Hey Kimmsr, so, I completed the soil in a jar test, and I was really surprised. Where I thought I had a LOT of OM/compost, turns out there is barely any. I would say it appears to be 1% or less, in a very thin layer floating on the top of the water surface. The rest of the results are harder to tally precisely because the sand and the silt overlap a little at their respective edges, but I can see a general trend. Together, the sand and silt comprise about 70%-75% of the mix. If I had to assign amounts, I'd say it looks like: Clay, 25% Silt 25-30%-ish (depending on overlap with sand) Sand 45-50%-ish (depending on overlap with silt) OM, 1% or less I also did the worm test and was shocked, shocked to find very few worms in the top 12 inches of the soil. I don't know if it's been the freezing weather (last week) or the biblical rainstorms (earlier this week) but I certainly was surprised by the lack of earthworms. The drain test is a little difficult to do right now because we just had a lot of rain, but it appears to be draining faster than 2 hours. So if I'm interpreting these correctly, I am in dire need of more OM, right Kimmsr? I am wondering if the mix that I started (a purchased mix from a reliable local soil company) with was either too light on the OM, or perhaps the OM was not fully composted and the soil food web gobbled it all up? Either way, it sure seems like I need some compost. STAT! And I'm guessing that I WILL need to dig it in rather than just mulch the top. And finally, after reading the PDF you posted earlier, I guess I'm not completely clear on whether to use a fully composted compost---which will provide longer term structure but not much for the soil food web, or a partially composted compost---which will provide more food for the SFW in the short term. help much appreciated! -kmama PS. I guess the issue of whether I need Azomite in this mix is cleared up... there certainly seems to be a rather adequate mineral supply, right? What are your thoughts on Azomite?

I'm not very good at this, seeing as I can't decide myself, but what about some sort of mosaic that would pick up the colors of the island. It would compliment the island and would "dress up" the absolute black. I was going to suggest glass, but I wasn't sure if you would want glass and polished AB. Maybe a mosaic that was a combo of glass and some other material.

Thanks for ALL of your opinions!! I remember that the way my top was made, the bottom has wood supports. The person who made it is an engineer by trade, and a woodworker as a hobby. He showed me the underside and it seems to be a work of art. He explained how it is all fitted together the old fashioned way. I can't remember exactly what he said, but I think it is made very well. He spoke about how it will be less likely to warp or crack - at all. SO- I think only the supported part of it would get some silicone caulking - just as a finishing touch. I know he plans on screwing it down also. Do you think it can be stable and fine without ANY calk at all? Thanks so much!

I have used the waffle liner stuff, which I usually pick up at Big lots they have it in all colors, and also the sheets of foam board the real thin ones you can even get it at walmart in the crafts area. I need that drop stop so bad I have had that happen with my keys and like to never got them out of there. I was at Sears last weekend and in the tool dept they had a big display in the middle of the aisle of items that were really inexpensive and one of the items was an extend-able magnet, looked like a long pointer thing that pulls out and has a magnet on the tip. That thing definitely is in my tool box now and it was only a buck or so.