Long term ash

[RyanH0802]

What do all of you do for a long term ash solution? We have a coal bucket now and have been taking out the coals and ash and putting them in the bucket. Once cool we just spread the ashes in the yard. What do you do for a long term ash storage solution?

 

[jetsam]

We have pine trees everywhere, so we have acidic soil, so composted ashes make a great garden fertilizer for us.

If your soil is already alkaline, you might want to do something else with the ash.

 

[CentralVAWoodHeat]

Check out this thread:

https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/plastic-bucket-of-ashes-on-the-deck-cost-300-000.151661/

Some good ideas on what and what not to do.

 

[claydogg84]

Mine goes in a metal bucket for a week, and then in the trash can.

 

[begreen]

Our lilacs love wood ash. A little bit gets spread on garden beds too, except for berry beds.

 

[Sconnie Burner]

Mine goes in a metal bucket for a week, and then in the trash can.

X2 using an old 5 gallon metal pail (old stain bucket) that goes oitside between fillings. I time it so when its 3/4ish full I will let it sit for 3+ days, check it cautiously by hand for hot coals, dump into a hd trash bag and let it sit fo another day or to in a snow bank. Then into the can on garbage pick up day. (Repeat process about every 2 weeks)

 

[blacktail]

I dump them in the woods at the back of my property. They might get dumped right away, or the bucket may sit on my BBQ for awhile. Just depends on when I feel like walking back there.
Been meaning to spread them on my front yard as a moss inhibitor.

 

[RFarm]

I spread mine in the veggie garden. Most of it soaks in by the time spring planting rolls around and whatever is still left on the top of the soil gets worked in. Besides adding a bit of alkalinity to the soil, ash also provides important nutrients and minerals such as calcium (for strong fruit setting), phosphorus, nitrogen, and potash to name a few. The left over charcoal a.k.a biochar will enrich the soil for years by enabling soil fauna and beneficial bacteria to colonize around it - this increases the breakdown of organic matter making it more readily available for absorption by the plants roots system. I find leafy greens and everything in the nightshade family really love the addition of ash to the soil. I also use a lot of wood chips and chicken manure in the garden - everything seems to be working in harmony - the bounty seems to double every season.

 

[Wood Duck]

First stop from the stove is an ash can, then it gets spread. I spread mine out over the property. Some goes in the garden, some in the woods, etc. I have alkaline soil so I don't want to add too much to any one place, but with more than an acre, I can spread it pretty thin and see no adverse effects.

 

[xman23]

From the metal can in the yard, mine goes out back in the woods. There was about a three foot diameter hole that I've been dumping in for 15 years.

 

[BrotherBart]

There was about a three foot diameter hole that I've been dumping in for 15 years.

 

[kennyp2339]

Be careful dumping ash into gardens, some wood species ash is actually poison, The one I know for sure in walnut ash, my neighbor found out the hard way 2 years ago, we did a soil test and sent it to rutgars for analysis, that's when he found out it was the walnut ash that did his garden in.

 

[firefighterjake]

Ash gets dumped into a 5 gallon bucket outside located away from combustibles. Every so often (maybe once every other week) I dump the ashes either into a low spot out in the woods or in the winter I spread it on my icy gravel driveway.

I've thought about trying to mix it with portland cement and make a bust of BrotherBart . . . but I'm just not that talented.

 

[Jags]

I wait for a windy day and then do a sweeping pitch into the air over lawn and/or farm land.

 

[edyit]

after sitting in the bucket long enough to be out some of it finds a home in the wifes raised flower beds, some of it finds a home in the front yard under the big cedar tree and if needed some of it goes in the driveway when its slippery

 

[mellow]

All ashes go into a metal bucket, when that is full I dig a hole in the garden and dump them in the hole and cover it. I then rototill all of it in the spring and my garden seems to like it.

 

[ToltingColtAcres]

spread 'em on my gravel driveway, mixes right in.

 

[RyanH0802]

I ended up getting a 20 Gallon metal trash can yesterday and that's where the coals and ash goes. We use our wood stove to heat the house so we have to empty a few times a day. Goes from the ash bucket right out to the ash can outside about 5 feet from the house.

 

[firefighterjake]

I ended up getting a 20 Gallon metal trash can yesterday and that's where the coals and ash goes. We use our wood stove to heat the house so we have to empty a few times a day. Goes from the ash bucket right out to the ash can outside about 5 feet from the house.

What do you have for a woodstove that you have to empty the ashes a few times a day? My woodstove typically heats 90-95% of my heating needs so I burn 24/7 in the winter and even then I'm only emptying my ash pan once every 3 or 4 days . . . I don't think I've heard folks who have woodstoves without ash pans even empty the ashes more than maybe once a day if that.

 

[jetsam]

It takes me a couple months to fill a ~5 gallon ash bucket when I am burning 24/7.

 

[blades]

ashes go in 30 gallon metal trash cans until spring- I.m at the 45 gallon mark now. 2 or 3 weeks? there are still live coals in that.

 

[LocustBurner]

I just got one of these and it works really well.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...2&tag=foresitechno-20&linkId=4JEHVN3ITIZRTMAR

Always let my ashes sit until cool on river rock surrounding pavers and then dump around garden area.

 

[Tumpin' Wood]

The path to our place is up an icy hill. I spread them on the ice for traction especially if we have guest coming.

 

[NoGoodAtScreenNames]

Every day when I'm able to get outside for a leisurely stroll in the yard, I grab a handful and put it in my pocket. I ripped a hole in the pocket so I can slowly release it down my leg and kick it around with my foot without much fanfare. I figure I'll have it all out of here in about 15 years.