Only reason I know this is because I had them too when I had plants within the pool enclosure. I figured I had it made, no more birds and other animals getting the fruits. WRONG! In my case, and it seems many others too, the rats bite two holes on opposite sides of the enclosed area. Before rescreening I would set some large traps and solve the problem before repairing the damage.

There is absolutely no value at all to adding the sugary marerials. This recommendation is likely based in the idea of feeding the microbiological population, though I am guessing about this, and such a recommendation is based on a misunderstanding of the needs of the microbial life associated with castings. Adding sugars will do nothing to either protect or improve the castings or the associated microbiology. You might consider deleting that process. Drying the castings in the sun may not be the best idea as UV light has a negative impact on casting quality. Better to allow them to dry in a shaded area or indoors. When castings dry out completely they often become hydrophobic, meaning they do not re-wet. It takes a considerable amount of time to actually completely dry castings, however. Even castings that feel dry to the touch often contain as much as 15% moisture. The general recommendation for the moisture level of castings you intend to packag is similar to that of potting soil from a feshly opened bag. Castings that are a little bit dampish are a good thing for the consumer. Your fabric bags are likely an effective marketing tool (many buyers are drawn to home-spun, natural packaging), but are not the best idea for long-term storage of your product. Though most of your buyers likely use the castings quickly enough that shelf life does not matter, you might suggest to them that the product be stored in a dark, cool location to prevent too much moisture loss through the fabric bag. You might also consider "lining" the bag with waxed paper to aid in preventing moisture loss. The paper will mainain the "natural" character of the packaging you're using while extending the shelf life of your product. Ultimately, of course, the biology associated with the castings will consume the paper, and even the fabric bag, but I doubt your buyers will be storing the packages for that long. Just some ideas to chew on! Kelly S

Its funny you mention kisses because Dustin has started to groom me a bit here and there. I worked as a nurse and was caring for a palliative patient at night so his family could rest and their cat would lick my hair which, they owner said, was a sign he liked me. I assumed his licks were grooming as we grow closer, he did start before he saw Cinders, but maybe its his way of saying I'm his. As long as that is his chosen method of marking I'm quite happy.

peat is peat is peat.. dont you think .... its a water retention product ...and its a pH option .... those are probably the important variables.. as compared to which peat ... dont you think ... i would spend a week wetting it.. before i used it ... i used to buy the big bails ... and insisted on intact packaging ..for weight reasons .... and i use to joke i could probably have floated across the atlantic on a bale.. before it wet and sunk ... i also learned .. hot water will wet it faster .... lol.. one time i had the bright idea to use a surfacant.. to make it soak water up faster ... no WWW then .. lol .. so i used dish soap ... lol.. i had foaming peat in my garden all summer long .... and of course.. after wetting it.. i would probably nuke it until it steamed.. just to insure its sterile .... i did have issues with algae with such .... once .... heck.. i even sterilized perlite back in the day .... ken http://tipnut.com/sterilize-soil/