Here's what I'm using (Steve Solomon's Complete Organic Fertilizer): 4 parts alfalfa pellets 1 part kelp meal 2/3 part dolomite lime 1/2 part rock phosphate 1/2 part bat guano 1/3 part gypsum I scratched 3 1/2 quarts of this mixture into the soil around the time of planting, and spread and watered in another 3 1/2 quarts after about 2 months. My planting bed occupies approximately 50 square feet. Here is a link that might be useful: A Better Way to Fertilize Your Garden: Homemade Organic Fertilizer - Steve Solomon

Thank you all for your comments. Drainage and overland flow is an issue here - unfortunately the city is the one that caused the problem. According to the neighbors the city put in curbs and gutters in our area about 10 years ago but they never put in any storm sewers. So during any rain event all the water shoots down the driveways uphill from us then through both our rear neighbor's lawn and ours before making it to the patio. There is a decent amount on infiltration through the lawns so we don't have any rivers through the grass and the grade around the patio does a little bit to mitigate the water on the patio issues - but not enough. The basement has been waterproofed along the rear of the house... Anyway, I know the drainage is an issue but there won't be anything done about it by the city so I'm left to fend for myself. Thank you for your thoughts of privacy from the neighbors... that has been a thought of mine too. Luckily the house to the left doesn't really look over our patio area as their house has an extension (with no windows in our direction) at the back that runs along the property line and extends about 20' past the back of our house. The house on the right would have a pretty direct line of sight to the patio so it is that side (south) that would need the screening. I've been thinking that some blueberry bushes might be nice there... mind you I know nothing about blueberries except that I love to eat them and that the blueberry bushes at my mother in laws house are large and georgous (she is Atlanta though, so what works for her probably will not work for me in Ohio)... I guess I need to do some research :) Another thought we've had is to do some sort of trellis / arbor / pergola thing to give some privacy and to eventually provide some shade on the patio during the day. I've had a look on line and in books at the library and seen some things that look a nice but nothing yet that gets my motor going. If anyone has any ideas I'd love to hear or see them. We haven't really given any thoughts to a wood deck... I think it is because we've never seen one that we really like. My father's deck seems to be alot of work (cleaning, sealing, warping...) granted it is over 20 years old. I know nothing of the recycled wood products though. I"ll think about it, but can already imagine my husband's reaction to the idea - "no". We've had the neighbor's landscaper over here a couple of days to have a look at things and he came up with some really nice plans. He does interlocking concrete pavers. His portfolio has some really nice pictures of his work in it and I've seen some of his patio work at another neighbor's house which looks really nice 2 years after installation. It doesn't hurt that his is a young company that is hungry to do work so his prices seem reasonable... the other paver guys that said he couldn't even imagine anything going in under 10K made me gag (same guy that told me I'd need over 400SF). As for size... once the rain stops I will drag out the hose and see what kind of space I think I'll need to feel comfortable and then add about 10%. Thank you again for all your comments. Andria

I'd ditch the walk in pantry in place of a step in pantry. (Or desperately try to locate it somewhere else, like combining the laundry/mudroom/pantry areas to a larger multipurpose area.) You'd have just about as much space with a step in because you wouldn't be dealing with space wasting corners. And it would open up the kitchen feel and allow the island to be longer and everything else to shift. And, although windows are great, enough space in the right spots in a kitchen is more important. I'd ditch the big window. You need the counter and cabinet space more than the window where it's located. Think outside the box on getting more light into the space. Maybe substitute it with a windowed backsplash or a clerestory window above the cabinets since this is a modern build. I'd also split the freezer from the fridge. It's old fashioned thinking to think they need to be located together when you are using separate units. A freezer is long term storage, like a pantry, while a fridge is accessed almost hourly in the summer for cold drinks. Moving it gives you the landing space for the fridge and the range. Yes, a range. You'd be better off spacewise with a range if you insist on keeping that large pantry in the kitchen. If you need that second oven for entertaining, place it under the counter at the end of the island. You now have room for that since the titanic pantry gets reduced to a more proportionate size. And make the island a single height workspace. It's FAR more useful when it's not split into two different heights. You could even put all of your baking stuff on the opposite side with the oven there and have that be your dedicated baking zone.

Thanks to most of you! Definitely a few negative Nancy's out there, but will pay them no mind ;-) So let's take care of the grandma situation first, since you're all worried about her. The basement is definitely a walkout with a bunch of nice windows. She strongly prefers the ability to have privacy and this was the easiest way to accommodate her. In fact we had originally planned for the multipurpose room to be in the basement and have a first floor space for her but she wasn't interested. Also were quite keen on having the laundry room in the mud room as we will have lots of dirty clothes from working the garden/animals/etc. not worried about hauling laundry from 2nd floor down to first and back. another common theme - the kids rooms. I'm just about certain we'll add 2 feet to the north end of the house to increase size of kiddos bedrooms and family room. @mrspete, thanks much for your idea, it definitely inspired some thoughts around changes we could make. None of them minor unfortunately, but we need to do something... @bpathome - Ty for the note about stuff getting sucked into corners. We'll keep that in mind as we go. @nightowl - an avid home brewer and BBQ (low n slow) guy, we're planning on an outdoor kitchen area between the back of the garage across the north end of the house! @paraveina - you're very perceptive! In fact the architects have worked on commercial projects as well as currently working on a condo complex :). We're a very pragmatic-yet-creative family, desire an open airy feel to our houses and are not too interested in froofy fancy stuff. We are looking to quality finishes, but I wouldn't say luxury,. Lots of hardwood floors, even reclaimed finishes are in the mix. Our builder is very open to sweat equity and we intend to do some work on this project as well. I'd REALLY like to hear any more thoughts you have about our project, of all the repsonses I'd say yours was the most valuable! Thank you :-) @architectrunnerguy - we are very much considering the structure and lot holistically, but thanks for the recommendation. Elevations are getting locked down after floorplans are done. Not sure why the "Nancy's" have has it in for our architects, they've done an excellent job and have worked hard to understand our wants and needs.