Starting seeds

Yesterday I was looking up ideas for jumpstarting seed germination and I came across a great idea. I know our garden is pretty full but if anyone hasn't started all their seeds yet; using an old waterbed heater is an inexpensive way to get higher germination rates. Nobody really has a waterbed anymore so its pretty easy to get a cheap one at a garage sale, goodwill, ebay or craigslist. They work great because they're water resistant and a decent size to use for multiple pots or trays at once. Another idea was outdoor rope lights buried in sand in the bottom of a large plastic container. You just drill drainage holes in the bottom, and a larger one in the side for the cord to go through, then you wind the lights all over the bottom of the container, then cover with a few inches of sand. The sand is warmed by the lights which warms the trays above, and by putting the lid on the container you keep the moisture in (just don't put it in direct sun or you will cook your seedlings!). Either option is cheap and easy to set up which is key for gardening ;)