirrel load across an acreage, we find that there is an awful lot of soil taking care of a little amount of rottable waste. I think most of my composting failures have been trying to get too little soil to rot down too much stuff. And demanding that it happen too quickly. The big advantage, to me, of multiple bins is that the later bins in the series let me spend my fussing-time on them, leaving the earlier bins time to do their work un-interrupted. Christopher.Greaves@CapCanada.Com www.interlog.com/~cgreaves * 1st 2.00b #6263 * Don't Brake! --- PCBoard (R) v15.3 (OS/2) 5 * Origin: FidoNet: CAP/CANADA Support BBS : 416 287-0234 (1:250/710) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 208 HOME & GARDEN Ref: F1G00002 Date: 01/08/98 From: SANDRA PEAKE Time: 08:30am \/To: CHRISTOPHER GREAVES (Read 2 times) Subj: humidifiers CG>Last night, and tonight, the pan needed only about one litre of CG>water. It seems to me that the walls have now achieved their load CG>of water and that they act as a reservoir, supplying moisture for CG>the air I breathe as I toss and turn restlessly at night, CG>pondering the significance of this business. CG>This is not critical, I'm just fascinated that the intake dropped CG>so abruptly and by so much. Ever look outside, Chris? We've just had almost a week of rain and/or mild weather, and my hygrometer shows my house moisture levels have climbed above 55%. (My barometer bones gave due notice of rising moisture levels.) My house plants suddenly became less thirsty as well. However, I think you'll notice, as the weather heads back into our much-heralded but rarely present winter, that your humidifier's thirst will increase. BTW, do you live in a high-rise? Where is the heat coming from, and can you adjust it? Most furnaces in our climate have builtin humidifiers; around here, lime in the water often clogs them solid within a couple of years. When that happened to us, after a couple of futile attempts to keep it clean, we simply forgot about it. Our main source of winter humidity now are showers, cooking, laundry (washing machine is in kitchen) and...plants. Once in a while, when we use the woodstove, which has a very drying effect, hubby will turn the vent from the dryer inside (but that really bugs me!) But mostly my plants use more water, both in pots and drainage evaporative trays. But we do use a dehumidifier in warm months, since our outdoors summer humidity levels are notorious. :-) ...Sandra... --- * QMPro 1.52 * Court Reporters do it on a trial basis. --- WILDMAIL!/WC v4.12 * Origin: The Fire Pit BBS Paris Ont (519)442-1013 (1:221/1500.0) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 208 HOME & GARDEN Ref: F1G00003 Date: 01/10/98 From: TRUDY SACK Time: 09:15am \/To: CHRISTOPHER GREAVES (Read 2 times) Subj: bristle-sticking -=> Quoting Christopher Greaves to All <=- CG> Why do bristles stick to the hand-basin? I'm glad to hear you shave, etc. It just made my day. But just what exactly does this have to do with "Home and Garden" ??? --- Blue Wave/QBBS v2.30 [NR] * Origin: The >>>SQUAWK<<< Box ***Vetlink #27*** (1:227/291.0) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 208 HOME & GARDEN Ref: F1G00004 Date: 01/10/98 From: TRUDY SACK Time: 09:16am \/To: LYNDA KENDRICK (Read 2 times) Subj: Compost -=> Quoting Lynda Kendrick to All <=- LK> tell me a good easy way of making Compost Just build a container out of wire fencing or 2x4's so that air can get even to the bottom of the compost area. Actually, you could even leave the wood chips in a pile. However, you will need to turn the pile and this is easier to do if you have it somewhat contained. Putting the compost in full sun also aids in decomposition. You can add anything to the pile, etc. meat and fat products....so any vegetable peelings could be added, too. Get yourself a pitch fork with a longish handle so you can turn the pile. Have fun....Trudy --- Blue Wave/QBBS v2.30 [NR] * Origin: The >>>SQUAWK<<< Box ***Vetlink #27*** (1:227/291.0) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 208 HOME & GARDEN Ref: F1G00005 Date: 01/10/98 From: CHRISTOPHER GREAVES Time: 03:28pm \/To: ALL (Read 2 times) Subj: glass-fragment cement? So, when one has trudged the merry path of lakeshore for several days, stooping from time to time to select pieces of coloured glass, much to the annoyance of everyone else who can't see what it is I'm finding that's so *priceless*, one finds one's self with a jar full of green, white, blue and red glass fragments. One suggests to one's self that it might be a good idea to establish a light-wood framed piece of plain glass the size of the north-west facing window, the window that gets the sun's full glare in summer-time, assuming that summer ever returns, and to cement these beads of glass to the plain sheet of glass, making a removable screen that can be propped up in the afternoon to make a sun-filter for delicate plants and the back of my neck. At night time, of course, one would beam the 150w halogen spot right at the panel .... One then turns to this conference to ask one's confidantes what sort of cement one should use to lightly attach chunks of glass and plastic (there are a few pieces of rear-light lens in there) to plain glass. My beads are not at all planar - they tend to be small chunks of bottle, I think. Thanks for any hints, suggestions or tips. Christopher.Greaves@CapCanada.Com www.interlog.com/~cgreaves * 1st 2.00b #6263 * Don't Brake! --- PCBoard (R) v15.3 (OS/2) 5 * Origin: FidoNet: CAP/CANADA Support BBS : 416 287-0234 (1:250/710) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 208 HOME & GARDEN Ref: F1G00006 Date: 01/11/98 From: MARILYN BOISSONEAULT Time: 07:43pm \/To: LYNDA KENDRICK (Read 2 times) Subj: Compost -=> Quoting Lynda Kendrick to All <=- LK> Greetings, LK> We're new here and since we just linked in to this echo we don't LK> really know that rules yetbut I do have a question ... Can anyone LK> tell me a good easy way of making Compost - We do have lots of wood LK> chips that the road crews cut down the trees and grind it up in their LK> chipper and they dump it on my property and I was wanting to try and LK> make some good compost from it ... What else can I add to help the LK> process ... We don't really have grass clippings to add as we have LK> basicly what is called Field Grass that even some of the cattle will LK> not eat! Any and all help will be appreciated! Hi, Welcome to the Home and Garden Echo. I'll post the rules for you in another message. Wood chips should be useful in making compost, but will break down very slowly. You'll need to mix them with some "green" material. I would recommend grass clippings except you said you have none. The green material mixed with the chips will speed the process, but I don't know what you have access to. Any green plant material would work. Hope that helps a little. Marilyn Moderator Fido Home & Garden Echo ... There is no snooze button on a cat who wants breakfast. ___ Blue Wave/DOS v2.30 --- Alexi/Mail 2.00 (#10000) * Origin: Space Coast REACT, Melbourne FL <407> 255-9069 (1:374/710) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 208 HOME & GARDEN Ref: F1G00007 Date: 01/11/98 From: MARILYN BOISSONEAULT Time: 07:43pm \/To: ALL (Read 2 times) Subj: The Rules .............................................................................. Required Posting of Echo Rules for the HOME-N-GRDN echo: Here's what we are striving for: A congenial discussion forum about homes, maintenance & repair, gardening & landscaping. Here's what is not allowed: Topics other than the above, aliases aka handles, flames, profanity, rudeness, commercial ads, BBS ads, upper-order ASCII & fancy graphics, encrypted or encoded messages (this includes signatures). Miscellaneous other stuff: Most of the moderator-type messages will take place in netmail. Netmail me if you have a complaint or concern. Gating this echo to other zones is allowed with prior permission from the moderator. Moderator: Marilyn Boissoneault Fidonet 1:374/710 Internet marilyn.boissoneault@react.mpcs.com ___ Blue Wave/DOS v2.30 --- Alexi/Mail 2.00 (#10000) * Origin: Space Coast REACT, Melbourne FL <407> 255-9069 (1:374/710) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 208 HOME & GARDEN Ref: F1G00008 Date: 01/11/98 From: MARILYN BOISSONEAULT Time: 07:43pm \/To: SANDRA PEAKE (Read 2 times) Subj: seedless cukes -=> Quoting Sandra Peake to Marilyn Boissoneault <=- SP> They are hybrids, Marilyn. By years of genetic manipulation, SP> scientists have (usually) doubled the number of chromosomes for SP> certain traits, and found that crossing them with certain other SP> strains produced seedless fruits. Most seeds are the product of the SP> mother fruit, and if the mother remains seedless, that is what you SP> buy. But isolation is a must, or cross-pollination with wild SP> (unapproved) strains will result in seed coat formation, with loss SP> of seedlessness. Thanks for the info, I knew they were hybrids, but didn't know about the doubling of chromosomes, vey interesting. SP> I like them because they set fruit at every node, and none of the SP> plant's energy is wasted on unproductive male flowers. Of course, SP> that also means I distrust the food values and mineral levels of SP> their fruit! :-( I know they are certainly very productive. I guess I never thought about the food value or minerals. But if I remember cucumbers aren't really packed with vitamins etc. Marilyn ... Locked coathanger in car. Good thing I had a key. ___ Blue Wave/DOS v2.30 --- Alexi/Mail 2.00 (#10000) * Origin: Space Coast REACT, Melbourne FL <407> 255-9069 (1:374/710) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 208 HOME & GARDEN Ref: F1G00009 Date: 01/09/98 From: SANDRA PEAKE Time: 06:40pm \/To: CHRISTOPHER GREAVES (Read 2 times) Subj: Re:mint CG>First time I drank mint tea at bed-time I went out like a light. VERY calming, eh? :-) CG>Second time, middle of the day, I felt nauseous. I have that trouble. CG>Third time, early morning, I felt dizzy and giddy. That's the way strong mint affects my sis, too. Only spearmint, however. She can stand peppermint, the reverse of my reaction. :-) CG>I came to the conclusion that the friend's neighbour had used CG>potent weed-killer on their lawn, and that some had drifted CG>across, and *not* been thoroughly rinsed off by me. I was CG>drinking a brew of something awful. If that's the source of your brew, it's entirely possible. It's also possible you have developed an allergy (very common) to mint. ...Sandra... --- * QMPro 1.52 * Spotted Owl: "If you've seen one... you've seen 'em both. --- WILDMAIL!/WC v4.12 * Origin: The Fire Pit BBS Paris Ont (519)442-1013 (1:221/1500.0) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 208 HOME & GARDEN Ref: F1H00000 Date: 01/12/98 From: CHRISTOPHER GREAVES Time: 09:38am \/To: TRUDY SACK (Read 2 times) Subj: bristle-sticking CG> Why do bristles stick to the hand-basin? TS> what exactly does this have to do with "Home and Garden" ??? Cleaning sinks, cleansing agents, wetting agents, keeping the palace clean and healthy ..... Christopher.Greaves@CapCanada.Com www.interlog.com/~cgreaves * 1st 2.00b #6263 * Don't Brake! --- PCBoard (R) v15.3 (OS/2) 5 * Origin: FidoNet: CAP/CANADA Support BBS : 416 287-0234 (1:250/710)