1.Hedge clippings: Instead of burning or direct composting, beg, borrow or even buy, if quantity justifies price, an electric garden muncher. Branches up to an inch in diameter are posted into a slot and machine munches them up into small chips. Spread these chips thickly around shrubs or fruit trees to help keep moisture in, and control temperature of soil.

2.Food Waste: All food waste must be composted. Composting is becoming quite an art form, and special composting bins can be bought, or very simply made. There are many different theories and each gardener will find his or her preferred way. Keeping compost fairly warm is overall key to a good result. Or, if you're in no hurry, simply keep adding to a heap, and dig out bottom when required. Sieve before using and compost will be ready for planting small plants and even seeds.

3.Old carpets, large damaged cardboard boxes; and similar materials can be laid over vegetable plot in autumn to help prevent those early spring weeds appearing. Spread over a whole patch and weigh down with stones or logs. Lift off on a sunny day in early spring a few days before digging.

4.Paint trays: Keep old roller painting trays and similar containers for seed trays. Punch a few holes in bottom for drainage. Add a little fine gravel before filling with seed compost. Seed trays shouldn't be deeper than 15cm.

5.Yoghurt pots: All plastic yoghurt or dessert pots can be washed and saved for re-potting seedlings. Make a hole in bottom of each and add a little fine gravel before filling with compost or soil..

In part one we looked at plans for average long distance caller. But what if you make LOTS of calls?

- High Usage Plans -

Let's say you make three, four, five hours of long distance calls each week. There are four different service types you want to consider:

1) A Per Minute Plan.

2) Bundled Service, which includes both unlimited local and unlimited long distance for one set rate.

3) Unlimited Long Distance, for a set monthly price.

4) Fixed Price Long Distance, ie: $30/month for up to 3000 minutes.

If you use a lot of long distance, it's worth sitting down with a calculator and doing a little figuring.

Start by estimating how much time you spend making long distance calls. Figure out what this would cost using a low cost per minute service. Compare this to what you would pay with an unlimited or fixed price long distance service in your area.

Then combine your estimated long distance cost with price of your current local service bill. Compare this with what you would be paying for a bundled (combined) local and long distance service.

Keep in mind that fees and taxes often raise advertised price of most unlimited plans by $10 to $15 a month.

If it looks like a bundled, unlimited or fixed price long distance plan would be cheaper than using a per minute service, your next step is to read plan's fine print.