Goats will eat it and so will rabbits. It is high in protein and also edible although the younger shoots taste better. It also improves your soil by fixing nitrogen but again if you cannot get to the soil that is a problem. I grab it from the roadside here and feed it to my rabbits for free food all summer until it dies back in the fall. I have used the stems as a green mulch for my compost pile. The stories of it immediately sprouting and taking off are just that...stories. Also the root makes a really excellent starch that is considered to be one of the finest in the world and is medicinal to boot so all in all not quite as scary as you would imagine. If you really are looking to get rid of it goats will take it down to nothing in short order. If you heavily graze it it will deplete the root stock eventually as it can be an enormous carbohydrate store so it takes time but will be depleted. I am still looking for people who will let me dig roots on their property and get them out for them. As far as eating kudzu I would recommend the small new shoots as the older stuff is kind of woody and not as palatable. You can eat it like spinach by wilting it in a pan or sauteing in butter.

Thanks for posting that photo. Here's my idea: I moved the fridge to the inner wall, recessing it enough so that its case (not the doors, just the body of the fridge) extends 16.5" into the room. I made the lower cabs next to it 15", with the counter at 16.5" deep so that they dead-end into the side of the fridge cab. That few extra inches of depth will make it easier to make coffee, toast, etc in this area. There are upper cabs above this shallow counter for more storage, something like what you see in the left side of this photo: [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-kitchen-contemporary-kitchen-toronto-phvw-vp~100348) [Contemporary Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2103) by Thornhill Interior Designers & Decorators Avalon Interiors Moving the fridge and recessing it into the laundry/utility room gives you the wider aisle you want plus it moves the fridge out of view from the front door. I moved the range to the opposite end of the counter run and sited it next to the window. The hood will run up against the window molding like this: [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/kitchen-traditional-kitchen-detroit-phvw-vp~1872661) [Traditional Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by Ann Arbor Interior Designers & Decorators Laura Zender Design, Allied ASID Judging by your plan posted above, you should have 12-15" of counter to the left of the range. I moved the sink down the wall, nearly to the opening with just enough room for an 18" DW. 18" European DW hold as much as US 24" DWs so you're not giving up function but you are gaining more space in your small kitchen. Panel the DW to make it disappear. Check the selection of panel ready 18" DW at AJ Madison (see link). You will need to do some trenching in your slab to make this work but you gain a large amount of prep counter between sink and range with a window above. IMO, that is worth the expense. To the right of the DW is a china hutch that looks like a piece of furniture but is built in, something like this: [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/monteverde-residence-traditional-kitchen-los-angeles-phvw-vp~57288) [Eclectic Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/eclectic-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2104) by Pasadena Design-Build Firms HartmanBaldwin Design/Build That gives guests a nice view when they come in the door. You could opt to put shelves above the sink and DW like this: [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/flea-market-trixie-shabby-chic-style-kitchen-phvw-vp~134754) [Eclectic Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/eclectic-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2104) You could also hang artwork, decorative plates, wine rack etc on the wall above the sink and DW: [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/charmean-neithart-interiors-llc-traditional-kitchen-los-angeles-phvw-vp~886242) [Traditional Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by San Marino Interior Designers & Decorators Charmean Neithart Interiors, LLC. Wrapped around the corner on the wall facing the front of the house is a tall shallow pantry that looks like furniture, something like this: [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/showroom-display-traditional-kitchen-boston-phvw-vp~96086) [Traditional Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by Boston Kitchen & Bath Designers Venegas and Company Perhaps you can re-purpose the armoire cabinet that's in the front room already. I put the bench/couch that is in your front room to use, making it a bench for a rectangular table. The two chairs can be placed against the wall next to the china hutch cab when not needed. My goal was to give you a better functioning kitchen while maintaining the charm of your home. In other words, I tried to reduce the utilitarian nature of a kitchen extended into the front room. Here is a link that might be useful: Panel ready 18

Robo, I hope the rest of your LA visit was great and hopefully not too hot for you. Did you see some of the LA Marathon runners? I had looked at the route and noticed it went right by your friend's neighborhood! Mtn, it was great meeting you today! Mtn and I had breakfast at a cafe right on Venice beach. Perfect weather to sit and chat. Enjoy your stay in LA and the rest of your vacation. Let us know how much you "loved" Disney!

Here’s an update from The Philadelphia Preservation Alliance. This is a sad loss for the city. “Update on 239 Chestnut: Sadly, this 1851 historically-certified loft building designed by Stephen Decatur Button suffered catastrophic damage in a fire of undetermined origin early Sunday morning Thankfully, everyone got out and no one was seriously injured. We visited the site this morning with several structural engineers and L&I. Within the building, there is literally nothing left. The roof and all of the floors collapsed and pancaked into the cellar. The rear brick wall remains standing, but is unsupported and in danger of collapse. The first floor front has cast iron columns and trim (backed with masonry), and the upper facade is brownstone clad with stucco. Unfortunately it appears unlikely that the upper portions can be saved as the brownstone is quite brittle and crumbles easily. Further complicating things, the only access to the building is through the front - there is no rear alley access. Our best hope based on what we know to this point is that the building may be re-built someday to match the old, including the original cast iron front. Sadly, one of the finest blocks of historic buildings in Philadelphia will be compromised for a long time to come.”