Actually, kimmsr answered the question quite well. Root activity is not directly tied to photosynthesis, in that root regeneration and elongation function independently from photosynthesis. Although roots DO benefit from this process during the 'normal' growing season, they are mainly involved as storage organs, stashing away carbohydrates and other plant growth essentials. When the top growth starts to decline in fall, the roots pick up tempo, utilizing all that stored energy accumulated during the growing season. And with this increased focus on root activity as opposed to foliar/shoot/flower activity, the roots continue to absorb and store nutrients from the soil, thereby providing a headstart to spring fertilized plantings. Seasonal physiological and biochemical changes to the roots also also allow them to draw dissolved sugars and amino acids from this nutrient storage that work to increase cold tolerance as well as disease resistance. This increased root activity is why so many gardening activities involving root disruption are recommended to be done in fall rather than earlier when the biological imperative is to produce leaves, flowers or fruits - planting and transplanting, root pruning and both turfgrass and woody plant fertilization.

Our house is in the planning phases. I have my idea/inspiration binder and wish list, and have just started to interview architects. Are you building smaller to compensate? Yes, 2500 sq ft (max), which is small in my area for a nicer home. It is for me, DH and 3 active boys. Current house is a 3100 sq ft walk out ranch, but I'd say 90% of our time is spent on the main level which is maybe 1750 sq ft. So one could argue that we're not building smaller. This will be all on one level except for an "away" or reading loft above the main living area. Are you building with high-efficiency materials (ICFs? SIPs? Other super-insulation techniques)? Yes, depending on what can be delivered on our budget. Looking for the most bang for the buck. ICF or SIPs, geothermal heat/cool, passive solar features, concrete floors, highly insulated windows are all on our wish list. Also the ability to add features later like a wind turbine are important if they eventually would have a reasonable ROI. Want to reuse/repurpose and minimize construction waste whenever possible. Are you building closer to jobs than you otherwise might have, to reduce commuting distances? We are moving to 5 acres just outside of town. It reduces my husband's commute by 5 mins and adds 6 mins to mine. It would be a wash except it adds about 5 minutes to the time it takes to get to the grocery store and to any other in-town errands. I know one family living on five acres conspicuously contributing to suburban sprawl is not green. But there were houses already built (long ago) on either side of our parcel, and the land was not being farmed or anything before we bought it. It's been sitting there waiting for someone to build on it for years (previous owners held onto it but never built) -- so if we don't someone else will. How's that for rationalization! If you are doing any of the things I mentioned, or more / other (and please elaborate!), are you aware of so-called "Peak Oil"? Or are you doing it simply as a good investment (spend money now in the build, to reduce recurring costs)? Never heard of peak oil. We are doing this because it's the right thing to do, and certainly energy costs are not going down. Basically I don't feel a need to heat and cool space that is rarely used. We live a very informal life.

Agree with many posters. Kitchen is fine. I would only switch counters to granite after house has been on market, if view and neighborhood are as good as you say, granite won't make a difference. Someone will buy with a vision for your kitchen. My neighbor is a designer. She said you could get some granite slabs (she gave me this advice) and leave on the counter during showings so people could envision granite in your kitchen. We actually DID do the granite and our house is still sitting so that is why I recommend NOT doing anything until you think it is detracting from the listing. I think the new metal is platinum or copper based on what I hear on the kitchen forum...platinum would look fine with SS but I also say just leave it alone. You can offer a kitchen & appliance allowance of $50k too?

Lots of things to think about, and believe me when I say that I’ve thought of nothing but. Thanks to everyone for all their suggestions / ideas. Lisa, I loved the idea of the pantry, but try as I might, I don’t see it working in my space. It might be okay if I didn’t have the wonky ceiling heights but that limitation really killed it, I think. You have a great pantry and I’m sure that you give thanks for that space on a regular basis. Thanks for sharing the photos, they made it even more difficult to put the idea aside. Laughable, I hear what you’re saying, and I’m using that argument to make it easier to put the idea aside. Sena01, with no pantry effectively bumping the dining room wall closer to the island, there isn’t an issue with the oven or dishwasher or whatever is put in that corner, so it won’t be necessary to close that doorway in. And while we may use the back door to enter the house, it is the entry that you suggest blocking off that we use multiple times every day, so I’m glad it’s not necessary to consider blocking off from a functional perspective. Funkycamper, after all the years that we’ve been in the house, it never occurred to me that there could be some privacy issues with the bathroom off the kitchen. It is tucked away, and after reading your comments I had to go and take a closer look. What I discovered is the way that the bathroom is situated, there is nowhere in the kitchen that you can stand and see anything in the bathroom except for a small sliver of the sink. I guess that’s why it’s never been an issue before! So for the last day I have been playing with each of the layouts that have been suggested. Lisa, I can’t thank you enough for all the time that you must have spent, and all the visuals you’ve given me. I think that adding the charging station to the top of the island is such a good idea. It is such a natural spot for a dumping ground, and it’s so hard to teach an old dog new tricks, don’t you think? I’m not concerned about the distance from the post (42”) as it replaced a much larger one that was there previously. The larger one wasn’t an issue in terms of traffic and at 8x8, the new one is a minor nuisance at best. I spent quite a bit of time figuring out all of the “paths” that I/we would be taking during the course of meal prep, serving, and clean-up. Funkycamper, I laughed out loud when I read your suggestion that we role play "I'm making prepping and making dinner while you're making dessert". I know it was only a “for instance”, but the only dessert DH would make is pouring chocolate sauce over ice cream. I did pay attention to what we actually do together though, and your suggestions make a lot of sense. Lavender Lass, thanks so much for your input. I always admire how your designs make so much sense, so I am sure that I am missing something with this one. Is it because I’m in the space that I can’t see? I can’t understand the reason for putting the fridge and microwave closer to the sunroom. I’m sure I am unduly influenced by my current routines, but when I start playing around with the various layouts, the ones that seem to make the most sense for me are the ones that have the cooktop behind the island. That’s because I will prep at the island, to the right of the sink and from there I can easily turn to tend to anything on the cooktop. It’s the shortest distance from the sink to cooktop when a pot needs to be filled or drained. It also keeps me closer to the better views outside, my coffee and computer in the sun room (for my breaks) as well as to any guests that we may be entertaining. Back to mulling over all of this. I know there has to be a solution in here somewhere!