Agar agar is a seeweed that makes gelatin and is used in beer making and for cultures and Asian gelatin desserts. It might do better with pathogins as it is vegetable based rather than made from the hooves of animals. It can be bought in any oriental store in powder or in bulk. Bob C. unsweetened gelatin to the water (half the strength > recommended on the package). The fellow giving the tip syas his soil > blocks don't crumble when moved, and the gelatin retains water, feeding the > seedling as it grows. Sounds good to me. Margaret L