Carol Nelson

Hi Meridith.

Depending on how much you are prepared to spend, there are a lot of really fine wheels out there.

I started with a used Louet S10 which cost less than many others. It was a single treadle. This was great as a starter wheel. Some people happily stick with these.

I eventually got myself a double treadle Schacht Matchless which I really love. They are expensive, even used.

As someone with multiple chemical sensitivities who shops at thrift stores almost exclusively, i hear ya! I use a low chemical greenie type of detergent, some washing soda and vinegar in the first rinse of everything i wash, but it isn't always enough to remove the chemicals other people have left in clothes..
I work with the fiber arts also, and have two suggestions.

If cotton, I boil them on the woodstove. It strips everything out. (I try to do this annually for my dish towels and sheets anyway)

Otherwise, there is a product on Dharma Trading that is made specifically to strip the residues out of fabrics. The traditional product is called synthrapol, but Dharma Trading came up with their own, less toxic version which I use. Its called Dharma Professional Textile Detergent. It's kind of spendy but I love the stuff.

I give this seed source 10 out of 10 acorns.

I've been buying most of my seeds from them for 10 years or so. Love their free catalog, online descriptions, customer reviews, and huge variety.

Most of all, love their commitment to heirloom and open pollination.

Can't think of any cons.

Yes, Jocelyn, they are very firmly attached. My husband is quite dedicated to sturdiness and I think they could hold a lot more weight.

One rack is screwed well into the ceiling joists (is that the right word??) and the other is screwed to a board that is screwed into the joists. That was done in order to center it the way I wanted.

Anyway, I love the setup. It is so much easier to get to my pans that I use every day.

I have two racks in my kitchen area, one over the wood cookstove and one over the island. I got those racks from Amazon and couldn't be happier with them. I also have a monster rack in the basement near another woodstove that holds the cast iron I'm not currently using. I think hanging racks are the way to go with cast iron.