Introduction

[Guest guest]

Well put! It is difficult to learn to be nice to ourselves. Especially after being abused. My goal for this week is to "fake it, til I make it" maybe if I fake wanting to be nice to myself it will eventually become a habit! My challenge to all of you is to do the same!

Blessed be,

[Guest guest]

>

> Hi all,

>

> My name is Kathy & I am a n00b. I am currently a high school

> science teacher, physics and chemistry. My original background is in

> Horticulture.

>

> I will be leaving teaching this Spring and thought I might blend my

> love for plants with my love for chemistry. I am mainly interested

> in growing flowers and then distilling/extracting the fragrances.

>

> I did not see a sticky for newbies, so if you all could be so kind as

> to tell me what equipment, sources, bottling, etc.. I needed to

> start with, or what you like using the best, that would be greatly

> appreciated.

>

> Naturally, I would be doing this out of my home. My intent is create

> pure oils from organically grown flowers.

>

> Regards,

> kathy

>

Hi Kathy,

Welcome to the group, it's funny you mention your background is in

horticulture, our own group Mama Anya McCoy's background is also in

horticulture, and it sounds as if you have a head start already with

your background in chemistry!

As for basic equipment, I started off with Mandy Aftels

starter kit of 18 different natural essences

http://www.aftelier.com

a few pipettes and some ethyl alcohol or even surgical spirits to

clean the pipettes, and a carrier oil like jojoba, any mixing

container will do, I used egg cups before I got some little beakers.

You will need some clean small bottles with lids to hold your blends

and accords, and some small labels, a notebook to record everything,

and some scent strips (or some coffee filter strips).

A graduated cylinder is handy for measuring or graduated pipettes if

you can get them.

I tincture a bit but I prefer to buy my materials from people who

really know what they are doing instead, there are lots of links for

some great suppliers here and there are always bargains to be had. Get

your hands on as many samples as you possibly can. Essence and alchemy

by mandy Aftel is a book that most on this group will recommend as it

covers a lot of basic stuff. I'm sure others will chime in here, as

there are many experts in tincturing, distilation and enflourage here

in the group.

Most of all enjoy!

Wishing you all the best

Ruth Ruane

http://www.whitewitch.ie/shop

http://www.whitewitch.ie/natural_perfumers_journal/journal.html

http://www.whitewitch.ie/tarot_readings/tarot.html

[Guest guest]

Dawn,

While you are just getting started with the garden, I'd like to

make a suggestion. Call around to your local nurseries and find out how

much they charge to deliver compost. Then get yourself a bucket and

truck it to your garden in 5 gallon buckets. I have mind dropped off at

the end of the driveway. It's so much cheaper and easier than running

to the store for 10 bags of compost, which dirties up my van and doesn't

do more than about 2 rows in the garden. I paid 135 dollars for my 3

cubic foot of compost and that's at least the same as about 30-40 big

bags from the nursery. It may not be cheaper with the delivery, but

it's easier and you will use more of it. I know because every other

year I've pooped out after 2 trips to the store This year I'm

already working on my 2nd pile of compost that's been delivered.

Suzi

Dawn wrote:

> Hi, My name is Dawn and I live in Orem, Utah with my husband and 5

> kids ages 8,6,5,4 & 2. I have been investigating healthier eating and

> the whole " eat it raw " thing and have recently been given the

> opportunity to begin sprouting. I am intrigued. I am very interested

> in feeding my family more healthfuly and am told that eating healthier

> food is cheaper than all of the processed stuff. My kids LOVE to eat

> and are sure that they are starving 30 minutes after eating. So, I am

> ready to try just about anything. I am hoping to get a garden in this

> year---we have a lot of work to do to get the garden area ready.

>

> Looking forward to learning from and sharing with you all!

>

> Dawn in Orem

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

That's a great suggestion! Thanks! I have big dreams for my garden

and what I want it to be! I just feel like there is so much to know

before I start that I just don't know where to start! I was gung ho

last year and bought a compost bin at Costco and thought I'd make my

own...but I pooped out after it got really hot and that just can't

happen--it doesn't work! I took a class on square foot gardening

last year and believe that this is the way I want to go. I jsut need

to get our garden area de-weeded and prepared.

Anyway I am babbling. Thanks again for the advice!

Dawn in Orem

> > Hi, My name is Dawn and I live in Orem, Utah with my husband and

5

> > kids ages 8,6,5,4 & 2. I have been investigating healthier

eating and

> > the whole " eat it raw " thing and have recently been given the

> > opportunity to begin sprouting. I am intrigued. I am very

interested

> > in feeding my family more healthfuly and am told that eating

healthier

> > food is cheaper than all of the processed stuff. My kids LOVE to

eat

> > and are sure that they are starving 30 minutes after eating. So,

I am

> > ready to try just about anything. I am hoping to get a garden in

this

> > year---we have a lot of work to do to get the garden area ready.

> >

> > Looking forward to learning from and sharing with you all!

> >

> > Dawn in Orem

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Dawn, let me make another suggestion. Get yourself some red worms and

then you won't have to turn the compost. All you will need to do is

make sure that you water down the bins when it's 85+ degrees outside so

that they can cool off. Worms don't perspire. They can't heat

themselves up in the winter either. Fresh kitchen scraps will rot fast

enough that if you cover the bins with big thrifstore quilts, you'll

keep just enough heat in the bins to overwinter the worms. You'd have

to make sure you are generating a lot of kitchen scraps for keeping the

compost revved up in the winter. You can pick up coffee grounds at the

coffee houses and over-ripe throw away veggies at the stores if you are

not generating enough compost on your own.

Dawn wrote:

> That's a great suggestion! Thanks! I have big dreams for my garden

> and what I want it to be! I just feel like there is so much to know

> before I start that I just don't know where to start! I was gung ho

> last year and bought a compost bin at Costco and thought I'd make my

> own...but I pooped out after it got really hot and that just can't

> happen--it doesn't work! I took a class on square foot gardening

> last year and believe that this is the way I want to go. I jsut need

> to get our garden area de-weeded and prepared.

>

> Anyway I am babbling. Thanks again for the advice!

>

> Dawn in Orem

>

>

>

>

>>

>>> Hi, My name is Dawn and I live in Orem, Utah with my husband and

>>>

> 5

>

>>> kids ages 8,6,5,4 & 2. I have been investigating healthier

>>>

> eating and

>

>>> the whole " eat it raw " thing and have recently been given the

>>> opportunity to begin sprouting. I am intrigued. I am very

>>>

> interested

>

>>> in feeding my family more healthfuly and am told that eating

>>>

> healthier

>

>>> food is cheaper than all of the processed stuff. My kids LOVE to

>>>

> eat

>

>>> and are sure that they are starving 30 minutes after eating. So,

>>>

> I am

>

>>> ready to try just about anything. I am hoping to get a garden in

>>>

> this

>

>>> year---we have a lot of work to do to get the garden area ready.

>>>

>>> Looking forward to learning from and sharing with you all!

>>>

>>> Dawn in Orem

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>>

[Guest guest]

Dawn, let me make another suggestion. Get yourself some red worms and

then you won't have to turn the compost. All you will need to do is

make sure that you water down the bins when it's 85+ degrees outside so

that they can cool off. Worms don't perspire. They can't heat

themselves up in the winter either. Fresh kitchen scraps will rot fast

enough that if you cover the bins with big thrifstore quilts, you'll

keep just enough heat in the bins to overwinter the worms. You'd have

to make sure you are generating a lot of kitchen scraps for keeping the

compost revved up in the winter. You can pick up coffee grounds at the

coffee houses and over-ripe throw away veggies at the stores if you are

not generating enough compost on your own.

Dawn wrote:

> That's a great suggestion! Thanks! I have big dreams for my garden

> and what I want it to be! I just feel like there is so much to know

> before I start that I just don't know where to start! I was gung ho

> last year and bought a compost bin at Costco and thought I'd make my

> own...but I pooped out after it got really hot and that just can't

> happen--it doesn't work! I took a class on square foot gardening

> last year and believe that this is the way I want to go. I jsut need

> to get our garden area de-weeded and prepared.

>

> Anyway I am babbling. Thanks again for the advice!

>

> Dawn in Orem

>

>

>

>

>>

>>> Hi, My name is Dawn and I live in Orem, Utah with my husband and

>>>

> 5

>

>>> kids ages 8,6,5,4 & 2. I have been investigating healthier

>>>

> eating and

>

>>> the whole " eat it raw " thing and have recently been given the

>>> opportunity to begin sprouting. I am intrigued. I am very

>>>

> interested

>

>>> in feeding my family more healthfuly and am told that eating

>>>

> healthier

>

>>> food is cheaper than all of the processed stuff. My kids LOVE to

>>>

> eat

>

>>> and are sure that they are starving 30 minutes after eating. So,

>>>

> I am

>

>>> ready to try just about anything. I am hoping to get a garden in

>>>

> this

>

>>> year---we have a lot of work to do to get the garden area ready.

>>>

>>> Looking forward to learning from and sharing with you all!

>>>

>>> Dawn in Orem

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>>

[Guest guest]

That's a great idea! Where would I get red worms? Can I buy them

somewhere? And do I ask at the store for the overripe produce or do

I have to dumpster dive?(doesn't sound like a whole lot of fun to

me!)

Thanks!

Dawn

> >>

> >>> Hi, My name is Dawn and I live in Orem, Utah with my husband

and

> >>>

> > 5

> >

> >>> kids ages 8,6,5,4 & 2. I have been investigating healthier

> >>>

> > eating and

> >

> >>> the whole " eat it raw " thing and have recently been given the

> >>> opportunity to begin sprouting. I am intrigued. I am very

> >>>

> > interested

> >

> >>> in feeding my family more healthfuly and am told that eating

> >>>

> > healthier

> >

> >>> food is cheaper than all of the processed stuff. My kids LOVE

to

> >>>

> > eat

> >

> >>> and are sure that they are starving 30 minutes after eating.

So,

> >>>

> > I am

> >

> >>> ready to try just about anything. I am hoping to get a garden

in

> >>>

> > this

> >

> >>> year---we have a lot of work to do to get the garden area

ready.

> >>>

> >>> Looking forward to learning from and sharing with you all!

> >>>

> >>> Dawn in Orem

> >>>

> >>>

> >>>

> >>>

> >>>

[Guest guest]

Dawn, I'd ask for it. When I lived in California I did dumpster five at

a local road side fruit stand. They would throw out water melons when

they get old. Worms LOVE watermelon.

If you hurry, you can order them from places online. But you don't want

it to get too hot for shipping reasons. They ride around in a truck for

a few days. Otherwise, you might find them at some sort of fishing worm

supplier. I order them from a place called acme worm farm. Just google

it and it will come right up. They double their numbers every couple of

months in right conditions. It's fascinating to watch. I used to see

my worms devour a whole Sunday Newspaper in just about 6 weeks a long

with kitchen scraps put in daily. I take out the shiny pages and only

put in the flat black or color is ok now as the law has forced food

grade coloring.

Suzi

Dawn wrote:

> That's a great idea! Where would I get red worms? Can I buy them

> somewhere? And do I ask at the store for the overripe produce or do

> I have to dumpster dive?(doesn't sound like a whole lot of fun to

> me!)

>

> Thanks!

>

> Dawn

>

>

>

>>>>

>>>>

>>>>> Hi, My name is Dawn and I live in Orem, Utah with my husband

>>>>>

> and

>

>>>>>

>>>>>

>>> 5

>>>

>>>

>>>>> kids ages 8,6,5,4 & 2. I have been investigating healthier

>>>>>

>>>>>

>>> eating and

>>>

>>>

>>>>> the whole " eat it raw " thing and have recently been given the

>>>>> opportunity to begin sprouting. I am intrigued. I am very

>>>>>

>>>>>

>>> interested

>>>

>>>

>>>>> in feeding my family more healthfuly and am told that eating

>>>>>

>>>>>

>>> healthier

>>>

>>>

>>>>> food is cheaper than all of the processed stuff. My kids LOVE

>>>>>

> to

>

>>>>>

>>>>>

>>> eat

>>>

>>>

>>>>> and are sure that they are starving 30 minutes after eating.

>>>>>

> So,

>

>>>>>

>>>>>

>>> I am

>>>

>>>

>>>>> ready to try just about anything. I am hoping to get a garden

>>>>>

> in

>

>>>>>

>>>>>

>>> this

>>>

>>>

>>>>> year---we have a lot of work to do to get the garden area

>>>>>

> ready.

>

>>>>> Looking forward to learning from and sharing with you all!

>>>>>

>>>>> Dawn in Orem

>>>>>

>>>>>

>>>>>

>>>>>

>>>>>

[Guest guest]

Dawn, I'd ask for it. When I lived in California I did dumpster five at

a local road side fruit stand. They would throw out water melons when

they get old. Worms LOVE watermelon.

If you hurry, you can order them from places online. But you don't want

it to get too hot for shipping reasons. They ride around in a truck for

a few days. Otherwise, you might find them at some sort of fishing worm

supplier. I order them from a place called acme worm farm. Just google

it and it will come right up. They double their numbers every couple of

months in right conditions. It's fascinating to watch. I used to see

my worms devour a whole Sunday Newspaper in just about 6 weeks a long

with kitchen scraps put in daily. I take out the shiny pages and only

put in the flat black or color is ok now as the law has forced food

grade coloring.

Suzi

Dawn wrote:

> That's a great idea! Where would I get red worms? Can I buy them

> somewhere? And do I ask at the store for the overripe produce or do

> I have to dumpster dive?(doesn't sound like a whole lot of fun to

> me!)

>

> Thanks!

>

> Dawn

>

>

>

>>>>

>>>>

>>>>> Hi, My name is Dawn and I live in Orem, Utah with my husband

>>>>>

> and

>

>>>>>

>>>>>

>>> 5

>>>

>>>

>>>>> kids ages 8,6,5,4 & 2. I have been investigating healthier

>>>>>

>>>>>

>>> eating and

>>>

>>>

>>>>> the whole " eat it raw " thing and have recently been given the

>>>>> opportunity to begin sprouting. I am intrigued. I am very

>>>>>

>>>>>

>>> interested

>>>

>>>

>>>>> in feeding my family more healthfuly and am told that eating

>>>>>

>>>>>

>>> healthier

>>>

>>>

>>>>> food is cheaper than all of the processed stuff. My kids LOVE

>>>>>

> to

>

>>>>>

>>>>>

>>> eat

>>>

>>>

>>>>> and are sure that they are starving 30 minutes after eating.

>>>>>

> So,

>

>>>>>

>>>>>

>>> I am

>>>

>>>

>>>>> ready to try just about anything. I am hoping to get a garden

>>>>>

> in

>

>>>>>

>>>>>

>>> this

>>>

>>>

>>>>> year---we have a lot of work to do to get the garden area

>>>>>

> ready.

>

>>>>> Looking forward to learning from and sharing with you all!

>>>>>

>>>>> Dawn in Orem

>>>>>

>>>>>

>>>>>

>>>>>

>>>>>

[Guest guest]

The best place to buy composting worm is Acme Worm Farm. Check them out

on the web. I just spent one half hour writing you a long message about

composting and my e-mail system kicked it. I'll try again later.

ernie

Re: Introduction

Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2007 16:41:53 -0000

That's a great idea! Where would I get red worms? Can I buy them

somewhere? And do I ask at the store for the overripe produce or do

I have to dumpster dive?(doesn't sound like a whole lot of fun to

me!)

Thanks!

Dawn

> >>

> >>> Hi, My name is Dawn and I live in Orem, Utah with my husband

and

> >>>

> > 5

> >

> >>> kids ages 8,6,5,4 & 2. I have been investigating healthier

> >>>

> > eating and

> >

> >>> the whole " eat it raw " thing and have recently been given the

> >>> opportunity to begin sprouting. I am intrigued. I am very

> >>>

> > interested

> >

> >>> in feeding my family more healthfuly and am told that eating

> >>>

> > healthier

> >

> >>> food is cheaper than all of the processed stuff. My kids LOVE

to

> >>>

> > eat

> >

> >>> and are sure that they are starving 30 minutes after eating.

So,

> >>>

> > I am

> >

> >>> ready to try just about anything. I am hoping to get a garden

in

> >>>

> > this

> >

> >>> year---we have a lot of work to do to get the garden area

ready.

> >>>

> >>> Looking forward to learning from and sharing with you all!

> >>>

> >>> Dawn in Orem

> >>>

> >>>

> >>>

> >>>

> >>>

[Guest guest]

The best place to buy composting worm is Acme Worm Farm. Check them out

on the web. I just spent one half hour writing you a long message about

composting and my e-mail system kicked it. I'll try again later.

ernie

Re: Introduction

Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2007 16:41:53 -0000

That's a great idea! Where would I get red worms? Can I buy them

somewhere? And do I ask at the store for the overripe produce or do

I have to dumpster dive?(doesn't sound like a whole lot of fun to

me!)

Thanks!

Dawn

> >>

> >>> Hi, My name is Dawn and I live in Orem, Utah with my husband

and

> >>>

> > 5

> >

> >>> kids ages 8,6,5,4 & 2. I have been investigating healthier

> >>>

> > eating and

> >

> >>> the whole " eat it raw " thing and have recently been given the

> >>> opportunity to begin sprouting. I am intrigued. I am very

> >>>

> > interested

> >

> >>> in feeding my family more healthfuly and am told that eating

> >>>

> > healthier

> >

> >>> food is cheaper than all of the processed stuff. My kids LOVE

to

> >>>

> > eat

> >

> >>> and are sure that they are starving 30 minutes after eating.

So,

> >>>

> > I am

> >

> >>> ready to try just about anything. I am hoping to get a garden

in

> >>>

> > this

> >

> >>> year---we have a lot of work to do to get the garden area

ready.

> >>>

> >>> Looking forward to learning from and sharing with you all!

> >>>

> >>> Dawn in Orem

> >>>

> >>>

> >>>

> >>>

> >>>

[Guest guest]

I agree with Acme Worm Farm being the best. I've had 3 shipments from

them over 4 years. They always came to me fast and alive. But as I

said, get them ordered before it gets any warmer.

Suzi

Ernest Willingham wrote:

> The best place to buy composting worm is Acme Worm Farm. Check them out

> on the web. I just spent one half hour writing you a long message about

> composting and my e-mail system kicked it. I'll try again later.

> ernie

>

> Re: Introduction

> Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2007 16:41:53 -0000

>

> That's a great idea! Where would I get red worms? Can I buy them

> somewhere? And do I ask at the store for the overripe produce or do

> I have to dumpster dive?(doesn't sound like a whole lot of fun to

> me!)

>

> Thanks!

>

> Dawn

>

>

> > >>

> > >>> Hi, My name is Dawn and I live in Orem, Utah with my husband

> and

> > >>>

> > > 5

> > >

> > >>> kids ages 8,6,5,4 & 2. I have been investigating healthier

> > >>>

> > > eating and

> > >

> > >>> the whole " eat it raw " thing and have recently been given the

> > >>> opportunity to begin sprouting. I am intrigued. I am very

> > >>>

> > > interested

> > >

> > >>> in feeding my family more healthfuly and am told that eating

> > >>>

> > > healthier

> > >

> > >>> food is cheaper than all of the processed stuff. My kids LOVE

> to

> > >>>

> > > eat

> > >

> > >>> and are sure that they are starving 30 minutes after eating.

> So,

> > >>>

> > > I am

> > >

> > >>> ready to try just about anything. I am hoping to get a garden

> in

> > >>>

> > > this

> > >

> > >>> year---we have a lot of work to do to get the garden area

> ready.

> > >>>

> > >>> Looking forward to learning from and sharing with you all!

> > >>>

> > >>> Dawn in Orem

> > >>>

> > >>>

> > >>>

> > >>>

> > >>>

[Guest guest]

Suzi... and others who are vermicomposting...

Are you adding wheatgrass mats to your compost bin? Most of the information

I have read about vermicomposting suggests a short, wide bin, as opposed to a

taller, more space saving bin (such as a plastic trash barrel).

If I use a short, wide bin, I'd run out of composting space for the number of

wheatgrass mats I need to recycle.

Ann Wigmore recommended a tall garbage can with holes drilled in it, in her

wheatgrass book (for indoors composting), but this is very different from what

vermicomposting sites are recommending.

Does anyone have experience with this?

I live in Northern Utah, where temperature can get pretty extreme in either

direction between summer and winter. I wonder if the red wrigglers can handle

Utah weather in an outdoors garden composting bin(?) Actually, our garden is

a distance from the house, and with the snow, it's unlikely I'd get the

kitchen scraps to the outside bin during those cold months... I'd opt for an

inside

bin. Would the outside worms survive? Do they hibernate?

Jill

************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.

[Guest guest]

Hi Theresa! Welcome and congratulations on your new nephew! Your sister is

so lucky to have so much support from you.

My son is 9 and has Down syndrome, He also has an older brother who is 20,

an older sister who is 18 and a younger sister who is 6. He also became an

Uncle this year to his beautiful niece.

When He was born I worked in a company that was not very " family friendly "

though the money was great, I left there and started my own family daycare. I

had run into major problems with child care providers " finding all sorts of

reasons " why they could not take my son when they found out about him. My

family is in Georgia and my in-laws (as great as they are) are now retired and

do a lot of well deserved traveling. I then taught toddlers when

entered school full time and my youngest was still home. That took care of

daycare for her and I was still home by the time got home. This year,

with both in public school, I started working for the town public school

system. I am a paraprofessional in a therapeutic intervention program. I work

with children in Jr. high that have social disorders, autism, bipolar etc. It

is great and I really enjoy the children immensely. I am now in the process

of getting my teaching degree in special ed.

Where you are very new to the personal side of this, I really hope I don't

offend you. In your letter you said you had worked with a " 2 1/2 yr. old

Downs child in my class " . i really hope you dont mind if I correct you but

you

worked with a " child who has Downs syndrome " . We all need to remember the

Child first before the disability, so the rest of society will see our

children as - beautiful, loving, active, teachable, productive children who

will

become all those things and MORE as adults.

************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.

[Guest guest]

Jill, Red Wigglers live in the first 2 inches of soil in their natural

habitat. They will stop producing eggs at temps past 80 and when you

approach 100 they will begin to die. If they are in very hot weather

you can cool them off by running cool water over them and keeping them

in the shade. While it's dangerous for them to just sit in anything

approaching mud, it does cool off the bins when the water is

evaporating. I kept my worms outside in East County San Diego where

temps became 100 repeatedly. But I work at home and was able to spray

the bins a few times per day.

I have set up a very wide bin outside and yes it's a ways from the

house. I throw everything I can on my back porch and then carry it out

a few days in a bucket. But, getting through the winter would be even

harder. I haven't thrown red worms into my outdoor bin yet. I think

it's highly possible they may not survive the winter. However, I will

likely do an experiment soon. I need to get a longer hose so that I can

give everything in the bin a good soaking because I have a lot of dry

paper in there. Anyway, if you can get enough fresh rotting stuff in

there in the winter and then throw big quilts over the whole thing, I

think it's possible they could survive. But, you would need for them to

be someplace where they can get sun to warm the bins during the day. In

the summer they would need shade which would be quite the opposite.

There are places that keep the worms outside and they throw some sort of

warming blankets outside that are designed for outside. They make mats

that are designed to be used in green houses and they can be wired up

with outdoor wire that is water proof. But that would be expensive.

Then again, once you get used to working with wigglers you don't mind

picking them up and moving them. You can use a method of collecting

them in the fall just before winter and over winter them someplace else.

Here's the deal with keeping them in a trash can. They will lay eggs

only until there are enough worms in the can to eat the amount of food

they can reach in a few inches. But I have seen in my own experiences

they will adapt and go much deeper than 2 inches. But that's probably

because I don't tear my paper up real small and I don't chop my veggies

up real small either. That gives my bins a lot of air pockets through

out giving the worms an easier time of going deeper. See they will not

burrow through the dirt like the earth worms we are used to. They don't

dig or live in tunnels.

Once they stop laying eggs, they will just keep their numbers even so

long as they are getting regular food. They will also stop laying eggs

if there is too little food or the conditions become unbearable.

What I don't like about cans is that it's hard to keep the temp and

moisture just right in them. But then again, I've felt that the worm

bins always need a lot of attention. I put the lid on for a few days

and all the worms go down inside and are happily eating. But then I

check the lid and find them migrating and the lid is all wet. I even

see tiny little white worms which is another variety and shows my bins

have become a little acidic. So I remove the lid for a few days and it

begins to dry out. They can not be in too wet or too dry conditions for

long. So it's a constant battle and I'm just not sure I'd give them

that much attention in the snow either!

Suzi

tandemtrio@... wrote:

> Suzi... and others who are vermicomposting...

>

> Are you adding wheatgrass mats to your compost bin? Most of the information

> I have read about vermicomposting suggests a short, wide bin, as opposed to a

> taller, more space saving bin (such as a plastic trash barrel).

>

> If I use a short, wide bin, I'd run out of composting space for the number of

> wheatgrass mats I need to recycle.

>

> Ann Wigmore recommended a tall garbage can with holes drilled in it, in her

> wheatgrass book (for indoors composting), but this is very different from what

> vermicomposting sites are recommending.

>

> Does anyone have experience with this?

>

> I live in Northern Utah, where temperature can get pretty extreme in either

> direction between summer and winter. I wonder if the red wrigglers can handle

> Utah weather in an outdoors garden composting bin(?) Actually, our garden is

> a distance from the house, and with the snow, it's unlikely I'd get the

> kitchen scraps to the outside bin during those cold months... I'd opt for an

inside

> bin. Would the outside worms survive? Do they hibernate?

>

> Jill

>

>

>

> ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Theresa,

My name is Sue & I live in Michigan. Where does your sister live? I am now a

single mom to my daughter Alyssa, 10 years, who was born with DS and a heart

defect. She was 10 weeks when she had her heart surgery and doing so well today.

I was 43 when I had Alyssa. If your sister would be interested, she could write

to me and maybe I can ease some of her fears or help her with any questions or

concerns. Sue & Alyssa-MI

---------------------------------

Ahhh...imagining that irresistible " new car " smell?

Check outnew cars at Autos.

[Guest guest]

Hello Theresa and welcome to this wonderful group where I am sure you will find

- as I have - a lot of support, interesting and wise input from members; just

by reading their posts I have learned many things I did not know about and great

ideas, too.

I want to tell you that you are a GREAT Sis and Auntie, and that I wish I

had a sister like you! I only have brothers

Bonnie - mother to Jean-Pierre (18), Mark Willem (16) and Ana (14-ds) from

Aalst, Belgium.

faithoftheheart58 <faithoftheheart58@...> escribió:

Hi Everyone! My name is Theresa. I live in southern middle Tennessee.

My sister, who lives in Michigan, gave birth to a beautiful baby boy on

April 9th. He has Downs,bilateral club feet and has a hole in his

heart. The doctors think the heart problem may resolve on it's own. My

sister is 42 and single. (She thought she was going through menopause)

Surprise! My mom was hving a hard time with the whole situation and

wanted her to give him up for adoption. Thank God she didnt! I am a

teacher at Early Headstart and I have a 2 1/2 yr old Downs child in my

class. I have been trained to work with her. I am trying to talk my sis

into moving here so I can help her to raise Ethan.In my profession, I

have accsess to the best resources for him. She has no one to help her

there( the father has no interest in Ethan). If she decides to come

here I will bring her and the baby back with me when I go up there in

July.I am really excited over the prospect of helping her. I look

forward to all the support and information that I will get from this

group.

__________________________________________________

Correo

Espacio para todos tus mensajes, antivirus y antispam ¡gratis!

Regístrate ya - http://correo..mx/

[Guest guest]

Suzi, egg shells will correct the pH in your worm bins. I have a small

cheap food processor that I got somewhere for $10. Wash and air dry the

shells. Put them in the food processor and grind them to amost powder. If

you don't have a machine to help grind the shells, put them in a heavy

plastic bag - breakfast cereal box liner works great - and crush with a

rolling pin. Earthworms do not have teeth. They have a craw like birds.

In addition to correcting the pH inbalance, the shells aid the worm in

'chewing'.

ernie

Re: Re: Introduction

Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2007 05:22:17 -0500

Jill, Red Wigglers live in the first 2 inches of soil in their

natural

habitat. They will stop producing eggs at temps past 80 and when you

approach 100 they will begin to die. If they are in very hot weather

you can cool them off by running cool water over them and keeping

them

in the shade. While it's dangerous for them to just sit in anything

approaching mud, it does cool off the bins when the water is

evaporating. I kept my worms outside in East County San Diego where

temps became 100 repeatedly. But I work at home and was able to spray

the bins a few times per day.

I have set up a very wide bin outside and yes it's a ways from the

house. I throw everything I can on my back porch and then carry it

out

a few days in a bucket. But, getting through the winter would be even

harder. I haven't thrown red worms into my outdoor bin yet. I think

it's highly possible they may not survive the winter. However, I will

likely do an experiment soon. I need to get a longer hose so that I

can

give everything in the bin a good soaking because I have a lot of dry

paper in there. Anyway, if you can get enough fresh rotting stuff in

there in the winter and then throw big quilts over the whole thing, I

think it's possible they could survive. But, you would need for them

to

be someplace where they can get sun to warm the bins during the day.

In

the summer they would need shade which would be quite the opposite.

There are places that keep the worms outside and they throw some sort

of

warming blankets outside that are designed for outside. They make

mats

that are designed to be used in green houses and they can be wired up

with outdoor wire that is water proof. But that would be expensive.

Then again, once you get used to working with wigglers you don't mind

picking them up and moving them. You can use a method of collecting

them in the fall just before winter and over winter them someplace

else.

Here's the deal with keeping them in a trash can. They will lay eggs

only until there are enough worms in the can to eat the amount of

food

they can reach in a few inches. But I have seen in my own experiences

they will adapt and go much deeper than 2 inches. But that's probably

because I don't tear my paper up real small and I don't chop my

veggies

up real small either. That gives my bins a lot of air pockets through

out giving the worms an easier time of going deeper. See they will

not

burrow through the dirt like the earth worms we are used to. They

don't

dig or live in tunnels.

Once they stop laying eggs, they will just keep their numbers even so

long as they are getting regular food. They will also stop laying

eggs

if there is too little food or the conditions become unbearable.

What I don't like about cans is that it's hard to keep the temp and

moisture just right in them. But then again, I've felt that the worm

bins always need a lot of attention. I put the lid on for a few days

and all the worms go down inside and are happily eating. But then I

check the lid and find them migrating and the lid is all wet. I even

see tiny little white worms which is another variety and shows my

bins

have become a little acidic. So I remove the lid for a few days and

it

begins to dry out. They can not be in too wet or too dry conditions

for

long. So it's a constant battle and I'm just not sure I'd give them

that much attention in the snow either!

Suzi

tandemtrio@... wrote:

> Suzi... and others who are vermicomposting...

>

> Are you adding wheatgrass mats to your compost bin? Most of the

information

> I have read about vermicomposting suggests a short, wide bin, as

opposed to a

> taller, more space saving bin (such as a plastic trash barrel).

>

> If I use a short, wide bin, I'd run out of composting space for the

number of

> wheatgrass mats I need to recycle.

>

> Ann Wigmore recommended a tall garbage can with holes drilled in

it, in her

> wheatgrass book (for indoors composting), but this is very

different from what

> vermicomposting sites are recommending.

>

> Does anyone have experience with this?

>

> I live in Northern Utah, where temperature can get pretty extreme

in either

> direction between summer and winter. I wonder if the red wrigglers

can handle

> Utah weather in an outdoors garden composting bin(?) Actually, our

garden is

> a distance from the house, and with the snow, it's unlikely I'd get

the

> kitchen scraps to the outside bin during those cold months... I'd

opt for an inside

> bin. Would the outside worms survive? Do they hibernate?

>

> Jill

>

>

>

> ************************************** See what's free at

http://www.aol.com.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Suzi and Ernest,

Suzi, I can't remember if I replied to your generous offering of information

in your reply to my question. (I had internet challenges, and I hardly

remember what happened BC -- Before Challenge).

Anyway... I liked your idea of keeping the produce scrapes a little larger,

thus keeping air spaces available. Knowing your trouble with the trash cans, I

may decide to build some wooden stacking boxes that I found on an internet

site.

And Ernest, I really appreciate knowing about the effect of egg shells on the

ph of the soil, and how to prepare them.

This is really a very helpful site. Thanks so much to you all for sharing

your knowledge and experience.

Jill

************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.

[Guest guest]

It is great fun to learn new things. One thing I'm working on with my

worm bins is an idea for a way to sprout seeds using the worms. I've

had a lot of scraps take off and grow in the bins. But by the time I

dig the plant back out, I've usually broken it. But I have been amazed

at how many seeds have sprouted, even tough ones like peach pits,

avocado pits etc. I received some tropical seeds today that are

supposed to take weeks to come up. So I'm putting some of them inside

one of my easy sprouters with some mulch designed for starting seeds.

I'm going to lay it inside of the worm bin so that the moisture will

stay just right. I'll check on them every few days after the first week

and see if it cuts the time for them to come up.

Suzi

tandemtrio@... wrote:

> Hi Suzi and Ernest,

>

> Suzi, I can't remember if I replied to your generous offering of information

> in your reply to my question. (I had internet challenges, and I hardly

> remember what happened BC -- Before Challenge).

>

> Anyway... I liked your idea of keeping the produce scrapes a little larger,

> thus keeping air spaces available. Knowing your trouble with the trash cans, I

> may decide to build some wooden stacking boxes that I found on an internet

> site.

>

> And Ernest, I really appreciate knowing about the effect of egg shells on the

> ph of the soil, and how to prepare them.

>

> This is really a very helpful site. Thanks so much to you all for sharing

> your knowledge and experience.

>

> Jill

>

>

>

> ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi, I made friends with the manager of Souplantation (a salad bar type

restaurant) and he saves for me all the prep scraps that I can use. Prep

scraps are from the kitchen created while getting food ready to go out on

the line. It is not garbage from the table scraps. Look around where you

are and see what opportuneties that there are.

ernie

Re: Introduction

Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2007 12:34:59 -0500

Dawn, I'd ask for it. When I lived in California I did dumpster five

at

a local road side fruit stand. They would throw out water melons when

they get old. Worms LOVE watermelon.

If you hurry, you can order them from places online. But you don't

want

it to get too hot for shipping reasons. They ride around in a truck

for

a few days. Otherwise, you might find them at some sort of fishing

worm

supplier. I order them from a place called acme worm farm. Just

google

it and it will come right up. They double their numbers every couple

of

months in right conditions. It's fascinating to watch. I used to see

my worms devour a whole Sunday Newspaper in just about 6 weeks a long

with kitchen scraps put in daily. I take out the shiny pages and only

put in the flat black or color is ok now as the law has forced food

grade coloring.

Suzi

Dawn wrote:

> That's a great idea! Where would I get red worms? Can I buy them

> somewhere? And do I ask at the store for the overripe produce or do

> I have to dumpster dive?(doesn't sound like a whole lot of fun to

> me!)

>

> Thanks!

>

> Dawn

>

>

>

>>>>

>>>>

>>>>> Hi, My name is Dawn and I live in Orem, Utah with my husband

>>>>>

> and

>

>>>>>

>>>>>

>>> 5

>>>

>>>

>>>>> kids ages 8,6,5,4 & 2. I have been investigating healthier

>>>>>

>>>>>

>>> eating and

>>>

>>>

>>>>> the whole " eat it raw " thing and have recently been given the

>>>>> opportunity to begin sprouting. I am intrigued. I am very

>>>>>

>>>>>

>>> interested

>>>

>>>

>>>>> in feeding my family more healthfuly and am told that eating

>>>>>

>>>>>

>>> healthier

>>>

>>>

>>>>> food is cheaper than all of the processed stuff. My kids LOVE

>>>>>

> to

>

>>>>>

>>>>>

>>> eat

>>>

>>>

>>>>> and are sure that they are starving 30 minutes after eating.

>>>>>

> So,

>

>>>>>

>>>>>

>>> I am

>>>

>>>

>>>>> ready to try just about anything. I am hoping to get a garden

>>>>>

> in

>

>>>>>

>>>>>

>>> this

>>>

>>>

>>>>> year---we have a lot of work to do to get the garden area

>>>>>

> ready.

>

>>>>> Looking forward to learning from and sharing with you all!

>>>>>

>>>>> Dawn in Orem

>>>>>

>>>>>

>>>>>

>>>>>

>>>>>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/26/2007 11:10:08 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

april@... writes:

-April and family

Congratulations April and Family!! You begin a journey of joy, laughter,

tears and surprises. Just like with your other two!! You have joined a group

full of wise and wonderful mom's and dad's who can share a wealth of

information with you as well as commiserate with you when needed. Our 6 year

old with

DS we chose...He is adopted and we are so thankful to be blessed by this

wonderful little boy who constantly surprises, amazes and amuses us. Enjoy

little Iris just as your third precious child for the moment. She is first and

foremost your baby. The best piece of advice I could give you would be to say

" trust your instincts " you are Iris's mom for a reason. No one, I repeat,

no one, knows what is best for her except you. Trust that and you will do

just fine. Welcome to the group!!

Loree

************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.

[Guest guest]

Our pediatrician couldn't hear anything unusual with our little girl either

(Corie, now 11), but she did have a rather complicated heart problem that

required surgery at 4 mos. So you are wise to go ahead and get it checked

out.

Her surgical outcome was excellent and today she is healthy and happy. If

some sort of surgery is necessary, just realize that those procedures have

become very refined with extremely high success rates.

_____

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf

Of April Auburn

Sent: Thursday, April 26, 2007 11:05 AM

Subject: Introduction

Hello!

My name is April. I have three children: a five year old daughter,

-, a two year old son, , and our new baby Iris, who is

three weeks old today. Iris has Down Syndrome. I'm still trying to

learn what this will mean for us. So far I'm just working on the

usual adjustments that come with welcoming a new family member. My

older children are trying to adjust to sharing my attention with the

new baby. My two year old is being a typical two year old. We have

had lots of family visiting since the time of her birth. My parents

left on Monday, so we are now on our own for the first time since

Iris was born. My husband works pretty long hours, so I'm on my own

with the kids most of the day. Fortunately he is planning to take

time off from work for doctor's appointments with Iris. Our

pediatrician didn't hear anything unusual when he listened to her

heart, but we have an appointment with cardiologist to be sure all

is well. Nursing has been slightly more challenging with Iris than

it was with my first two children, but we seem to be doing pretty

well by now. If we do run into problems, there is a good lactation

consultant in our pediatrician's office.

I am glad that Iris is not our first child. I think it is easier for

me to handle this with some prior parenting experience. Down

Syndrome caught us by surprise, but by now I know that all children

are full of surprises and will bring new challenges, even when they

have the usual number of chromosomes.

-April and family

[Guest guest]

Congratulations April and Family! Welcome to the world Iris!

Barb - Mom to , and Sam w/ds, wife to Mark

Introduction

Hello!

My name is April. I have three children: a five year old daughter,

-, a two year old son, , and our new baby Iris, who is

three weeks old today. Iris has Down Syndrome. I'm still trying to

learn what this will mean for us. So far I'm just working on the

usual adjustments that come with welcoming a new family member. My

older children are trying to adjust to sharing my attention with the

new baby. My two year old is being a typical two year old. We have

had lots of family visiting since the time of her birth. My parents

left on Monday, so we are now on our own for the first time since

Iris was born. My husband works pretty long hours, so I'm on my own

with the kids most of the day. Fortunately he is planning to take

time off from work for doctor's appointments with Iris. Our

pediatrician didn't hear anything unusual when he listened to her

heart, but we have an appointment with cardiologist to be sure all

is well. Nursing has been slightly more challenging with Iris than

it was with my first two children, but we seem to be doing pretty

well by now. If we do run into problems, there is a good lactation

consultant in our pediatrician's office.

I am glad that Iris is not our first child. I think it is easier for

me to handle this with some prior parenting experience. Down

Syndrome caught us by surprise, but by now I know that all children

are full of surprises and will bring new challenges, even when they

have the usual number of chromosomes.

-April and family

[Guest guest]

ditto below, same exact thing. Nic is 10 now. welcome! I love the name Iris

Di

Introduction

>

>

>

> Hello!

> My name is April. I have three children: a five year old daughter,

> -, a two year old son, , and our new baby Iris, who is

> three weeks old today. Iris has Down Syndrome. I'm still trying to

> learn what this will mean for us. So far I'm just working on the

> usual adjustments that come with welcoming a new family member. My

> older children are trying to adjust to sharing my attention with the

> new baby. My two year old is being a typical two year old. We have

> had lots of family visiting since the time of her birth. My parents

> left on Monday, so we are now on our own for the first time since

> Iris was born. My husband works pretty long hours, so I'm on my own

> with the kids most of the day. Fortunately he is planning to take

> time off from work for doctor's appointments with Iris. Our

> pediatrician didn't hear anything unusual when he listened to her

> heart, but we have an appointment with cardiologist to be sure all

> is well. Nursing has been slightly more challenging with Iris than

> it was with my first two children, but we seem to be doing pretty

> well by now. If we do run into problems, there is a good lactation

> consultant in our pediatrician's office.

> I am glad that Iris is not our first child. I think it is easier for

> me to handle this with some prior parenting experience. Down

> Syndrome caught us by surprise, but by now I know that all children

> are full of surprises and will bring new challenges, even when they

> have the usual number of chromosomes.

> -April and family

>

>

>

>

>

>