Uses for multi fuel stove ash

A._Badger

Avoid coal ash. It contains, as others have said, a lot of potential nasties- including a variety of heavy metals. It's certainly not something you would want on fruit and vegetables.

Just for the record, All wood ash is not created equal. It depends on the variety of tree and the age and type of the wood being burned. It also has the effect of making soils more alkaline, which needs to be borne in mind if you are thinking of using it near ericaceous subjects. It also needs to be used with care on clay soils as it can tend to increase 'stickiness'.

I'd use it (and do) around fruit bushes as a light top dressing but on the whole I agree with Lotus-eater: I'd tend to compost most of it.

Jolaaled

Thanks so much for all the info.

I think, on balance, as i burn both coal and wood in about equal amounts (and at the same time, mostly), I won't risk putting the ash on the veggie plot.
Do you think it would be ok on the compost..would the dodgy metals be neuralised??

if not...are there any other uses for my sackfuls???...or shall i just dump it?

thanks again everyone.

Sally_A

My dad used to use it to grit the path, drive and road outside our home, so don't chuck it until the snow/ice risks have passed.

emiff6

cootambear wrote: »

I`ve read that on average male urine is slightly less acidic (better). However, since urinary pH varies mainly due to diet (eating cranberries will send it sky high), and your compost heaps acidity will depend on whatever else you have thrown in there, it isnt much of a concern. Not worthy of asking male guests to pee in a bottle lol!

Though I do know as a man, that peeing is good for my nuts.

I did read that if you shake it, male urine froths, and female urine doesn't. Don't know if that's urban myth.... or beer!

Jolaaled

Sally_A wrote: »

My dad used to use it to grit the path, drive and road outside our home, so don't chuck it until the snow/ice risks have passed.

Thanks...i'll try it, however, my new multi-fuel stove is very efficient and the resulting ash is very very fine..almost dusty...not like the gritty stuff my old open fire used to make! That would have been great for the ice.

A._Badger

Jolaaled wrote: »

Thanks so much for all the info.

I think, on balance, as i burn both coal and wood in about equal amounts (and at the same time, mostly), I won't risk putting the ash on the veggie plot.
Do you think it would be ok on the compost..would the dodgy metals be neuralised??

if not...are there any other uses for my sackfuls???...or shall i just dump it?

thanks again everyone.

I'm afraid the nature of some of the chemicals involved (particularly the metals) means they almost certainly wouldn't be neutralised by the composting process.

You're better off getting rid of them with the domestic rubbish, sadly.

That said, Sally A is right - they can be very useful on icy paths!

A._Badger

Jolaaled wrote: »

Thanks...i'll try it, however, my new multi-fuel stove is very efficient and the resulting ash is very very fine..almost dusty...not like the gritty stuff my old open fire used to make! That would have been great for the ice.

Yes, mine too. I should have remembered you'd said a stove. It's like powder.

You might find, as it warms up that a wood fire alone is sufficient. I find I only use smokeless fuel/coal in the really cold phases, and the rest of the time can use wood on its own. If you did the same, you could certainly use the ashes then - just a thought.

Lotus-eater

emiff6 wrote: »

????? Why??

Because it is. DYOR, Or believe CB, up to you.

cootambear

Lotus-eater wrote: »

Because it is. DYOR, Or believe CB, up to you.

lighten up pusssycat

cootambear

emiff6 wrote: »

I did read that if you shake it, male urine froths, and female urine doesn't. Don't know if that's urban myth.... or beer!

As I understand it, womens urine is sourced straight from the bladder, whereas males takes a route through the reproductive system as well eg the prostrate, thus it can pick up some ehem proteins on the way.

Urine collection was once a very big business, used in vast quantities for the dye industry. Redheads got paid twice as much because theres was thought to be twice as potent.