I loved hearing how many other older gardeners are still working away at their own gardens. I am "only" 66, and tend 4 acres with the help of my now retired husband. After fighting through many medical problems we are both enjoying good health and trying to catch up with the work that was left undone. I run an organic cut flower business where I sell flowers from my garden made up into bouquets at streetside stands. Every year I ask myself if I still want to do this and just can't imagine summer without sharing the beauty with my small community. I have around 200 roses, of all types, including a section of English roses, another of "Freelander" outdoor cutting roses purchased from Palatine, and my own personal front garden filled with roses and other flowers...no lawns, just flower beds with grass paths between. My other passion (And its growing by leaps and bounds!) is dahlias. I grow 190 different ones and sell both tubers and cut flowers. I do this all organically...only concession is a copper dormant spray to the roses in late winter IF I Can get hubby to do it. I have found the best solution for me is to purchase the right roses to begin with. Here on our very acid glacial till, and often chilly, gray weather, I have found that Kordes roses on multiflora rootstock, purchased from Palatine, keep the joy in gardening for me. Jackson and Perkins grafted (Dr Huey) roses never took well but these newer ones are nearly always healthy and sometimes incredibly wonderful! Still trying with some of the older ones but as they die off and are removed I am replacing them with these wonderful new and fragrant varieties that thrive here. And my Drs have all said, what ever you are doing, keep on doing it!

generally silicone is used to install granite counters and backsplashes. it seems to me unlikely that the oil came through a 2 - 3 cm stone top in one day. were you watching the install? I'm thinking that perhaps some glue got on the top surface of the granite -- and while it may have been wiped off, the residual is now showing. best bet is to call the adhesive manufacturer and see what they say. typically stains are removed from granite using a poulstice -- which you'll find at the big box stores -- but you ought to call the glue manufacturer to see what they suggest.

I have a Waste King 3/4 hp batch feed disposal which is 9 years old, and I have never had one problem with it. I grind all sorts of things including banana peels, chicken bones, pineapple skins (though not the pineapple top), and have been doing so since it was installed. Also note the excellent reviews on the OP's link above. Nerdyshopper - Waste King offers long warranties for in-home service. My 3/4 hp disposal has a 10-year warranty. The 1 hp Waste King that MizLizzie linked has a lifetime in-home warranty. Why didn't you make use of your Waste King's warranty? To anyone considering the Waste King L-8000 1 hp continuous feed disposal linked by the OP, make sure to note its dimensions. A 1 hp disposal will be large, so make sure it will fit under your sink with your sink's plumbing. This post was edited by akchicago on Mon, Oct 13, 14 at 19:07

Great websites, thanks! Regardless the source, it is a fact that radon does/may exist in Granite. I guess it goes along with carrying too much weight even though we know the risks. Driving over the speed limit even though it is proven to increase many dangers to ourselves/others. Spending hours in the sun even though we know the risks. Or even taking drugs/medications even after reading the warnings. I guess you have to weight how important each item is to making us healthy/happy. One example....the "healthy house" in our area that selected materials based on health...air/heat based on health, applicances based on health, paint based on health, lighting based on health....logistics of rooms based on health....and granite counter tops (hmmmmmmmmmm).