>>So do people tell you that it is cheaper to buy it than to grow it and how do you respond? Yes, they do. They are not, however, always correct. I grow fresh berries far cheaper than I could possibly buy them, and I can have them when they're not available fresh at any cost (I have everbearers that produce 2 crops or sometimes even are true day-neutrals that trickle out their crops; farmers prefer single-croppers because of their harvesting overhead). Cane fruits and strawberries are, by the way, quite cheap to grow; the cost at the supermarket is due to the fact that they are difficult to mechanize their production, expensive for the farmers to harvest, and hard to ship intact. I am also cost-conscious. I always ask myself how I can keep my costs down, build my own productive infrastructure or do without, recycle, and make use of out what would otherwise be wasted. For example, I always grow some nitrogen-fixers in order to save on fertilizer costs. I try to salvage the minerals in kitchen scraps by composting them. We're going to have chickens next year to convert our scraps into valuable eggs and, um, fertilizer. I plant a high ratio of semi-permanent crops, because it gets labor-intensive to till the soil every year. My fruit trees, berries, artichokes, asparagus, perennial herbs, and rhubarb don't need annual tilling. I use the best hand-tools I can find. Cheaper to buy and operate than mechanized tools, and more effective and longer-lived than shoddy tools. My produce requires far less processing and handling than its commercial counterpart to reach my table. Pick, pick, waddle over to kitchen sink, rinse, and it's at the point where the commercial produce was after days of processing and transport. So, they are not always correct that it is cheaper to "just buy it". But savings on fresh produce is not the only objective, as many of you have already pointed out. There are crops I want but could not get fresh at any price, but can grow, there is a quality factor to consider (my produce is fresher and my fruit is fully ripe), and the garden keeps me off the streets and is cheap recreation.

@tsheets - I posted a few months ago on a couple of the different hab/fatali recipes we were fooling around with, including some cookies. Here's a link to that post: http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/pepper/msg0913133225559.html The recipes in that post use habs, but we mostly use fatalis in our desert dishes now, when we have them available. The absolute best thing we ever made with fatalis or habs were fatali-almond caramels. I haven't poste pics or recipes for that, but I will one of these days. We can only have them 2 or 3 times a year, because we eat all of them until they are gone, as soon as they're done, and that isn't good for the waistline.

I'm so sorry your time in Daytona was not so wonderful because of the weather. I'm really grateful for the 34 hrs non-stop rain we've had here so far on Mon and Tues because we need it so bad, but it isn't so great when it ruins plans. I would suggest Before disputing the nonrefundable charge with the credit card bank you may want to make sure to read the terms and conditions of reserving rooms in that particular hotel. Most hotels have a stated policy that they will not refund for early departures; weather related being one of the most declined refund reasons: Especially this time of year when the weather is just beginning the rainy season here in Florida. They are specific that you have to pay if you book the room for a time limit and then try to renege on the time. There is an acceptable time limit usually for a cancellation of a reservation 48 -72 hrs is most often the norm. It is a matter of they turn down other bookings because you have said you are going to be using the room for so much time. With the economy in the crapper losing money because of weather related early departure is definitely not on. You can dispute the charges with your credit card bank and probably get the money back. Credit card banks are being most agreeable if there is no specific contract. Unfortunately just filing a dispute will of course put your name and credit card # on lists of flagged cards. These lists are maintained and used by many places and companies that accept credit cards for many things from Dr. offices, Spa and salon establishments to ordering on-line or by telephone. Once on this list it is virtually impossible to get off the list. It does not hurt your credit in anyway except the companies you try to buy from see you as a risk and will not always accept your card. This is not against the law or any kind of prejudice. It is just a way to make sure the people who have accepted your card and word you are making a good faith transaction get the money you have agreed to pay. When you dispute a charge that has been legally made it makes you a risk for the next transaction and many companies just plain don't want the hassle. Even when the charge is not refunded the seller has to spend time and money on researching the incident and that is not compensated. CT

I have ordered lots of specialty items from celebrationsbyshelia.com. Look at her site. She can talk to you on the phone about your particulars too. She did my daughter's save the dates, our wedding breakfast invitations, and our Christmas cards for the past few years. One Christmas card featured our bridal couple's picture under the floral arch as they said their "I do's." I wanted to send that one because I loved the picture so much and I wanted friends and relatives from across the country who were unable to join us to see the happy couple on their special day. She will also address and mail the cards for you if you want.