Oh man, I'm going whole hog this year as long as I can score more containers. We have 3 recycle centers that I check for containers and they are emptying them the day before I get there. ARGHHH!!!! Have to get their schedule figured out. I was counting up seeds to be sown last night when I couldn't sleep (counting seeds in stead of sheep is NOT conducive to sleep btw!) and figure I need to clone myself to sow all of them, sigh.... Well over 300, maybe 400 if I get 'em done. I'm having a sowing "party" with some friends in a few weeks. It will involve copious amounts of wine and hopefully I can get some help with my own. I supply the seeds and soil, they have to bring their own containers- it's the least they can do! :) mmqchdygg that igloo is awesome!! I'm forwarding that to my sisinlaw who teaches and loves cool ideas like that- thanks for sharing it! Shore

I've been full-time for four years, right from the start, this is my fifth coming up! It's great. Luckily, I am able to do some freelance computer work (web site stuff) right off the farm, so I've been able to supplement my income a reasonable bit (and that has been necessary!), but without really affecting my day hours and full-time focus. It's not for everyone, especially if you're starting from scratch as I did. Money is a big pressure, and there is just so much to learn, so many bases to cover. I had "consulting" help, a lifelong farmer to ask and help with some things like equipment repair. You have to be flexible and very focussed to organize and follow-through, but once customer feedback kicks in, that provides an amazing amount of real in-field energy to keep going (your veggies have to be good, but they tend to work out if you give 'em the basics). In my very humble opinion so far, the most important thing is that you have to unlearn a bunch of insidious little habits from "consumer society", like hopping in a vehicle to drive 20 miles to a hardware store because you need a couple of bolts. Things like that. If you can get into the flow of market garden work (which fully includes marketing your stuff) to the exclusion of pretty much all else, it's unbelievably excellent: sanity-inducing and maintaining and plain...fun!

i emailed the jason rep to find out what exactly the lumbar thing means for $200 more, and haven't heard back yet, but now my husband said i had to choose between white and bisque UGHH more decisions lol. i definitely think i want to stick with the jason because compared to the other tubs in the showroom it was amazingly quiet. to answer the question-i think mainly it will just be me in the tub. my husband has not taken 1 bath in the 15 years i have known him and i don't see him starting. we were supposed to do this project 2 years ago but right before starting i was diagnosed with cancer and had to go through chemo and radiation which left me with arthritis in my hips, and all over body aches, this the reason i really want to make sure i get the right tub, it is definitely for therapeutic reasons. i have a very good prognosis, and am excited we have the opportunity to work on this again, and i just want it all to end up cozy and warm and inviting, and i am struggling with the floor plan, the color of the tub and shower etc, the fixtures color, the trim color, and i don't have very long to decide!! Scary!! p.s. i really think the chromatherapy thing is neat. i know it may seem silly to some, but i think i would enjoy that. It is $200.00 more, do many of you have it and do you think it was worth it?

Capacity depends on many factors. Typically, American front loaders have shorter cycles and less rinses than European ones. Many people will look for a Normal cycle that lasts an hour. My Duet has this type of cycle and the manual recommends to fill the drum 2/3 full - just like you said. Longer cycles will also be able to handle bigger loads. Using the Extra Rinse might be a good idea, though. Now, you cannot really compare European washers to American ones. Our washers, and this is probably the most striking difference, have much longer cycles times and in many cases one more rinse per default. Many are also able to drastically raise the water level, if so desired, by just the push of a button. Reason why cycle times are so much longer is, besides the time needed to heat cold water to a set temp, the over-rated capacity claims from manufacturers. There is a war going on. Some manufacturers claim that their small machines will hold as much laundry as an American front loader! How is that possible? By increasing the cycle time. Some washers, even Miele, will now take up to three hours to finish a warm wash fully loaded! It's the only option companies have, since the consumer wants more capacity, yet the outside dimension of the washer must remain the same. This is a silly capacity war and I don't see any sense in participating. The masses, however, think that bigger is better. There you have it: another explanation why we put more laundry in our washers than you do. And for what's it worth: I have an American washer and will show you some loads. It's the European version of the Duet and the only American washer available in Germany. This is a full, full load of towels. I paused the cycle after ten minutes to show that the mountain of laundry actually compacted when saturated and allows room for tumbling action. BUT you will also notice that the est. cycle time for a 140F wash with four rinses is 3:14 hrs. Much longer than on the Duet programmed for the North American market! Full load of towels And here is a medium-sized load I did on the 60-minute cycle. Medium Load Most of my regular loads are in-between those two. Alex