Hi Kousa: You mean beneficial bacteria? Beneficial bacteria are plenty in yogurt like L. Acidophillus (also added to horse feed). Beneficial bacteria are in healthy soil and in horse manure. One example is Bacillus thuringiensis, an organism fatal to caterpillars but perfectly safe for plants and other animals. Some horse manure contain beneficial nematodes (added by the stable) to control flies population. Midge is between a gnat and a small fly. Horse manure, IF it has beneficial nematodes, is effective for midge-control. Most stables have a "free heap" of manure, so the public can help themselves, without permission. The stable in my small village has a horse-manure pile the size of a 2-story house. FUNGAL DISEASES are: Blackspots, mildew, rust, canker, gray mold, and powdery mildew. Any type of mushroom is also a fungi. Fungi does not like extreme alkalinity, like pH above 8. Baking soda pH is 8.3, and is used against black spots. Fungi grows best at neutral to acidic soil above pH 4. I researched on agricultural midge, or swede midge. Experiments at Cornell University stated, " Laboratory results indicated that extremely dry and extremely wet soil hinders swede midge emergence. Optimal moisture content for swede midge emergence was from 25 ��" 75 %, and varied in different soils." Cornell University recommends crop rotation, but that's not possible with roses. That explains why I don't have rose midge in my rock-hard clay. My heavy clay is sticky-wet when it's rained, and rock-hard when dry. 15 minutes from me is Cantigny rose park, with 1,200 roses. They use zero mulch, just bare dirt. But when people mulch with bark, that retains optimal moisture level longer for midge germination. More from Cornell University: "These results suggest that cultural practices, such as flooding fields during non-cropping periods to achieve 100% soil moisture level or even DRYING THE SOIL, may be viable methods to reduce swede midge emergence. Similarly, swede midge populations and damage are expected to be REDUCED when saturated soil or drought conditions occur." eHow recommended that for rose midge, removing the top soil, and putting new soil in late season will stop midge from germinating next year. That's what I do in zone 5a for winter-protection: I dump new soil in late fall, to protect my roses. The bagged soils here are alkaline clay, pH near 8, makes it impossible for any insects to thrive. Two of my 55+ roses had rose midge early spring, since I did not dump alkaline soil this past winter. It's just fluffy potting soil, which holds the ideal moisture for midge germination. I flooded the soil repeatedly, plus our week-long heavy rain killed all the midge larvae by early summer. Conclusion: Midge doesn't like soil too wet, nor too dry .. and sticky alkaline clay does just that. From a University Extension, I learned the midge hatch from the top 1 to 2" of soil, so removing the top surface of soil helps. One lazy way is dust a thin layer of wood-ash, its extreme alkalinity would kill any midge larvae, and disease-causing fungi. From Missouri Botanical Garden "Rose midges are microscopic insects that can blacken and kill rosebuds and leaves. The destructive, whitish maggots usually hatch after the first bloom cycle and rasp tender plant tissue as they feed, causing leaves and blossoms to blacken and shrivel. An unchecked, heavy infestation can eliminate bloom from late spring to early fall. After feeding, the larvae drop to the soil, pupate, and emerge as reddish or yellowish brown flies within a week. To control this pest, remove and destroy affected flower buds and leaves as soon as you spot midge damage." Here is a link that might be useful: Cornell University on midge

would be interested in if anyone installed raw concrete and their experiences with it.

Shortly after we built our previous house in 1981, we installed a sun tunnel in our windowless bathroom. We used the Solatube brand. It was just what they call a daylight system. It did not have a light or vent added on. It was great. We sold that house quiet a few years ago but during the time we had the Solatube we never had any issues with it. We loved having the Solatube so much, that when my daughter bought a home with windowless bathroom, we had a Solatube installed in their bathroom as a house warming present for them. Theirs is also a daylight system. Most days you do not even need to turn a light on in their bathroom. At night if the moon is out you get a nice soft night light too. My DD's bathroom is only 76x61 plus the tub alcove area. She has 2 four inch recessed lights in the ceiling and has a 24" wide rectilinear bath bar over her vanity mirror. She does not feel the need for any additional light in her bathroom. Here picture taken during the day without any of the bathroom lights turned on The link below is for the brand we both used. Solatube

My island is 4 x 9 and it's a centerpiece of the kitchen. I have a large sink (the only one in the kitchen) in it, and the range is pretty much across on the counter run. I have 4 ft of counter to the left of the sink (prep zone), and 2 ft of counter to the right (cleanup zone). Pretty much all prep happens to the left of the sink, counter space around the range is just landing space or quick staging. Here's my kitchen: https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/5405111/four-years-and-two-babies-laterthe-kitchen-is-finally-almost-ready#22641193 I think you will find the utility of your kitchen reduced if there is no water source on your main prep space. I've heard people advocate passionately for a "large, open prep space" but I haven't yet found a way to prep without water, and it seems like a hassle to have to constantly cross the aisle to wash, to prep, and to move to the range. Try to re-enact your typical meal prep sequence and see what you think. We had no problem finding a 9+ ft long slab. I will say that islands wider than 4 ft seem like a hassle to clean. I am nearly six feet tall, and I don't really clean but on occasions that I do, I can't reach to the other end of the island, and it's a pain to have to walk around it to clean it.