...the 55 gallon drum of ash, that is. Mostly maple, some oak, a bit of birch, and a pinch of pallet wood. This is after 2 1/2 months of 24/7 burning. Maybe 10% of that is from the shop furnace (haven't been heating the shop much).
Time to empty the ash bin...
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I've been collecting my ash in my little Webber grill. When it's full I dump it on the compost pile.
Get another drum... Winter JUST begun.
If you don't have that much of that white stuff around, use a spreader to put it on your lawn/garden.
If you don't have that much of that white stuff around, use a spreader to put it on your lawn/garden.
I just emptied my 5 gallon asphalt pail. Been burning on/off since October. 24/7 since about Thanksgiving.
albertj03 said:
Wait for the next big snowfall and dump it in the woods (waiting at least two weeks after the last "deposit").
PJF1313 said:
I have more drums. #2 is in use now. Can't put it in the garden or driveway. Lots of nails from pallet wood (used in the shop furnace). It's just go in the woods after the next snowfall.
Peter SWNH said:
Ahhh - those good ole tire killers.. It's always the one that you didn't get out finds its way into the newest tire - never fails!!
I guess you are also looking for a cool, white place "out in the lower 40" to get rid of them ashes ;-)
Good thing that those drums aren't that heavy, relatively speaking.
PJF1313 said:
Nope. Got that covered also. Rolling magnetic sweeper. Need it for the dross left over from cutting all those pallets!
I'd do some research about putting ashes in your compost pile or on your garden. It is very alkaline. It will cause your compost to not brake down properly. Some soil is acidic and small amounts would be good.. It will probably be a negative rather than a positive. Compost that is not balanced will actually take away from your garden soil. Dont take my word for it, do a Google search....
Peter SWNH said:
HOLY COW! 55 gallons already?
My guess is that we have maybe 1/3 that amount or less. Are you just taking out ash or perhaps you are also removing some of the coals?
westkywood said:
Thanks for the input. I'll make sure to not overdo it. Around here all soil is highly acidic (red clay). We spend a lot of money adding powdered lime and gypsum every year to prevent blossom end rot on the tomatoes (and just get things to grow in general). Sounds like I should put it straight in the soil instead of the compost though. Need to keep it away from the blueberries!
pyper, you are right. We store all our ash until spring and spread it thin just before tilling. As long as you don't just dump it on the ground you should be okay....but just dump it in a pile and you have problems. Yes, do not put it on the blueberries. lol
Backwoods Savage said:Peter SWNH said:
HOLY COW! 55 gallons already?
My guess is that we have maybe 1/3 that amount or less. Are you just taking out ash or perhaps you are also removing some of the coals?
Whatever falls thru the grate into the ash pan get dumped. Some pea sized coals, but they finish burning up to fine ash in the bin.
Early season it goes on the lawn...now the snow is down I put it on the garden and will soon dump it along the road in the snowbanks...
This time of year my ash goes on the icy driveway . . . but then again I don't have any pallets with nails in them.
I have put a bunch in my compost pile- no issue. Spread on the garden or lawn- very cool. Driveway- done that too. made pottery glazes out of it. Bucked a deerskin in it. Used it as a cleaner/degreaser. Used it to kill plants.
Monks used to put it on food to reduce the flavor so as to not invoke "gluttony" by enjoying their food. Think I'll skip that use.
Monks used to put it on food to reduce the flavor so as to not invoke "gluttony" by enjoying their food. Think I'll skip that use.
55 gallons of New Hampshire wood ash? That's a lot of radioactive waste you've got there!
http://burningissues.org/radwaste1.html
http://burningissues.org/radwaste1.html
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