I just cleared a section of lawn to make a new bed and was seriously considering getting some cow manure from my DH's uncle. Now I'm not so sure. I hate the smell of it and curse the farmer who spreads it on the field next to my house every spring, but it seems so valuable to the bed. Usually when the farmer spreads it (very liquid-y stuff) the odor is gone the first time it rains on it. Should I just do it and put up with the stench or can I just buy the bagged stuff (which I've already done this year on 2 other smaller beds) and expect similar results? The whole lasagna thing sounds so wonderful but my new bed is going to be pretty big and I don't know what all kinds of stuff to put in to make an impact. I thought of the manure because I'm sure I can get some, and I have tons of shredded paper. My only other concern is I'm afraid if I put old edibles on the garden all of the critters will eat it before it decomposes. We have a family of foxes and groundhogs and skunks and they always eat our dinner scraps. I need to do something because the ground is hard clay....!

Not sure of RH for upstairs or downstairs. Keeping downstairs at 78 makes it feel comfortable, so I don't think RH is high. Our thermostat does not allow us to set a CPH, but I actually don't think it runs more than 3 times per hour. Our house is newly built, and is built real tight, so I'd say with 85-90 degree outside temp, the ac runs for 5-10 minutes, then off for 20. This may be ideal, and I'm just being paranoid, but it still seems like its cycling quite a bit more than it should. Any new thermostat you would recommend with a CPH setting? Ours is a bare bones programmable thermostat. I was thinking about getting the Honeywell Prestige or Nest for downstairs only, and keeping the old one for upstairs. So tigerdunes, you would not recommend setting the thermostat to 83 when we leave for the day, then 78 when we return? What about 80 leave, 78 or 76 return? Thanks for the help everyone!

I used to teach classes for new home owners getting Habitat for Humanity homes. Reason? They usually grew up in public housing or apartment buildings were the maintenance was done by someone else. Many of the new folks never had to buy light bulbs, turn off the water when there was a leak, replace a broken light switch plate, or cut the grass and many more. Make a list of all the things that need to be done on a regular basis. Add to the list as necessary. My wife developed a large calendar on which we write things like appointments and maintenance items(birthdays/anniversaries/etc as well). So, know where/how to turn off gas/water/electricity. Fix things quickly, don't wait for the leaky faucet to repair itself---I've never seen that happen. Even seemingly small things, like a storm door hydraulic closer broken or not working, or a door that no longer latches, or the light bulb in the shower burnt out. Clean and dust at least monthly. That means mop/vacuum/dust everywhere in the house. Does not have to be all in one day or even week, but keep things clean. Reason? That helps furnace filters stay cleaner and need changed less often. Because those need regular changing. If there are appliances like water softeners/refrigerator filters/humidifiers, those need regular attention(cleaning/filling/etc.) That also helps keep the A coil in the AC unit in the furnace free of clogs---which decrease the air flow of both the AC and furnace. Water leaks/stains on ceilings/walls get fixed fast. Have pro's inspect the roof/gutters/windows/doors for the leak source(often leak sources are difficult to pinpoint). You will normally start to ignore some things or not notice gradual changes. Like a normal settling crack that shows up at the corner of a window and runs 9" and stops. Not a huge issue unless it changes. Or a door that starts sticking when opened/shut. Those are fairly normal and often overlooked. Once in a while(once a year maybe) inspect for things like those two items. Make a note and inspect sooner. If they don't change in a year, fix them, they should not reoccur. Wash the siding occasionally. How that is done depends on the type of siding. My neighbor washes the north side of his house(garage wall) once a year as it gets mildew on it(vinyl siding). He made a long handled broom(soft bristles) and gently scrubs with a solution of laundry soap/water and hoses it off. I use a stiffer bristle brush hooked to my hose to wash my steel siding. Keep weeds/plants/etc. clear of the foundation and siding around the house. Inspect(flashlight inside) the foundation/basement a couple times a year(between fall/winter and in spring) for problems. If there are problems from dampness in the basement, get a dehumidifier and use it. The cost of the electricity will usually be cheaper than repairs. Clean(I use a hose and nozzle) to clean the cooling fins on the outside AC unit whenever necessary(spring tree/shrub pollen can clog in in just a week). Clean gutters at least twice a year, unless there are gutter guards installed(good idea, IMHO) nand check once a year(spring) if guards are installed. There are more things, but what I listed will be a start. It may seem trying to do all that is daunting, but they really only take a couple of hours a week and just hours a year for the bigger things. It is a really good time to reward yourself with a glass of wine or a beer when done.:-)

Unfortunately the above (or maybe it's below..... :-)) suggestion does not work. I access ONLY through GardenWeb and the order of posts varies from first to last, last to first and now and again will even switch up in the same post, depending on when you visit it. I am not convinced that this is a glitch......I think they are trying out some new software and they intend to reverse the chronology.