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4paws
Hoopa, CA
(Zone 8b)
December 27, 2006
4:44 PM Post #3028849
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And that's the question.
Any tricks in removing ash with the least amount of dust?
Thanks!
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WUVIE
Hulbert, OK
(Zone 7a)
January 12, 2007
10:17 PM Post #3078607
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Hi Paws,
Our woodburning stove has a long tray in the bottom. I
always make certain to check and dump it before it gets so
full that I have to be overly careful.
Honestly, I've always dumped ours in the flower beds, evenly
shaking the tray on various plants. I try to do it in locations with
crummy soil, usually this takes place in the winter, anyhow, so by
spring it is gone from the soil surface.
Of course, we live in the country on a bit of land, so we can
dump it anywhere. One night, it was terribly windy. As I was walking
to the front of the yard to sprinkle it on the Hollyhock rows, the wind
blew a great deal of it into my face, the wind whipped all over and
it was a disaster.
I ended up just turning the tray upside down and I'll be darned if the
wind did not pick it up, toss it over the fence and that was that.
Needless to say, I had to take an immediate shower.
KM
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Murmur
Whidbey Island, WA
(Zone 7a)
January 12, 2007
10:23 PM Post #3078622
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I just very, very, very carefully shovel small amounts at a time into a box or bag (trying to 'set' it into the container as opposed to 'dumping' it). If I'm patient, it works fairly well. And then I head to the flower beds.
Wuvie, that's a very funny story!!! And it could just as easily been me!!!! |
4paws
Hoopa, CA
(Zone 8b)
January 13, 2007
1:00 AM Post #3078955
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Oh, WUVIE, I may not have done it with ash, but I'm sure I've done something like that with something. How about with stoking the flames with my breath-I've occasionally forgotten to turn away when I inhale deeply. lol One of these days, I'm going to burn my nose hairs off (not just suck in ash!)...
:-)
Murmur, doesn't the box or bag start on fire? In the winter, my stove is rarely hot-coal free. I put it into a metal bucket. |
Murmur
Whidbey Island, WA
(Zone 7a)
January 13, 2007
10:39 AM Post #3079470
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4Paws, I too use a metal bucket if I'm cleaning it in the winter - duh . . . should have mentioned that! And I hate to admit it, but I don't clean it nearly often enough!!!! It's overdue now, though, because of the six power outages we've had which required constant use of the stove! . . . where did I put that bucket anyway? |
4paws
Hoopa, CA
(Zone 8b)
January 13, 2007
12:41 PM Post #3079830
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Wow..six! So far, so good here. Only a couple of short ones. |
Murmur
Whidbey Island, WA
(Zone 7a)
January 13, 2007
9:23 PM Post #3081461
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Our outages ranged from 12 hours to 36 hours, but were short compared to some of the folks in the Pacific Northwest - some actually went as long as eight days!! I'd have moved in with my brother by then (his son and dil were already staying there because of the outage, but there's still a couple little rooms with beds!). |
4paws
Hoopa, CA
(Zone 8b)
January 13, 2007
11:07 PM Post #3081837
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Wow...a generator would be in order. Ours was less than $300 at Costco last year and was plenty to power up the tv, lights, heater fan (no woodstove last year; I had in reinstalled in November), computer (except the last long outage - 4 or 5 days - the phone went out as well).
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Murmur
Whidbey Island, WA
(Zone 7a)
January 13, 2007
11:22 PM Post #3081883
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I confess - we do indeed have a generator (I think we paid $500 for it - on sale - at Sears when we first moved here in 2002). I always called it DH's 'boy toy' until this year!!! So we didn't lose any meat or frozen foods, could watch tv and have lights - couldn't use it for our heat pump, though (not sure why, DH knows about those kinds of things). I don't hook up the computer because it takes too many and too long cords to get to it. |
4paws
Hoopa, CA
(Zone 8b)
January 13, 2007
11:25 PM Post #3081894
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Ah...so you didn't suffer too much! :-) Power outages were the only times I could get a game of backgammon or scrabble going. :-)
I don't think the DH learned how to use the generator. I had lived with one as backup for solar for several years, so had it's use in my memory. Tiny house, too, so no problem reaching everything. I also keep every extra bit of space in my freezer(s) full of jugs of ice, so that meltdowns are staved off for longer periods. |
Murmur
Whidbey Island, WA
(Zone 7a)
January 13, 2007
11:34 PM Post #3081979
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Sometimes I wish the generator wouldn't power the TV - a break from its constant noise would be just fine!
Good idea about the jugs of ice - I have plenty of room in the big freezer and will try to remember to do that. Thanks! |
cpartschick
Gladwin, MI
(Zone 5a)
February 8, 2007
2:57 PM Post #3169924
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I just found this thread. We put our ashes in a bucket and spread them on our gravel driveway. Our driveway in on a pretty good incline and the ashes help melt some of the ice buildup and gives traction. Works well. We have had a couple weeks of subzero and buildup of small snow squalls, one inch at a time. This would make the driveway one slippery hill but with the ashes we have no problems. Better than salt or sand! |
4paws
Hoopa, CA
(Zone 8b)
February 8, 2007
3:34 PM Post #3170011
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Good idea.
:-)
No ice here, though (yippee!) |
pepper23
KC Metro area, MO
(Zone 5b)
February 8, 2007
8:49 PM Post #3170744
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4Paws, sending ice your way. LOL. Our ice can't melt fast enough and now we have more ice AND snow coming in. |
4paws
Hoopa, CA
(Zone 8b)
February 8, 2007
10:45 PM Post #3171004
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I think you just might be! It got quite cold and it's raining like crazy, but please, no ice...please?
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pepper23
KC Metro area, MO
(Zone 5b)
February 9, 2007
9:33 PM Post #3173844
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LOL. Welllllllllllll, just a little. |
4paws
Hoopa, CA
(Zone 8b)
February 10, 2007
12:00 PM Post #3175086
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Ok, it can stay in my freezer... Or maybe a patch over peonies or something that likes to have a freeze before it flowers.
We got ice this winter, not just snow, which is acceptable (I never thought I'd say this, but I prefer snow over rain). Since I'm from much colder places, I didn't believe we were in as warm a zone as others have said and didn't have much out that needed protection. This year I have other plans, so I hope this freeze thing isn't going to be a habit. I fear it will be - our planet is changing.
Claypa suggestion spritzing the ash before scooping it. That's a good suggestion if the ash is already cold. |
ncjsgram
Barrington, IL
(Zone 5a)
February 12, 2007
2:32 PM Post #3181815
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if you have lilac bushes, they love wood ash. as a matter of fact, any plant that needs potassium would love wood ash. |
4paws
Hoopa, CA
(Zone 8b)
February 12, 2007
3:46 PM Post #3182063
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Great, lilacs get the next pail! |
marionr
Mena, AR
(Zone 7a)
March 1, 2007
1:51 PM Post #3237856
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My husband removes the ashes and put them out in the holes we have in different areas of the property.Then I take them after I think there are no more hot coals and put them into my chicken run...the chichens love to dust bathe in them...Just make sure all the coals are out...like next day. The chickens really love them. I also save some for my garden area and spread them on top of the tilled garden. This is suppose to help the ph factor in the soil. |
4paws
Hoopa, CA
(Zone 8b)
March 1, 2007
2:37 PM Post #3237981
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ah...something to remember when I get to have chickens!
Thanks! |
Magpye
NW Qtr, AR
(Zone 6a)
March 1, 2007
2:59 PM Post #3238041
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Wood ashes contain phosphorus and potassium, which you know are two very important nutrients. But too much wood ashes in the garden will alter your soil pH. Five pounds of wood ash can raise soil pH in a 100 square foot garden by half a point. So raising the pH could make the soil too alkaline, impeding plant growth. Definitely do not add wood ashes to a garden that has acid-loving plants, such as rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias.
In any other part of the garden, only apply 1-2 pounds of wood ashes per 100 square feet of garden in the late winter. Ex: a one-pound coffee can holds about one pound of wood ashes.
- - -
More ..
| Quoted: | | A fertilizer for the yard and garden. Wood ash contains 10-25% calcium, 1-4% magnesium, 5-15% potassium and 1-3% phosphorus. This makes it a good (0-2-10) fertilizer for the garden. The types of wood you burn does play a role in the amount of nutrients it contains. Hardwoods generally produce 3 times more ash that contains 5 times more nutrients than softwoods. Ash will temporarily change (increase) the pH of garden soil, so you should only use it sparingly and not at all if your soil pH is already over 7.0. Two pounds of wood ash equals about 1 pound of ground limestone. When used as a fertilizer, wood ash should be applied at least two months before high nitrogen fertilizers because it promotes the loss of nitrogen from ammonia-based fertilizers. Don't use wood ash on acidic-loving plants like rhododendron, blueberries or azaleas and don't add wood ash to the compost pile. |
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And a few more 'uses', for ya ..
* Create your own ash metal polish, by mixing four tablespoons baking soda with two cups of wood ashes. Add a small portion to just enough water to make a paste. With a damp sponge, rub onto stainless steel, chrome, silver, or gold plating. Rinse and dry.
* As a glass cleaner. Wood ash is a key ingredient in lye soap. It can be mixed with a bit of water (or dabbed on a damp sponge) and used to clean dirty fireplace doors.
* As an insect repellant. Sprinkle small amounts around the perimeter of your garden to deter slugs and snails.
* As a spot remover on wood furniture. Mix it in with a small amount of water until you create a paste. Rub over rings left by water glasses or hot beverages, and follow up with a furniture polish. Test on a small area first.
* As traction. In the winter, sprinkle wood ash on slippery walkways or driveways to improve traction. Wipe your feet before going inside, because the ashes will easily track indoors.
- Magpye
This message was edited Mar 6, 2007 9:54 AM |
4paws
Hoopa, CA
(Zone 8b)
March 1, 2007
4:08 PM Post #3238241
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Great, Magpye. I've got a bucket of ash and water on the deck with the shovel in it, just inviting me to stir it occasionally, and I was thinking it would probably be a good cleaner/polish for some surfaces. |
pkock
Springboro, OH
(Zone 5b)
March 6, 2007
1:05 AM Post #3252800
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If you had the true pioneer spirit, you could put them in a barrel, run rainwater through it, and make lye to use with rendered beef fat to produce soap. :-)
But no...I don't want to do that either. :-) I collect 'em in a metal bucket and, when I'm sure there aren't any hot embers, I dump it in a trash bag. Eventually it goes into the compost pile.
I did a similar thing to WUVIE earlier this winter when we had lots of snow and ice. I went out and scattered the ashes at the foot of our driveway to improve traction. It worked great, but in the process the wind blew the ashes all over me and my coat. My coat's this cheapy vinyl thing that looks great but isn't supposed to be washed or dry cleaned. I tried wiping it but that didn't work, it just smeared the ashes around. I ended up putting it in the washer anyway, and it's fine, but nowhere near as thick and warm anymore. Oh well! |
4paws
Hoopa, CA
(Zone 8b)
March 6, 2007
11:39 AM Post #3253734
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If I had a reason for lye soap, I guess I would make it. :-)
Getting the ash all over me would be about how it would work at my end, as well...lol very coordinated. |
barryz
Tukums
(Latvia)
(Zone 4b)
March 17, 2007
9:38 AM Post #3291685
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If you are keen, you can use old vacuum cleaner - DH uses it also for cleaning stove channels. If you can let the stove really cool off, it is safe way (no sparkles alive) and there are no dust at all then. |
4paws
Hoopa, CA
(Zone 8b)
March 18, 2007
8:15 AM Post #3294439
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Yes, that's how I will clean it when the fire is over for the season. :-) Thank you.
I used to use my shop vac for such jobs, but it blows so much dust back into the house, and my dogs do enough of that without me adding to it... :-) |
hoopsguy99
West Townsend, MA
April 4, 2007
10:17 AM Post #3354895
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To all - when i clean out my stove and shovel the ash into a bucket. I have the vaccuum running sucking up the excess dust and ash just over the rim of the bucket. Keeps the area cleaner then normal.
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4paws
Hoopa, CA
(Zone 8b)
April 4, 2007
10:59 AM Post #3355056
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That's a good idea...'cept somewhere along the line, one (well, it was probably a team effort) of my many four pawed residents thought the hose was much too fun to leave alone... :-) |
DottyPotter
May 10, 2007
1:51 AM Post #3482032
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hello - I'm from sunny South Africa and love reading all the entries by wuvie and the rest - so funny to listen to your stories and think this is all happening so very far away and yet sounds like it could easily be next door. Except of course when you mention your major stores and brand names - then i realise i'm in another world entirely. Good to hear so many of you so eco friendly. Just a quick question - you keep mentioning a DH - what is that? I pick up its your better half or other half but what exactly does the DH stand for?
I use my wood ash in the garden too, can anyone tell me where clay soil is on the ph scale - is it acidic or alkaline? We use our invader species trees for firewood and some of them are really hard wood - which is a bonus when it comes to burning for winter. Just getting Neil (my husband) to chop the stuff is not easy.
later then.
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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4paws
Hoopa, CA
(Zone 8b)
May 12, 2007
12:43 AM Post #3488942
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Hi Dotty, thank you for joining us from so far away. I don't know the clay soil answer, but DH refers to "dear husband," DW, dear wife, and so on. It took me a little while to catch on.
That's some fish!
The wood I like best here I have a nearly unlimited supply of - it's an invader species, as well - Black Locust. It also makes what are called "100 year fence posts."
I've still got two buckets of ash on the deck, with water from rain, waiting to be dumped. They sure are heavy when water is added. :-)
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pepper23
KC Metro area, MO
(Zone 5b)
May 13, 2007
3:57 PM Post #3493592
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That fish needs to be shown off in the Hunting and Fishing Forum. That is a nice one. :~) |
DottyPotter
May 16, 2007
3:08 AM Post #3502531
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Thanks - Thats my DH's latest catch - caught it off a fishing ski - not sure if you can see it in the picture but its similar to a paddle ski but with a fishing hatch in the middle to store your caught fish. We still have some in the freezer!! Its the best eating fish on our coast. Will try to find the fishing forum you mentioned and post it there.
later |
