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Soil, Compost & Mulch

How do you handle/dry bunches of UCG's

12 years ago

I know some of you have come up with super inventive ways of handling the big bags (trash bags) of grounds. I would love to devise a semi-drying/separating filters from grounds plan. Sometimes I just dump and spread a bit, other times I dump on a big scrap of landscape shade fabric, then can easily pull/drag them where I want when some of the excess fluid has drained.

So, your methods! Mine leave a lot to be desired. I'd like to keep it simple. But more than that, I don't ever want to not have these. So wonderful.

Thanks,

Rosie

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Comments (6)

Molex 7a NYC
12 years ago
I dry mine on old storm window screens in the sun, I don't remove the filters until they are dry.
rosiew
Original Author
12 years ago
MoleX - brilliant! A question about the screens. Are they stronger/sturdier than regular window screens? The ones I have on my house seem flimsy. I was thinking of elevating to get air movement from below too - maybe cutting a 4x4 to put screen on.

I've been removing filters while still wet - super messy. I'll definitely do it your way.

Thanks much. Anyone else?
Rosie
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terrene
12 years ago
Some screens are made of a fiberglass mesh that is very lightweight and tears fairly easily, whereas others are made of aluminum mesh and this material is much sturdier (and a bit more expensive). In any case, I wouldn't use actual working screens for this project, maybe some throwaways. You could maybe try a finer gage hardware cloth, and elevate it so the grounds could filter through.

I used to use UCGs as a layer in lasagne beds, filters and all.
Molex 7a NYC
12 years ago
Yes, I lay the screens on a 2x4 scrap lumber frame in the sun, I don't pile it so high it pushes down on the screen, I do my 30lb bags from DD in 3 batches over the course of a week or two. These are indeed old and discarded screens, otherwise a strong hardware cloth on a simple frame would work perfectly.

I use the extra storm window frames and and windows themselves on the Veg beds early in the spring to form an A frame to help in the heating up of the soil.

I got 4 window/screen sets from a neighbor who got new windows last fall.
totallyconfused
12 years ago
I've been putting mine in wet, filter and all. Am I doing something wrong? I only put in what I generate at home, so it's never more than 7 or 8 a week.

Thanks,
Totally Confused
rosiew
Original Author
12 years ago
Really appreciate y'all's comments. I'm not composting these but strewing them on soil. Well. I am composting some, mixing with chopped leaves, grass clippings and urine but primarily spreading on my gardens, flower and vegetable and shrubbery.

totallyconfused, you're doing it right for a compost pile.

I'm dealing with a lot of grounds, getting at least nine trash bags a week. Each bag contains 25 - 30 filters and grounds. That's why I'm hoping for a 'PLAN' to handle effectively. Meanwhile happily shrewing them around on my organic material limited soil. Also trying to evaluate what is doing better growth-wise. Have been doing this since late November 2010. No plans to ever stop. Haven't had enough yet to start top dressing my lawn.

Rosie

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