Craig,
I've certainly seen that here in Ohio. I think it's also the same 'Snow
traction" product the road dept uses in areas where they don't use salt ( or
in bad winters when they run out of salt!). I always thought it was
limestone but never really checked on it since I live near where they make
haydite.
Dale Cochoy, Wild Things Bonsai Studio, Hartville, Ohio
http://www.WildThingsBonsai.Com
Specializing in power wood carving tools.
Yakimono no Kokoro bonsai pottery of hand-built stoneware
----- Original Message -----
From: "Craig Cowing"
To: "dalecochoy"
Cc:
Sent: Friday, November 05, 2004 11:07 AM
Subject: [IBC] Help: locating coarse sand as a soil component




dalecochoy wrote:

snip

That's why bonsai soil is $30-60 a bag!! I'd
sooner shot myself in the foot than pay that!! When the day comes that
I
can't mix up my own soil....It'll be time to drop out of bonsai :)
Regards,
Dale


I've been using a product from Quickrete called "Patio Paver Sand" which I
found at
Home Depot. A 50 lb. bag is something like $4 or so. It is a fine gravel
used for
putting under patio bricks. Sifting it out I lose maybe 25-30%. The
remaining
gravel has sharp edges (I know that's not established as a plus) and is a
pleasing
gray color. I think the stone is probably slate or basalt. I'd recommend
it as a
good, useful and inexpensive inorganic component fo bonsai soil to be used
in
conjunction with Turface.

Craig Cowing
NY
Zone 5b/6a Sunset 37
Back safe on the east coast where the ocean is on the right side.



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