This ends up being very long but interesting.
About many peoples planted bowls.
http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f24/planted-bowls-256693.html
I have two, a bowl and a jar. I think the trick is making sure you have a good light for photosynthesis, plants and the right food. The bowl should be up for a while to get some biofilm growing. Using moss is a good way to make sure there is some sort of food source available to the shrimp as they like to pick all the time.
I would recommend only Hikari foods. I used a new product recently and even in a very small amount it cause a large ammonia spike. Most average flake foods are ammonia makers too. Ammonia kills shrimp. Feed tiny amount and maybe every other day.
CFL light bulbs with the 6500K or 6700K can be found at Ace hardware. I use them in the lamps next to the bowls. Though used to not use them and it still worked fine with low light plants.
My jar - the pic is cruddy but you get the idea
My plant snippet snail bowl, where I put all the extra bits and pieces so they can grow bigger and I can plant them later! Use the Arrowhead plants in the top to assure good water quality for the shrimp.
This has MTS, Ramshorn snails and a pond snail, and approx 6 Cherry shrimp, though there may have been babies recently.