Buying greenhouse products
I read your blog a few nights ago, about buying flats, and wanted to pass on some info on where I buy flats and also the sheets of packs. I at one time had a greenhouse and garden center business, and I bought wholesale from BWI, Inc. Since I sold out and retired almost 10 years ago, and moved to the Ozark Mountains, I had to find a supplier for growing my own plants. I had local greenhouses that ordered for me, but I was paying thru the nose! I found a place recently to order from. It’s Greenhouse Mega Store, greenhousemegastore.com and since I was running out of the packs and flats I had saved from my business, I ordered a case of 1020 Daisy Flats–50 flats per bundle or case. I also ordered a case of 100 sheets of 606 deep cell packs, which means 6 packs per sheet and each pack has 6 cells and they are deeper than regular packs. I paid $37.00 for the 50 flats which were 74 cents each, and I paid $65.00 for the 100 sheets of 606 deep cell packs. The Mega Store is located in Danville, IL. When I got my order a week after ordering, I was so pleased with my order! The packs and Flats were made in Clearwater, MN and were so much better than the ones I had bought wholesale for years! The packs were much thicker, and the flats were not at all flimsy! I put my packs in the new flats, filled them with potting medium, and the 1020 daisy flats would fit inside the solid flats to soak up the water. I have several of the solid flats that I use strictly for wetting the planting medium or seed sowing medium.
Now, the manufacturer of the packs and flats is T.O. Plastics, 830 County Rd. 75, Clearwater, MN 55320. I don’t know if this is close to where you live, but you may contact them and see if you can buy directly from them. I had to pay shipping on 46.6 pounds, and the box was shipped UPS. The cost from Danville, IL to me was $16.45, so it did add to the cost, but I was so pleased with the quality, I’ll order again! I just wanted to let you know about this Greenhouse Mega Store, and the quality of their packs and flats. You can order the flats in a bundle of 10, but I know you are using lots of flats, so it’s a better deal to get the 50, and stacked, they take up very little room.
Carolyn Barr
Thanks so much for the info Carolyn. I’m sure other readers will be tickled with this source just like I am. I know I’ll be ordering for sure! — Jackie
Pickled peppers
I love the crunchy pickled peppers that you can get at a sub shop. I have tried for the last 5 years to can banana peppers and they have turned out mushy each year. This past year I did them by heating up the vinegar and garlic and I did them the old way, no canner. Any ideas, different peppers, different vinegar formula? I look forward to hearing your ideas!
Robin Novotny
Ironton, Minnesota
The “old way” is the only way you can get crisp pickled peppers. I’ve done it myself. However, the experts say we’re not safe doing it that way but I must say I don’t know of any organisms that can live in vinegar that would harm a person. — Jackie
Confusing goat birth
One of my does had twins this AM–nothing unusual about that, BUT, she had a single birth 7 weeks ago.
Is this at all possible, or have I seriously lost track of my goats and what they are doing. I write each birth on the calender with the momma’s name, and double checked after finding the new kids with her this morning.
JVC
Bangs, Texas
While nothing is impossible, I’d say that you got the wrong mom with the first kid. Hey, it happens! I’ve had goats for fifty years and have been a vet tech for 20 years and I’ve never heard of a doe giving birth to a non-premie baby then delivering normal twins seven weeks later. Did you have another doe that kidded 7 weeks ago, maybe with twins? If they were in the same pen, maybe the one twin bonded with the wrong mom or if they were in different pens, could it have gotten out of the one pen and into the other? Was there normal after-birthing discharge on the “mom’s” vulva and tail after the first “delivery?” Sometimes we just don’t notice. Hopefully, all’s well and this may remain a mystery. If the kids are doing well, I wouldn’t worry about it too much. — Jackie
I buy from Greenhouse MegaStore too and so far their products and shipping have been reliable, although I find their shipping charges a bit high. They have items that are difficult to find anywhere else. I’d recommend giving them a try if you need supplies.
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