I already have a compost bin on my allotment but wonder if there is any
need for a garden incinerator as well? I'm referring to those small
galvanised metal bins with holes in them and a lid on top with a small
chimney.

What exactly are they used for? Apart from burning say, perennial weeds
such as bindweed, I cannot see why I don't chuck stuff straight onto the
compost heap and let it compost there.

Does anyone here use one?

Ed

Are you thinking of the heaters they sometimes use in citrus groves?
They keep the fruit from freezing.

Here in so cal I don't think open fire is a good idea....

"Ed" ex@directory wrote in message
...

I already have a compost bin on my allotment but wonder if there is any
need for a garden incinerator as well? I'm referring to those small
galvanised metal bins with holes in them and a lid on top with a small
chimney.


No use that I know of.

What exactly are they used for? Apart from burning say, perennial weeds
such as bindweed, I cannot see why I don't chuck stuff straight onto the
compost heap and let it compost there.

Does anyone here use one?


They are good for annoying the neighbors and turning organic matter into smoke
and ash where its use is much more limited.

Some weed seeds will survive composting unless your compost pile is hot. This
takes more effort than a cold pile.

David

"David Hare-Scott" wrote in message
"Ed" ex@directory wrote in message

I already have a compost bin on my allotment but wonder if there is any
need for a garden incinerator as well? I'm referring to those small
galvanised metal bins with holes in them and a lid on top with a small
chimney.

No use that I know of.

I find a use for our "incinerator". Posh word for something that is
actually an old and quite rusty 44 gallon drum with the top and bottom cut
out. It has a very rough 8 inch square hacked out on one side and shoved
inwards so I can shove some kindling and a fire lighter inside to set it
going and it has a series of slots hacked into it with a tomahawk all the
way round the base. I use it to burn blackberry brash, fruit tree prunings,
weeds I can't be bothered to lug to the trailer or can't fit into it and a
variety of other things. It lives in the orchard which is about a quarter
of an acre and serves as the chook's day yard. At this time of the year
when it's perishing outside, there is nothing like a burn off of stuff.

On Thu, 7 Aug 2008 17:31:52 +1000, "FarmI" ask@itshall be given
wrote:

I find a use for our "incinerator". Posh word for something that is
actually an old and quite rusty 44 gallon drum with the top and bottom cut
out. It has a very rough 8 inch square hacked out on one side and shoved
inwards so I can shove some kindling and a fire lighter inside to set it
going and it has a series of slots hacked into it with a tomahawk all the
way round the base. I use it to burn blackberry brash, fruit tree prunings,
weeds I can't be bothered to lug to the trailer or can't fit into it and a
variety of other things. It lives in the orchard which is about a quarter
of an acre and serves as the chook's day yard. At this time of the year
when it's perishing outside, there is nothing like a burn off of stuff.

If the fruit tree branches are organic, they make great smoking
material for slow BBQing. Or good rabbit chews depending upon the
tree. Apple is best.

In article ,
"FarmI" ask@itshall be given wrote:

"David Hare-Scott" wrote in message
"Ed" ex@directory wrote in message

I already have a compost bin on my allotment but wonder if there is any
need for a garden incinerator as well? I'm referring to those small
galvanised metal bins with holes in them and a lid on top with a small
chimney.

No use that I know of.

I find a use for our "incinerator". Posh word for something that is
actually an old and quite rusty 44 gallon drum with the top and bottom cut
out. It has a very rough 8 inch square hacked out on one side and shoved
inwards so I can shove some kindling and a fire lighter inside to set it
going and it has a series of slots hacked into it with a tomahawk all the
way round the base. I use it to burn blackberry brash, fruit tree prunings,
weeds I can't be bothered to lug to the trailer or can't fit into it and a
variety of other things. It lives in the orchard which is about a quarter
of an acre and serves as the chook's day yard. At this time of the year
when it's perishing outside, there is nothing like a burn off of stuff.

Burn cans are illegal throughout our county. Very annoying. I recommend
the following constitutional ammendment:

"A well regulated garden being necessary to the securing of a tidy yard,
the right of the People to keep and use burn-cans shall not be infringed."

-paghat the ratgirl
--
visit my temperate gardening website:
http://www.paghat.com
visit my film reviews website:
http://www.weirdwildrealm.com

"FarmI" ask@itshall be given wrote in message
...

At this time of the year
when it's perishing outside, there is nothing like a burn off of stuff.



This is for those who have fun on a small scale. Round here they are likely
to set fire to a few hundred acres. Quaint custom. Gets rid of weeds in the
pasture you know. Gets rid of lots of organic material and nitrogenous
compounds too that would be better off in the soil. But it's cheap. And fun.
Unless you have asthma.

David

"David Hare-Scott" wrote in message
"FarmI" ask@itshall be given wrote in message

At this time of the year
when it's perishing outside, there is nothing like a burn off of stuff.

This is for those who have fun on a small scale. Round here they are
likely
to set fire to a few hundred acres.

:-)) That is why we burn now and not in a couple of months time. I'd be as
popular as a rat in a pantry if I set fire to either our pasture or the
neighbours.

Quaint custom. Gets rid of weeds in the
pasture you know.

Hmmph. I'd say that is pure ********. Weeds love a good clear soil to
resprout into. Sounds to me like you have some lazy farmers near you.

Gets rid of lots of organic material and nitrogenous
compounds too that would be better off in the soil. But it's cheap. And
fun.

Do they leave knuckle marks in the soil as they walk?

"paghat" wrote in message
"FarmI" ask@itshall be given wrote:

I find a use for our "incinerator". Posh word for something that is
actually an old and quite rusty 44 gallon drum with the top and bottom
cut
out. It has a very rough 8 inch square hacked out on one side and shoved
inwards so I can shove some kindling and a fire lighter inside to set it
going and it has a series of slots hacked into it with a tomahawk all the
way round the base. I use it to burn blackberry brash, fruit tree
prunings,
weeds I can't be bothered to lug to the trailer or can't fit into it and
a
variety of other things. It lives in the orchard which is about a
quarter
of an acre and serves as the chook's day yard. At this time of the year
when it's perishing outside, there is nothing like a burn off of stuff.

Burn cans are illegal throughout our county. Very annoying. I recommend
the following constitutional ammendment:

"A well regulated garden being necessary to the securing of a tidy yard,
the right of the People to keep and use burn-cans shall not be infringed."

LOL. Bet there would be more than an even chance of getting that
Constitutional amendment up.

BTW, love the few bits of your site I've looked at so far.

"Ed" ex@directory wrote in message
...

I already have a compost bin on my allotment but wonder if there is any
need for a garden incinerator as well? I'm referring to those small
galvanised metal bins with holes in them and a lid on top with a small
chimney.

What exactly are they used for? Apart from burning say, perennial weeds
such as bindweed, I cannot see why I don't chuck stuff straight onto the
compost heap and let it compost there.

Does anyone here use one?


We burn all diseased plant material. It doesn't go into our compost heap
but the ashes do.

Are ashes too basic for compost piles? I've heard they are since
people used them in the past to make the alkaline part of soaps. just
wondering.

thanks,
Simon


On Aug 8, 5:09 pm, "Marie Dodge" wrote:
"Ed" ex@directory wrote in message

...



I already have a compost bin on my allotment but wonder if there is any
need for a garden incinerator as well? I'm referring to those small
galvanised metal bins with holes in them and a lid on top with a small
chimney.

What exactly are they used for? Apart from burning say, perennial weeds
such as bindweed, I cannot see why I don't chuck stuff straight onto the
compost heap and let it compost there.

Does anyone here use one?

We burn all diseased plant material. It doesn't go into our compost heap
but the ashes do.

On Aug 10, 3:43 pm, Simon wrote:
Are ashes too basic for compost piles? I've heard they are since
people used them in the past to make the alkaline part of soaps. just
wondering.

thanks,
Simon

On Aug 8, 5:09 pm, "Marie Dodge" wrote:

"Ed" ex@directory wrote in message

...

I already have a compost bin on my allotment but wonder if there is any
need for a garden incinerator as well? I'm referring to those small
galvanised metal bins with holes in them and a lid on top with a small
chimney.

What exactly are they used for? Apart from burning say, perennial weeds
such as bindweed, I cannot see why I don't chuck stuff straight onto the
compost heap and let it compost there.

Does anyone here use one?

We burn all diseased plant material. It doesn't go into our compost heap
but the ashes do.

I've heard master gardeners discourage the use of ashes in composting
and gardening. At the same time, I ran a wood furnace for years, and
added all the ashes to my compost pile. When the proportion of ash to
grass clippings and leaves is very low, you shouldn't have a problem.
If ash comes up as a noticeable percentage of the composted material,
consider using it on icy sidewalks rather than in your compost.

"Simon" wrote in message
...
Are ashes too basic for compost piles? I've heard they are since
people used them in the past to make the alkaline part of soaps. just
wondering.

I'm sure they add to the alkalinity but so far we haven't had any problems
with PH. We also use sulphur and Ironite in the spring before planting. And
a 10-10-10 for veggies plus whatever organic matter accumulated over the
winter. That gives all the plants rich green leaves and the tomatoes and
peppers set fruit like crazy.


thanks,
Simon


On Aug 8, 5:09 pm, "Marie Dodge" wrote:
"Ed" ex@directory wrote in message

...



I already have a compost bin on my allotment but wonder if there is any
need for a garden incinerator as well? I'm referring to those small
galvanised metal bins with holes in them and a lid on top with a small
chimney.

What exactly are they used for? Apart from burning say, perennial
weeds
such as bindweed, I cannot see why I don't chuck stuff straight onto
the
compost heap and let it compost there.

Does anyone here use one?

We burn all diseased plant material. It doesn't go into our compost heap
but the ashes do.

"dyogi" wrote in message
...

I've heard master gardeners discourage the use of ashes in composting
and gardening. At the same time, I ran a wood furnace for years, and
added all the ashes to my compost pile. When the proportion of ash to
grass clippings and leaves is very low, you shouldn't have a problem.
If ash comes up as a noticeable percentage of the composted material,
consider using it on icy sidewalks rather than in your compost.

Or spread them over your lawn in a thin layer. Ash is minerals and too
valuable to send to the dump. We don't have tons of ash, just from our
fireplace and outdoor fire-bin when we burn anything that may be diseased.

"dyogi" wrote in message
On Aug 10, 3:43 pm, Simon wrote:
Are ashes too basic for compost piles? I've heard they are since
people used them in the past to make the alkaline part of soaps. just
wondering.

I've heard master gardeners discourage the use of ashes in composting
and gardening.

Hmmm. I don't think I'd respect anyone who said not to use ashes in the
garden. In compost then maybe, but as you pointed out, it's fine but not in
huge quantities.

Ash, soot and biochar are all good things to use in the garden.