Perhaps I’m easily impressed, but I was amazed at how well this worked! Here’s what happened: I got one of those domed “greenhouse” seed starters and a heat mat…technically called the “Hydrofarm CK64060 Hot House with Heat Mat”.

I didn’t use the plastic holders that came with it, but replaced them with peat pots that I could plant directly in the soil (they compost in the soil). Instead of perennials (that come back each year), I went with annuals (that bloom and then die at the first cold snap).

Two days later, I had sprouts. Yes, TWO DAYS after dropping the seeds into the soil, watering them, putting on the greenhouse dome, and plugging in the heat mat…it was alive! These pics are from three days into the experiment, but I’m still not sure what’s going on with the seeds on the left rows. I’ll have to check the seed packages to see if they’re the kind that take longer (the packages for the right ones said 7-10 days to sprout). Regardless, I’m almost ready to replant some of them outdoors (after these cold nights are over).

So….if you want your seeds to sprout hella fast then click the above links to Amazon.com and get one for yourself!

A bigger ticket item was to replace two carpeted rooms with hardwood. Instead of regular hardwood, I chose bamboo. The reasons: 1. It’s a renewable resource*. 2. The cost was the same as a high-end hardwood. 3. It’s beautiful. *Bamboo grows back (very quickly) after being cut.

I wonder if my tiny part will help out future generations?