sand/clay from my yard - useful?
 

Hi again,

yesterday I started a project I'd been putting off for a while. To
explain, I guess I need to give some background - we bought this house
about a year and a half ago. The previous owners were very ecologically
minded and the entire yard is covered with inches of dark, rich
decomposed mulch- great stuff. About 20 years' worth, to be exact, and
the previous owners also planted some really great plants and flowers.
However, they apparently did not understand the concept of proper
grading - all around the house the grade level sloped in toward the
house. I graded the side yard last year when we had an A/C unit
installed, but the front still wasn't done. Yesterday I decided to
start on the south side of the front yard, because it was all infested
with chickweed anyway. I just shaved off the first inch or so and
tossed it on the compost pile and then started grading. I got down
another inch or two and hit the *original* "soil" which appears to be a
sand/clay mix. So what I ended up doing was moving the topsoil out of
the way, digging up some of the sand/clay and removing it, and then
putting the topsoil back, mixing it with a little of the sand/clay to
give it a little body. i figure that will make even better soil for
planting.

Question is, what do I do with the excess sand/clay that I removed? I
do have plans at some vague point in the future to put in some flagstone
walkways, can I just save this stuff for that? If the answer is
"maybe," how do I evaluate it to see whether it's suitable or not? If
it's not, how the hell do I get rid of it? I've had a hard enough time
getting rid of the "good stuff" where I've wanted to do so, I assume I'd
have to pay someone to haul off simple fill, but I don't know where to
start.

thanks,

nate

--
replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.
http://members.cox.net/njnagel

sand/clay from my yard - useful?
 

Nate Nagel wrote:

Hi again,

yesterday I started a project I'd been putting off for a while. To
explain, I guess I need to give some background - we bought this house
about a year and a half ago. The previous owners were very ecologically
minded and the entire yard is covered with inches of dark, rich
decomposed mulch- great stuff. About 20 years' worth, to be exact, and
the previous owners also planted some really great plants and flowers.
However, they apparently did not understand the concept of proper
grading - all around the house the grade level sloped in toward the
house. I graded the side yard last year when we had an A/C unit
installed, but the front still wasn't done. Yesterday I decided to
start on the south side of the front yard, because it was all infested
with chickweed anyway. I just shaved off the first inch or so and
tossed it on the compost pile and then started grading. I got down
another inch or two and hit the *original* "soil" which appears to be a
sand/clay mix. So what I ended up doing was moving the topsoil out of
the way, digging up some of the sand/clay and removing it, and then
putting the topsoil back, mixing it with a little of the sand/clay to
give it a little body. i figure that will make even better soil for
planting.

Question is, what do I do with the excess sand/clay that I removed? I
do have plans at some vague point in the future to put in some flagstone
walkways, can I just save this stuff for that? If the answer is
"maybe," how do I evaluate it to see whether it's suitable or not? If
it's not, how the hell do I get rid of it? I've had a hard enough time
getting rid of the "good stuff" where I've wanted to do so, I assume I'd
have to pay someone to haul off simple fill, but I don't know where to
start.

You probably don't have enough material for a "Free clean fill" sign to
work, but calling a few local landscapers might find one that needs a
small amount of fill for a project they're working on who would be
willing to pick it up.

sand/clay from my yard - useful?
 

"Nate Nagel" wrote in message

Question is, what do I do with the excess sand/clay that I removed? I do
have plans at some vague point in the future to put in some flagstone
walkways, can I just save this stuff for that? If the answer is "maybe,"
how do I evaluate it to see whether it's suitable or not? If it's not,
how the hell do I get rid of it? I've had a hard enough time getting rid
of the "good stuff" where I've wanted to do so, I assume I'd have to pay
someone to haul off simple fill, but I don't know where to start.

There are always people looking for clean fill. I often see signs in yards
"clean fill wanted" You just have a logistics problem to get it from your
place to theirs. Try putting an ad in a local free shopper paper and you
may get some takers.

sand/clay from my yard - useful?
 

Edwin Pawlowski wrote:
"Nate Nagel" wrote in message

Question is, what do I do with the excess sand/clay that I removed? I do
have plans at some vague point in the future to put in some flagstone
walkways, can I just save this stuff for that? If the answer is "maybe,"
how do I evaluate it to see whether it's suitable or not? If it's not,
how the hell do I get rid of it? I've had a hard enough time getting rid
of the "good stuff" where I've wanted to do so, I assume I'd have to pay
someone to haul off simple fill, but I don't know where to start.


There are always people looking for clean fill. I often see signs in yards
"clean fill wanted" You just have a logistics problem to get it from your
place to theirs. Try putting an ad in a local free shopper paper and you
may get some takers.



You'd think, but no. Even the topsoil, which I've been giving away, has
been a hassle with all but a few people. I'd put an ad on Craigslist
and people would want me to load and deliver 50 miles away. All I want
is someone to show up, help me shovel it into my truck (that way they
can see what they're getting and I won't be completely worn out,) and
then I'll drive it to their house, but apparently that's too much work
for some people...

nate

--
replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.
http://members.cox.net/njnagel

sand/clay from my yard - useful?
 

"Nate Nagel" wrote in message
...
Edwin Pawlowski wrote:
"Nate Nagel" wrote in message

Question is, what do I do with the excess sand/clay that I removed? I do
have plans at some vague point in the future to put in some flagstone
walkways, can I just save this stuff for that? If the answer is "maybe,"
how do I evaluate it to see whether it's suitable or not? If it's not,
how the hell do I get rid of it? I've had a hard enough time getting rid
of the "good stuff" where I've wanted to do so, I assume I'd have to pay
someone to haul off simple fill, but I don't know where to start.


There are always people looking for clean fill. I often see signs in
yards "clean fill wanted" You just have a logistics problem to get it
from your place to theirs. Try putting an ad in a local free shopper
paper and you may get some takers.

You'd think, but no. Even the topsoil, which I've been giving away, has
been a hassle with all but a few people. I'd put an ad on Craigslist and
people would want me to load and deliver 50 miles away. All I want is
someone to show up, help me shovel it into my truck (that way they can see
what they're getting and I won't be completely worn out,) and then I'll
drive it to their house, but apparently that's too much work for some
people...

Where are you?

sand/clay from my yard - useful?
 

Tomes wrote:

"Nate Nagel" wrote in message
...

Edwin Pawlowski wrote:

"Nate Nagel" wrote in message

Question is, what do I do with the excess sand/clay that I removed?
I do have plans at some vague point in the future to put in some
flagstone walkways, can I just save this stuff for that? If the
answer is "maybe," how do I evaluate it to see whether it's suitable
or not? If it's not, how the hell do I get rid of it? I've had a
hard enough time getting rid of the "good stuff" where I've wanted
to do so, I assume I'd have to pay someone to haul off simple fill,
but I don't know where to start.



There are always people looking for clean fill. I often see signs in
yards "clean fill wanted" You just have a logistics problem to get
it from your place to theirs. Try putting an ad in a local free
shopper paper and you may get some takers.


You'd think, but no. Even the topsoil, which I've been giving away,
has been a hassle with all but a few people. I'd put an ad on
Craigslist and people would want me to load and deliver 50 miles
away. All I want is someone to show up, help me shovel it into my
truck (that way they can see what they're getting and I won't be
completely worn out,) and then I'll drive it to their house, but
apparently that's too much work for some people...

Where are you?


falls church, VA - about 10 miles from DC

nate

--
replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.
http://members.cox.net/njnagel

Been there and done that.
 

"Nate Nagel" wrote in message
...
Edwin Pawlowski wrote:
"Nate Nagel" wrote in message

Question is, what do I do with the excess sand/clay that I removed? I do
have plans at some vague point in the future to put in some flagstone
walkways, can I just save this stuff for that? If the answer is "maybe,"
how do I evaluate it to see whether it's suitable or not? If it's not,
how the hell do I get rid of it? I've had a hard enough time getting rid
of the "good stuff" where I've wanted to do so, I assume I'd have to pay
someone to haul off simple fill, but I don't know where to start.


There are always people looking for clean fill. I often see signs in
yards "clean fill wanted" You just have a logistics problem to get it
from your place to theirs. Try putting an ad in a local free shopper
paper and you may get some takers.

You'd think, but no. Even the topsoil, which I've been giving away, has
been a hassle with all but a few people. I'd put an ad on Craigslist and
people would want me to load and deliver 50 miles away. All I want is
someone to show up, help me shovel it into my truck (that way they can see
what they're getting and I won't be completely worn out,) and then I'll
drive it to their house, but apparently that's too much work for some
people...

Been there, done that. I grew a surplus amount of vegetables, offered them
free to friends, particularly those with low income, pick the fruit or pull
the vegetable and it is yours, free.

That was too much trouble or work, they wanted me up pick, wash and deliver.
No way, I'll let it rot, and they can pay store prices.

Been there and done that.
 

EXT wrote:
"Nate Nagel" wrote in message
...
Edwin Pawlowski wrote:
"Nate Nagel" wrote in message

Question is, what do I do with the excess sand/clay that I removed? I do
have plans at some vague point in the future to put in some flagstone
walkways, can I just save this stuff for that? If the answer is "maybe,"
how do I evaluate it to see whether it's suitable or not? If it's not,
how the hell do I get rid of it? I've had a hard enough time getting rid
of the "good stuff" where I've wanted to do so, I assume I'd have to pay
someone to haul off simple fill, but I don't know where to start.

There are always people looking for clean fill. I often see signs in
yards "clean fill wanted" You just have a logistics problem to get it
from your place to theirs. Try putting an ad in a local free shopper
paper and you may get some takers.
You'd think, but no. Even the topsoil, which I've been giving away, has
been a hassle with all but a few people. I'd put an ad on Craigslist and
people would want me to load and deliver 50 miles away. All I want is
someone to show up, help me shovel it into my truck (that way they can see
what they're getting and I won't be completely worn out,) and then I'll
drive it to their house, but apparently that's too much work for some
people...

Been there, done that. I grew a surplus amount of vegetables, offered them
free to friends, particularly those with low income, pick the fruit or pull
the vegetable and it is yours, free.

That was too much trouble or work, they wanted me up pick, wash and deliver.
No way, I'll let it rot, and they can pay store prices.


Chuckle. Some folks at my office, evidently now retired, used to sneak
in early and leave bags of veggies on people's desks. Some were good,
some not so much, but I appreciated the thought. Once in a blue moon,
now, there will be a bag of veggies left in the break room.

--
aem sends...

sand/clay from my yard - useful?
 

"Nate Nagel" ...
Tomes wrote:
"Nate Nagel" ...
Edwin Pawlowski wrote:
"Nate Nagel"

Question is, what do I do with the excess sand/clay that I removed?
I do have plans at some vague point in the future to put in some
flagstone walkways, can I just save this stuff for that? If the
answer is "maybe," how do I evaluate it to see whether it's suitable
or not? If it's not, how the hell do I get rid of it? I've had a
hard enough time getting rid of the "good stuff" where I've wanted
to do so, I assume I'd have to pay someone to haul off simple fill,
but I don't know where to start.



There are always people looking for clean fill. I often see signs in
yards "clean fill wanted" You just have a logistics problem to get
it from your place to theirs. Try putting an ad in a local free
shopper paper and you may get some takers.


You'd think, but no. Even the topsoil, which I've been giving away,
has been a hassle with all but a few people. I'd put an ad on
Craigslist and people would want me to load and deliver 50 miles
away. All I want is someone to show up, help me shovel it into my
truck (that way they can see what they're getting and I won't be
completely worn out,) and then I'll drive it to their house, but
apparently that's too much work for some people...

Where are you?


falls church, VA - about 10 miles from DC

bummer - too far...worth a shot tho
Tomes in NJ

Been there and done that.
 

Try http://www.freecycle.org/ ; the rules there are you offer it free
and the taker picks it up.

Una

Been there and done that.
 

On Sun, 23 Mar 2008 19:04:46 -0400, "EXT"
wrote:


"Nate Nagel" wrote in message
...
Edwin Pawlowski wrote:
"Nate Nagel" wrote in message

Question is, what do I do with the excess sand/clay that I removed? I do
have plans at some vague point in the future to put in some flagstone
walkways, can I just save this stuff for that? If the answer is "maybe,"
how do I evaluate it to see whether it's suitable or not? If it's not,
how the hell do I get rid of it? I've had a hard enough time getting rid
of the "good stuff" where I've wanted to do so, I assume I'd have to pay
someone to haul off simple fill, but I don't know where to start.


There are always people looking for clean fill. I often see signs in
yards "clean fill wanted" You just have a logistics problem to get it
from your place to theirs. Try putting an ad in a local free shopper
paper and you may get some takers.

You'd think, but no. Even the topsoil, which I've been giving away, has
been a hassle with all but a few people. I'd put an ad on Craigslist and
people would want me to load and deliver 50 miles away. All I want is
someone to show up, help me shovel it into my truck (that way they can see
what they're getting and I won't be completely worn out,) and then I'll
drive it to their house, but apparently that's too much work for some
people...

Been there, done that. I grew a surplus amount of vegetables, offered them
free to friends, particularly those with low income, pick the fruit or pull
the vegetable and it is yours, free.

That was too much trouble or work, they wanted me up pick, wash and deliver.
No way, I'll let it rot, and they can pay store prices.


My friend tells me the story of his grandfather. Up at dawn, they have
breakfast. Out in the garden/farm; my friend just wants to play and do
no work!

At lunch, he gets a glass of sweet iced tea. His pappy told him, if
you don't grow it you don't eat!

He is one on the hardest workers I know today :)