Christine LaValley

For the greenhouses, it seems like a good idea to focus on crops that suit the existing structures. If you can, try to use the already-available resources like the concrete greenhouse for something like mushrooms or endives.

The puffing could definitely be from off-gassing, especially if the product has any microbial activity happening. Using coffee bags with an outgassing valve sounds like a good idea. It’ll allow any pressure to release while keeping the product sealed. Just keep an eye on it to make sure the bags aren’t under too much pressure.

Yeah, cold weather can slow down the inoculation process since the microbes aren’t as active in low temperatures. It should pick back up once things warm up, though, so I wouldn’t stress too much if the cold snap doesn’t last long. Just keep it moist and maybe cover it with a tarp or some straw to help hold in a bit of warmth if possible.

r ranson wrote:I got a spot in a local Life Drawing session.  I think it's a trial to make sure I'm a good fit.

All I know is that it will be 2 hours, a clothed model, no instruction, and to bring my own sketching kit.  That's all the info I have.

Anyone ever been to a life drawing session before? What's it like?

And if you have done this, what kind of drawing materials did you like best?

Is there a set tradition of how long the poses are?   In class we had a live model and they did 20 second, 1 min, 2 min and a 20 min pose.   But I didn't get the most out of it as I didn't really know what to expect and being time blind, the first and last pose felt about the same length of time.  

And will the other people be annoyed or frustrated to have a person who can't draw well in the session?  I'm just going to stand to one side and quietly draw, but I'm not good.  Not yet.  That's the whole point of this, to get better.

Nervous.  Kind of thinking of backing out but also, I really want to get good at drawing.  maybe someone can help me through these conflicting emotions so I can go with confidence.

It's normal to feel nervous, especially when you're just starting out. Life drawing sessions can be a bit intimidating at first, but honestly, most people are there just to improve their own skills, too. You don’t need to worry about others judging you – everyone’s there to learn and grow.

I’m not in Montana but ginger might not grow well there because of the short days in winter and usually low light. Yet, if you have a good sunlit area in the summer and some extra work for winter, it might be worth it giving it a shot!

It is advisable to start germinating inside early in the pots and you could use a grow light. About dirt as for soil, ginger prefers warm well drained rich loamy soil with a component of organic matter added to it. It would be advisable perhaps to have a greenhouse or window box to sort out temperature and light during these cold periods.

I usually get my replacement parts from Amazon or eBay. Both sites have a lot of options and you can find detailed descriptions.

I have a LOT of what look like what I thought were Wandering Jews growing under ornamental palms but I was told they are not.  I asked the man who cuts my grass if he knew anyone who might want them so I don't have to just pull them up and throw them out and he said, "No.  They were popular for ground cover for a while, but they are very invasive and people stopped using them."

My question for David Goodman is:  Is there a use I am unaware of for them or is landfill a good choice?