| Re:"any cheap suggestions for a heating mat for my starts?" I use a water bed heater. I think it works much better as a plant heater than the units we see in garden catalogues and stores. A water bed heater is is a flat, waterproof mat. It's lightweight, flexible, and easy to roll up when not in use. It is meant to lie on top of a waterbed and heat the gallons of water inside the bed's bladder. So it's tough, made to last a long time, even with constant use. My water bed heater has an accurate thermostat with a wide range of temperature settings. Those pricey plant heaters usually have only one temp setting, and the thermostat just turns it on or off. The water bed heater is also about twice as long as a plant heater. Although I can fit a few flats on it, I usually like to germinate a whole load of seeds together. I group the seeds on damp paper towels, label them, and place them inside baggies. Then I lay them down along the heating mat, in layers if I have lots of baggies, then place a blanket over top to keep the heat in. I set the temp to suit the seeds. I get very good results this way -- fast germination and good rates. Where to get 'em.... Water bed heaters often outlive the waterbed bladder, so there are plenty around. You can usually find them stuck away in some dark corner, with the rest of the this-must-be-good-for-something stuff. Most folks are glad to be relieved of theirs and will give it away for such a good cause as yours, so ask around. If you have no luck with friendly donations, try looking for them at yard sales or listed in bargain hunters. Free is best, but you should never have to go higher than cheap. If you want to warm a lot of flats together, you'll need to find a few heaters. Another idea I've been tempted to try is to pick up a used water bed frame and bladder, too. I'm thinking that one heated bed could hold a lot of flats! Then I start thinking that one heated bed with a hole in it could flood a lot of floor . . . which is how I came to own my orphaned water bed heater in the first place! This is also, I'm guessing, why so many people have these heaters sitting in their basement, just waiting for you (or me) to come by and put it to good use. Go for it! And if you do, I'd love to know how it works for you. Star-Tide | 
