I just received a message from Al today saying that he is in fact banned from GW. If you can think of anything positive to mention in this bid to get Al reinstated at GW. Where Is Al ? would you consider adding your voice?

I post here and mostly on the Perennials Forum (and a few others) mainly to hear about others' experiences with whatever problem or question I'm currently having. I've been gardening for a very long time and I still consider myself to be a newbie, which is why gardening is my favorite thing to do. It's always new and challenging, and all it takes to wipe out my countless failures is the thrill of some small victory or discovery. The friendly advice and encouragement I've received from other posters at GW has been prieless, and it can't be found in any textbook gardening books. No question of mine has ever been too stupid to receive at least one patient and understandable response from someone. The connection to a great group of people who share my love of gardening and who understand and share their excitement of a problematic plant that begins to flourish under their care, and the sadness of losing one. Those who post their pictures - their victories - inspire me and give me new ideas. I don't think of that as "bragging" at all, but rather sharing their successes (and they also post their failures, too) with others who appreciate them. For many reasons, for me it's a good place

First, I'd like to say Thank You for the compliments! Second, in answer to the original question, I used to enjoy coming in here because like others, I like to share my knowledge, and often learn, too. I've always found herbs fascinating, and there's always something new to learn. Third, one of the reasons I stopped posting here was because of the bias in attitude of some contributors. While it IS a herbalism forum, there are very few here who are qualified to give treatment advice. I found this to be of great concern. Anyone who has read any of my posts will know that I am an advocate of herbal medicine. They will also have realised that I do not hesitate to recommend seeking more conventional medical help in serious, or chronic, cases. I believe that there should be a balanced approach, and to be fiercely blinded to one or the other form of treatment is downright dangerous. I found the bias towards alternative medicine here to be a little TOO strong. To me, it is as if some people have completely shut their minds to the fact that herbal medicine is not always the magic wand they want it to be. There are several reasons for this - herbal medicine is not an exact science when it comes to dosages; it usually takes longer for results to show; some conditions are so serious or life-threatening that herbal medicine just won't do the job required; and worst of all (to my way of thinking) there is an immense risk in using herbs for conditions which are self-diagnosed. Sadly, many herbalists are able to prescribe a particular herb for a particular condition, but they are lacking in the ability to diagnose in the first place. That is why I advise people to take advantage of practitioners on both sides of the fence. Get your diagnosis, then get informed about the alternatives you have, then make an informed choice. In answering specific questions, I can (often) say that X herb is good for X condition. I cannot tell you for sure if you have X condition, or something else. I cannot tell you the correct dosage for YOU (though I can (often) tell you the usual dosage for Mr or Mrs Average). I will, whenever relevant, mention that herbs have a down-side as well as an up-side. Some people object to that, demanding that we only tell them what they want to hear - the good side. Some people also object to the very idea of conventional treatments - where, in my view, conventional and herbal treatments can go very well hand-in-hand. I still browse through here from time to time. I haven't replied to questions recently because I'm rather too wrapped up in my own health problems (I've been ill for about 18 months with only one end in sight) to be concerned about the health problems of others. Call that selfish if you will, but that's how it is. It doesn't stop me talking about herbs in general over on the Herbs Forum. Meantime, I urge all participants in this Herbalism Forum to keep an open, balanced mind, and to be courteous to each other and respecting of views other than their own. Remember, too, that some people come in here in desperation, looking for a miracle. Be gentle with them.

No one sees how big the basement is and, in my area, basement size is not considered part of the square footage for assessment purposes. What neighbors will notice is the height and width of your house-especially as viewed from the front. A house will smaller street frontage will appear smaller than a house of the same sq ft. area with greater street frontage. I don't know what you plan to cook on the griddles, but I can make perfect eggs and pancakes on *gasp* a large frying pan. So spend more time thinking about what you'll actually need for your family. With kids, you'll want a separate table for eating and lots of horizontal counter or table space for those school projects. You also might want counter space reserved for computer(s) to more easily observe your kids online activities. I'd make sure you've got those first. As to cooking appliances, it might be that separate wall ovens and cooktop/rangetop will fit your needs and space better so consider those options, too.