>Jeff:
>
>>The presentation on hot beds was one i found interesting also. Basically,
>>it involves growing on top of a compost pile. . . . The bed produces
>>enough heat to keep plants near the surface growing well and is ideal for
>>unheated greenhouses.
>
>An old idea but one that is definitely worth revisiting and experimenting
>with. It has me thinking on how to build a container in my little
>greenhouse to hold the compost materials. For those who don't know, horse
>manure was a favorite ingredient for hot-frames by commercial French
>gardeners two centuries ago. Horse heats up really well,use it if you have
>a source. I may have to use henhouse litter for winter nitrogen.
>
Use straw bales to contain your hotbed Gene - the insulation keeps it
going at a steady temperature for a very long time - by the end of
the summer about half the thickness of the bale will have been broken
down bacterial action and worms
kathryn
