Over the years, I have seen people put signs up giving away free dirt, but
now when I want some, I don't know where to find it.

I have a long-term need for free "decent" dirt, and by decent I just mean
not filled with trees, concrete, junk, or whatever.

It does not have to be top soil, which I think is the cream of the crop, and
I doubt that would be free anyway.

It has to be delivered, and they can probably dump 100 to 500 huge trucks
worth, and I would still need more for what I want to do.

It's not a critical project, so it's not worth my paying for.
It's also not in a location where many people travel so a sign won't reach
out very far.

If I put an ad in craigslist, I am not sure what to ask for.

Is just 'free dirt' enough?
Or does the type of dirt I want have a name that the people who need to get
rid of theirs needs to know (I don't want junky dirt, for example).

On 10/25/2016 10:12 AM, Algeria Horan wrote:
Over the years, I have seen people put signs up giving away free dirt, but
now when I want some, I don't know where to find it.


"Clean fill wanted". Specify you don't want to pay for it and it must
debris free, must be delivered.

On Tue, 25 Oct 2016 08:12:59 -0700, Algeria Horan wrote:

Over the years, I have seen people put signs up giving away free dirt, but
now when I want some, I don't know where to find it.

I have a long-term need for free "decent" dirt, and by decent I just mean
not filled with trees, concrete, junk, or whatever.

It does not have to be top soil, which I think is the cream of the crop, and
I doubt that would be free anyway.

It has to be delivered, and they can probably dump 100 to 500 huge trucks
worth, and I would still need more for what I want to do.

It's not a critical project, so it's not worth my paying for.
It's also not in a location where many people travel so a sign won't reach
out very far.

If I put an ad in craigslist, I am not sure what to ask for.

Is just 'free dirt' enough?
Or does the type of dirt I want have a name that the people who need to get
rid of theirs needs to know (I don't want junky dirt, for example).

Ask for "Clean Fill"

If there are any large construction projects in your area, you can stop and talk to the site supervisor and
ask if they need to dispose of any surplus clean fill. Most projects either need clean fill or need to
dispose of it.

A couple of years ago we developed a five acre site we have owned for many years here on the coast. We had to
get rid of 70,000 yards (a lot of dirt), we found a developer who was building a local shopping center and he
needed 100,000 yards. We struck a deal, we split the transportation costs and it worked out well for both
parties. If we hadn't been able to work it out, we would have had to send it to the local dump which would
have cost a fortune.

It is all about timing.

On Tue, 25 Oct 2016 08:12:59 -0700, Algeria Horan
wrote:

Over the years, I have seen people put signs up giving away free dirt, but
now when I want some, I don't know where to find it.

I have a long-term need for free "decent" dirt, and by decent I just mean
not filled with trees, concrete, junk, or whatever.

It does not have to be top soil, which I think is the cream of the crop, and
I doubt that would be free anyway.

It has to be delivered, and they can probably dump 100 to 500 huge trucks
worth, and I would still need more for what I want to do.

It's not a critical project, so it's not worth my paying for.
It's also not in a location where many people travel so a sign won't reach
out very far.

If I put an ad in craigslist, I am not sure what to ask for.

Is just 'free dirt' enough?
Or does the type of dirt I want have a name that the people who need to get
rid of theirs needs to know (I don't want junky dirt, for example).

A lot depends on where you live. In SW Florida I had an excavation
contractor dig my in ground pool, back fill, regrade the yard and haul
away the dirt, for the dirt.

In ,
Stormin' Norman typed:
On Tue, 25 Oct 2016 08:12:59 -0700, Algeria Horan
wrote:

Over the years, I have seen people put signs up giving away free
dirt, but now when I want some, I don't know where to find it.

I have a long-term need for free "decent" dirt, and by decent I just
mean not filled with trees, concrete, junk, or whatever.
. . . ,
If I put an ad in craigslist, I am not sure what to ask for.
. . . ,

Ask for "Clean Fill"

If there are any large construction projects in your area, you can
stop and talk to the site supervisor and ask if they need to dispose
of any surplus clean fill. Most projects either need clean fill or
need to dispose of it.
. . . ,

I agree in general. Always keep checking the local construction projects.
They are often looking for a close-by place to dump the fill dirt for free.

Also, go to the "For Sale" section of your local Craigslist website and do a
search for "fill dirt" (without the quotation marks). You will see lots of
ads -- some are free, some want money, some will also deliver for free, etc.
And, keep checking every week because new ads pop up all the time. For
example, one such ad just popped up in my area about a week ago wanting to
deliver free fill dirt on October 24 when they were going to be doing
excavating.

As far as your Craigslist ad, I would say to just state Fill Dirt Wanted (or
Free Fill Dirt Wanted) in the title along with a town location in the title.
Don't add other words in the title -- just those words and the town
location. Craigslist allows you to put a map location in your ad, so you
could add that along with a marker on the map showing the general location.

And, of course, include in the text of the ad that you want it delivered for
free along with any other info about HOW it can be delivered. For example,
many times the dirt delivery option is via Tri-Axle Truck (as seen in many
of the Craigslist "Fill Dirt" ads). Most Tri-Axle Truck deliverers do not
want to go over curbs or sidewalks etc. to make the delivery because they do
not want the liability for any damage caused by the heavy vehicles. So, if
your delivery of free dirt won't involve them have to worry about that, it
would be a plus.

On Tue, 25 Oct 2016 12:20:41 -0400, wrote:

A lot depends on where you live. In SW Florida I had an excavation
contractor dig my in ground pool, back fill, regrade the yard and haul
away the dirt, for the dirt.

A local pool builder here, often has ads on CL giving away free fill
dirt and free delivery. Just to get rid of it.

On Tue, 25 Oct 2016 13:10:48 -0700, Oren wrote:

A local pool builder here, often has ads on CL giving away free fill
dirt and free delivery. Just to get rid of it.

There is a local pool company, lifetime pools, which I think I can ask them.

Thanks for the great idea!

On Tue, 25 Oct 2016 12:23:00 -0400, TomR wrote:

I agree in general. Always keep checking the local construction projects.
They are often looking for a close-by place to dump the fill dirt for free.

Also, go to the "For Sale" section of your local Craigslist website and do a
search for "fill dirt" (without the quotation marks). You will see lots of
ads -- some are free, some want money, some will also deliver for free, etc.
And, keep checking every week because new ads pop up all the time. For
example, one such ad just popped up in my area about a week ago wanting to
deliver free fill dirt on October 24 when they were going to be doing
excavating.

I don't think I want to pay because it's just that I want to fill in a big
hollow that isn't hurting anything being a hollow, but it could take fifty
of those big trucks and barely make a dent.

So I'll just have it filled in, over time, which will take decades, but my
point is that I can take all the "clean fill" they got. The main problem is
gonna be spreading it around, if a lot of trucks come, as I don't have a
dozer.

Anyway, if I do end up paying, what's a good rate for clean fill?
(I probably won't pay - but I'm just curious in case it comes up.)

As far as your Craigslist ad, I would say to just state Fill Dirt Wanted (or
Free Fill Dirt Wanted) in the title along with a town location in the title.
Don't add other words in the title -- just those words and the town
location. Craigslist allows you to put a map location in your ad, so you
could add that along with a marker on the map showing the general location.

That sounds like a great idea to keep it simple and allow a map to show
where it is since their cost is in the driving, and I live out of the way on
a long 5 mile dead end road.

And, of course, include in the text of the ad that you want it delivered for
free along with any other info about HOW it can be delivered. For example,
many times the dirt delivery option is via Tri-Axle Truck (as seen in many
of the Craigslist "Fill Dirt" ads). Most Tri-Axle Truck deliverers do not
want to go over curbs or sidewalks etc. to make the delivery because they do
not want the liability for any damage caused by the heavy vehicles. So, if
your delivery of free dirt won't involve them have to worry about that, it
would be a plus.

Oh oh. It's a one-lane windy road. Trucks go up and down all the time, even
big cement trucks, but it's not even painted in the middle with the line,
it's that narrow. Cars have to pull to the side to let a truck go by.

So the tri-axle may be too big. I think a neighbor got 12 cubic feet at a
time though, and that was ok, so is a 12 cubic foot truck big or small as
these things go?

On Tue, 25 Oct 2016 15:28:08 +0000, Stormin' Norman wrote:

It is all about timing.

I know of a construction site over in San Jose by the airport, right across
the street, next to the new stadium. I saw huge piles of dirt there today as
I shopped at Costco just down the road.

I tried to find a "foreman" but I only had a few minutes and they couldn't
find him but I'll try again.

Thanks for that idea.

On Tue, 25 Oct 2016 10:19:48 -0500, Moe DeLoughan wrote:

"Clean fill wanted". Specify you don't want to pay for it and it must
debris free, must be delivered.

Ah, that's what I needed, cuz I don't want to get the wrong stuff.

Clean Fill, free, delivered.

That's pretty much it.

Oh, and I'll take all they got.

Does Craiglist work for such things?

On Tue, 25 Oct 2016 15:49:51 -0700, Algeria Horan wrote:

On Tue, 25 Oct 2016 15:28:08 +0000, Stormin' Norman wrote:

It is all about timing.

I know of a construction site over in San Jose by the airport, right across
the street, next to the new stadium. I saw huge piles of dirt there today as
I shopped at Costco just down the road.

I tried to find a "foreman" but I only had a few minutes and they couldn't
find him but I'll try again.

Thanks for that idea.

You can also go down to the building department to identify the owner of the property. I think you are going
to have the best luck with a project in the grading phase. If they have made huge piles of dirt, that makes
it sound like they have a use for it, otherwise they would have gotten rid of it when they dug it up. It is
much cheaper to move the material only once, scrape it up, put it in a truck and be done with it.

On Tue, 25 Oct 2016 15:49:48 -0700, Algeria Horan
wrote:

On Tue, 25 Oct 2016 13:10:48 -0700, Oren wrote:

A local pool builder here, often has ads on CL giving away free fill
dirt and free delivery. Just to get rid of it.

There is a local pool company, lifetime pools, which I think I can ask them.

Thanks for the great idea!

You mention a "big hollow" to fill. Perhaps consider taking dirty
fill, like broken concrete or even broken pavement and the later
taking on clean fill to finish off the top. If not building a house
foundation, the dirty fill could help you fill the space.

The "dirty fill" would add possibly pavement companies, demolition
companies, etc.

Finish the top off will clean fill. Tree Arborist can also give free
wood chip fill if they are local, instead of taking it to a dump.

YMMV

On Tue, 25 Oct 2016 16:31:33 -0700, Oren wrote:

You mention a "big hollow" to fill. Perhaps consider taking dirty
fill, like broken concrete or even broken pavement and the later
taking on clean fill to finish off the top. If not building a house
foundation, the dirty fill could help you fill the space.

The "dirty fill" would add possibly pavement companies, demolition
companies, etc.

Finish the top off will clean fill. Tree Arborist can also give free
wood chip fill if they are local, instead of taking it to a dump.

Thanks. I thought about using crud at the bottom, but if I can get "the good
stuff", I don't see why I'd want chunks of concrete even if they're covered
by a layer of good stuff.

But if I did go for the cruddy stuff, what do you call that officially?
Is it called "dirty fill" as you quoted?

Or does it have a different name?

On Tue, 25 Oct 2016 16:38:09 -0700, Algeria Horan wrote:

On Tue, 25 Oct 2016 16:31:33 -0700, Oren wrote:

You mention a "big hollow" to fill. Perhaps consider taking dirty
fill, like broken concrete or even broken pavement and the later
taking on clean fill to finish off the top. If not building a house
foundation, the dirty fill could help you fill the space.

The "dirty fill" would add possibly pavement companies, demolition
companies, etc.

Finish the top off will clean fill. Tree Arborist can also give free
wood chip fill if they are local, instead of taking it to a dump.

Thanks. I thought about using crud at the bottom, but if I can get "the good
stuff", I don't see why I'd want chunks of concrete even if they're covered
by a layer of good stuff.

But if I did go for the cruddy stuff, what do you call that officially?
Is it called "dirty fill" as you quoted?

Or does it have a different name?

Here is an explanation of the categories of fill:

http://tonsofdirt.com/Content/fill_types

Personally, I would stay far away from demolition material.

On 10/25/2016 7:38 PM, Algeria Horan wrote:


Thanks. I thought about using crud at the bottom, but if I can get "the good
stuff", I don't see why I'd want chunks of concrete even if they're covered
by a layer of good stuff.


Perhaps you should talk to a pro about it. How deep is the area to be
filled? What is the best fill for your situation? What is the use of
the area filled going to be? Are wetlands involved? Will it divert
water flow? Drainage?

You won't want organic stuff that will rot over time and possibly
contaminate groundwater. It will decompose and make potential sink
holes. While you say you don't want concrete slab, they are stable and
may make the ground better over time.

You may be able to do whatever you like but you may have DEP
restrictions that could get you big fines if you screw up.

On Tue, 25 Oct 2016 23:49:33 +0000, Stormin' Norman wrote:

Personally, I would stay far away from demolition material.

Interesting the six categories!

Demolition Materials
Mulch, Manure, Compost and Other Recyclables
Rock (larger than a football)
Sand, Gravel, and Small Rocks
Organic Clean Topsoil
Inorganic Clean Fill Dirt (most common type of free fill)

On Tue, 25 Oct 2016 23:49:33 +0000, Stormin' Norman
wrote:

On Tue, 25 Oct 2016 16:38:09 -0700, Algeria Horan wrote:

On Tue, 25 Oct 2016 16:31:33 -0700, Oren wrote:

You mention a "big hollow" to fill. Perhaps consider taking dirty
fill, like broken concrete or even broken pavement and the later
taking on clean fill to finish off the top. If not building a house
foundation, the dirty fill could help you fill the space.

The "dirty fill" would add possibly pavement companies, demolition
companies, etc.

Finish the top off will clean fill. Tree Arborist can also give free
wood chip fill if they are local, instead of taking it to a dump.

Thanks. I thought about using crud at the bottom, but if I can get "the good
stuff", I don't see why I'd want chunks of concrete even if they're covered
by a layer of good stuff.

But if I did go for the cruddy stuff, what do you call that officially?
Is it called "dirty fill" as you quoted?

Or does it have a different name?

Here is an explanation of the categories of fill:

http://tonsofdirt.com/Content/fill_types

Personally, I would stay far away from demolition material.

Around here you can get concrete demo material that will have little
of anything but concrete and rebar. I imagine they will drop 10 yard
dumpsters there for free. They pay a lot to tip it. If you mixed that
in with fill dirt it would be somewhat decent fill but you will have
some subsiding as time goes by if you do not fill the gaps with dirt
as you add it in. You would need some kind of machine to do this. If
anyone wants to dig it up later it will be a nightmare, sort of a mini
Oak Island.

On Tue, 25 Oct 2016 20:40:56 -0400, Ed Pawlowski wrote:

Perhaps you should talk to a pro about it. How deep is the area to be
filled?

It's more than fifty feet deep from the top to the bottom but it will NEVER
be filled. All I want to do is make the edges flatter by about 10 feet
maybe. There is a dirt track that curves around the edge that is just wide
enough for a big truck.

They could dump in the track and I could spread it out along the sides. It
would take ten truck loads alone (I'm guessing how much) just to make a
visible dent.

Basically, instead of having the side of the dirt track drop off steeply, I
just want it to drop off less steeply. It's about 500 feet long so there are
too steep areas and not too steep areas, so, we'd approach it in a slow
phased manner.

If I get, in the end, a few feet along the side of the track to walk, I'm
fine with that. It's impossible to fill the depression, but that's why I
said it could take all the fill they can carry.

On Tue, 25 Oct 2016 08:12:59 -0700, Algeria Horan
wrote:

Most people ask WITH THEIR MOUTH or ORAL CAVITY !!!

If by filling the area in, you cause an increase in rain-water runoff, or runoff at a faster rate, you might be liable for damages to downstream properties if you do not get permits, approvals, etc, from the correct governing authorities.

On 10/25/2016 8:12 AM, Algeria Horan wrote:
Over the years, I have seen people put signs up giving away free dirt, but
now when I want some, I don't know where to find it.

I have a long-term need for free "decent" dirt, and by decent I just mean
not filled with trees, concrete, junk, or whatever.

It does not have to be top soil, which I think is the cream of the crop, and
I doubt that would be free anyway.

It has to be delivered, and they can probably dump 100 to 500 huge trucks
worth, and I would still need more for what I want to do.

It's not a critical project, so it's not worth my paying for.
It's also not in a location where many people travel so a sign won't reach
out very far.

If I put an ad in craigslist, I am not sure what to ask for.

Is just 'free dirt' enough?
Or does the type of dirt I want have a name that the people who need to get
rid of theirs needs to know (I don't want junky dirt, for example).


Craigslist and freecycle.

On 10/25/16 7:40 PM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
On 10/25/2016 7:38 PM, Algeria Horan wrote:


Thanks. I thought about using crud at the bottom, but if I can get
"the good
stuff", I don't see why I'd want chunks of concrete even if they're
covered
by a layer of good stuff.


Perhaps you should talk to a pro about it. How deep is the area to be
filled? What is the best fill for your situation? What is the use of
the area filled going to be? Are wetlands involved? Will it divert
water flow? Drainage?

You won't want organic stuff that will rot over time and possibly
contaminate groundwater. It will decompose and make potential sink
holes. While you say you don't want concrete slab, they are stable and
may make the ground better over time.

You may be able to do whatever you like but you may have DEP
restrictions that could get you big fines if you screw up.

That leads to another question. Does this big hollow ever
hold water?
You might be surprised what the Feds call a wetland.

On Tue, 25 Oct 2016 19:35:27 -0700, Bob F wrote:

Craigslist and freecycle.

Freecycle is new to me.
Thanks!

On Tue, 25 Oct 2016 21:45:15 -0500, Dean Hoffman wrote:

That leads to another question. Does this big hollow ever
hold water?
You might be surprised what the Feds call a wetland.

Not really. There is a dry creek at the bottom, which is only wet during a
rain, and then, maybe a day or two after the rain.

On 10/25/2016 11:23 PM, Algeria Horan wrote:
On Tue, 25 Oct 2016 21:45:15 -0500, Dean Hoffman wrote:

That leads to another question. Does this big hollow ever
hold water?
You might be surprised what the Feds call a wetland.

Not really. There is a dry creek at the bottom, which is only wet during a
rain, and then, maybe a day or two after the rain.


And it may well qualify as a stream or something to do with floods, or
lack thereof. Just like some of the rivers out west that have no water
in them. Until it rains and then they are raging.

On Tue, 25 Oct 2016 20:23:41 -0700, Algeria Horan
wrote:

On Tue, 25 Oct 2016 21:45:15 -0500, Dean Hoffman wrote:

That leads to another question. Does this big hollow ever
hold water?
You might be surprised what the Feds call a wetland.

Not really. There is a dry creek at the bottom, which is only wet during a
rain, and then, maybe a day or two after the rain.

That is quite easily a wetland. In some places that could get you a
huge fine from the EPA, people talking about Army Corps of Engineers
permits and god knows what. Other places will not care. How are your
neighbors. One phone call could turn your life into a living hell.

In ,
Algeria Horan typed:
On Tue, 25 Oct 2016 12:23:00 -0400, TomR wrote:

I agree in general. Always keep checking the local construction
projects. They are often looking for a close-by place to dump the
fill dirt for free. . . . ,

I don't think I want to pay because it's just that I want to fill in
a big hollow that isn't hurting anything being a hollow, but it could
take fifty of those big trucks and barely make a dent.

So I'll just have it filled in, over time, which will take decades,
but my point is that I can take all the "clean fill" they got. The
main problem is gonna be spreading it around, if a lot of trucks
come, as I don't have a dozer.

Anyway, if I do end up paying, what's a good rate for clean fill?
(I probably won't pay - but I'm just curious in case it comes up.)

That sounds like a great idea to keep it simple and allow a map to
show where it is since their cost is in the driving, and I live out
of the way on a long 5 mile dead end road.

Oh oh. It's a one-lane windy road. Trucks go up and down all the
time, even big cement trucks, but it's not even painted in the middle
with the line, it's that narrow. Cars have to pull to the side to let
a truck go by.

So the tri-axle may be too big. I think a neighbor got 12 cubic feet
at a time though, and that was ok, so is a 12 cubic foot truck big or
small as these things go?

I get that you don't want to pay for the dirt or the delivery. Makes sense
to me.

But, as far as the cost anyway, I don't know. It is easy to find out just
by checking your local Craigslist ads and contacting some of them.

I assume that you know that, in most places, there are State and/or Local
regulations about doing land fill. And, at least in my State, it is not
legal to bury large rocks, concrete, etc. as well as organic material such
as tree limbs and tree trucks etc. As someone else mentioned, if you bury
organic material such as tree limbs and trucks etc., it slowly decays and
can cause sink holes etc.

My guess is that where you are locate no one is going to care if you dump
clean fill dirt along the side of the dirt road that you said is along the
hollow. And, even if someone did complain or some governmental agency got
involved, if it was just clean fill dirt they would probably just tell you
to stop and not ask you to remove it. However, if you dump large rocks,
concrete, organic tree stuff, etc. you could end up getting gigged for it
and being told to remove it.

There is also the question about how stable the dirt road is that you said
is along the side of the hollow. I just wonder if it may not be suitable
for heavy trucks to drive on. But, one way to find out is just wait and see
what happens, and what they say when the trucks show up, if you do find some
free fill dirt and free delivery options and ask them to deliver it.

In ,
TomR typed:
In ,
Algeria Horan typed:
On Tue, 25 Oct 2016 12:23:00 -0400, TomR wrote:

I agree in general. Always keep checking the local construction
projects. They are often looking for a close-by place to dump the
fill dirt for free. . . . ,

I don't think I want to pay because it's just that I want to fill in
a big hollow that isn't hurting anything being a hollow, but it could
take fifty of those big trucks and barely make a dent.

So I'll just have it filled in, over time, which will take decades,
but my point is that I can take all the "clean fill" they got. The
main problem is gonna be spreading it around, if a lot of trucks
come, as I don't have a dozer.

Anyway, if I do end up paying, what's a good rate for clean fill?
(I probably won't pay - but I'm just curious in case it comes up.)

That sounds like a great idea to keep it simple and allow a map to
show where it is since their cost is in the driving, and I live out
of the way on a long 5 mile dead end road.

Oh oh. It's a one-lane windy road. Trucks go up and down all the
time, even big cement trucks, but it's not even painted in the middle
with the line, it's that narrow. Cars have to pull to the side to let
a truck go by.

So the tri-axle may be too big. I think a neighbor got 12 cubic feet
at a time though, and that was ok, so is a 12 cubic foot truck big or
small as these things go?

I get that you don't want to pay for the dirt or the delivery. Makes
sense to me.

But, as far as the cost anyway, I don't know. It is easy to find out
just by checking your local Craigslist ads and contacting some of
them.
I assume that you know that, in most places, there are State and/or
Local regulations about doing land fill. And, at least in my State,
it is not legal to bury large rocks, concrete, etc. as well as
organic material such as tree limbs and tree trucks etc. As someone
else mentioned, if you bury organic material such as tree limbs and
trucks etc., it slowly decays and can cause sink holes etc.

My guess is that where you are locate no one is going to care if you
dump clean fill dirt along the side of the dirt road that you said is
along the hollow. And, even if someone did complain or some
governmental agency got involved, if it was just clean fill dirt they
would probably just tell you to stop and not ask you to remove it.
However, if you dump large rocks, concrete, organic tree stuff, etc.
you could end up getting gigged for it and being told to remove it.

There is also the question about how stable the dirt road is that you
said is along the side of the hollow. I just wonder if it may not be
suitable for heavy trucks to drive on. But, one way to find out is
just wait and see what happens, and what they say when the trucks
show up, if you do find some free fill dirt and free delivery options
and ask them to deliver it.

Oops, I meant tre limbs and tree TRUNKS, not tree limbs and tree TRUCKS!

On Tue, 25 Oct 2016 20:23:41 -0700, Algeria Horan wrote:

On Tue, 25 Oct 2016 21:45:15 -0500, Dean Hoffman wrote:

That leads to another question. Does this big hollow ever
hold water?
You might be surprised what the Feds call a wetland.

Not really. There is a dry creek at the bottom, which is only wet during a
rain, and then, maybe a day or two after the rain.

It reads as if you are in California, is that correct?

Algeria Horan writes:
On Tue, 25 Oct 2016 15:28:08 +0000, Stormin' Norman wrote:

It is all about timing.

I know of a construction site over in San Jose by the airport, right across
the street, next to the new stadium. I saw huge piles of dirt there today as
I shopped at Costco just down the road.

I tried to find a "foreman" but I only had a few minutes and they couldn't
find him but I'll try again.

Thanks for that idea.


They just hauled thousands of yards of quality topsoil
from the newest apple campus (across from the end of the SJC runway).

Don't know where they took it, but it took two scrapers (637G) and five
days of constant double-bottom trucks to move it all and that was only
for 1/3 of the acreage apple is developing.

On Wed, 26 Oct 2016 00:24:00 -0400, wrote:

That is quite easily a wetland. In some places that could get you a
huge fine from the EPA, people talking about Army Corps of Engineers
permits and god knows what. Other places will not care. How are your
neighbors. One phone call could turn your life into a living hell.

One neighbor works for the county planning department.

There's no way she wouldn't notice since she lives right above it,
geometrically.

I'm on good terms will all the neighbors, about a dozen of which would know
for sure whatever I do (if from nothing else, but the rumble of the trucks).

Plus I let people hike it, so, any hiker would notice also, which could
potentially be hundreds of people I don't know.

The filling would take many years before it reached the dry creek.

On Wed, 26 Oct 2016 09:00:06 -0400, TomR wrote:

My guess is that where you are locate no one is going to care if you dump
clean fill dirt along the side of the dirt road that you said is along the
hollow. And, even if someone did complain or some governmental agency got
involved, if it was just clean fill dirt they would probably just tell you
to stop and not ask you to remove it. However, if you dump large rocks,
concrete, organic tree stuff, etc. you could end up getting gigged for it
and being told to remove it.

You are entirely correct in *everything* you said.

The neighbors would know, but they would welcome the effort. One even works
for the county in the planning office, so, if she wanted to complain, they'd
be all over me like stink.

I don't forsee anyone complaining and I don't plan on using anything but the
penultimate quality, which is "clean fill" or "Inorganic Clean Fill Dirt"
according to that one listing provided.

There is also the question about how stable the dirt road is that you said
is along the side of the hollow. I just wonder if it may not be suitable
for heavy trucks to drive on. But, one way to find out is just wait and see
what happens, and what they say when the trucks show up, if you do find some
free fill dirt and free delivery options and ask them to deliver it.

Trucks travel the road when they need to, so, I'm not worried about its
stability either. Really, I'm just trying to make a wasteland more useful to
pedestrians, which would walk on the side of the road instead of in the
middle rutted part.

It would be great, in my fantasies, to fill the entire hollow, but that's
never gonna happen, at least not in this million years, so that's why I can
safely say I can take anything they've got. My biggest problem is that I
have to level the humps by hand, so that's my limiting factor.

On Wed, 26 Oct 2016 07:06:54 -0700, Algeria Horan
wrote:

Really, I'm just trying to make a wasteland more useful to
pedestrians, which would walk on the side of the road instead of in the
middle rutted part.

Yup and those people who "fixed up" the Everglades were just trying to
turn useless swamp land into productive use. I think I would start by
seeing what kind of permits are necessary (and you might be
surprised).
I am not a big fan of government telling people what to do but the
fact is they do and you might end up being bankrupted over this little
project when some eco group, in conjunction with the EPA, sues you
because you disturbed the habitat of some kind if rare lizard.
It will not be "telling you to stop". It will be telling you to
restore it to the way it was. You do not have to look long to find
some of these horror stories.

On Wed, 26 Oct 2016 10:34:39 -0400, wrote:

On Wed, 26 Oct 2016 07:06:54 -0700, Algeria Horan
wrote:

Really, I'm just trying to make a wasteland more useful to
pedestrians, which would walk on the side of the road instead of in the
middle rutted part.

Yup and those people who "fixed up" the Everglades were just trying to
turn useless swamp land into productive use. I think I would start by
seeing what kind of permits are necessary (and you might be
surprised).
I am not a big fan of government telling people what to do but the
fact is they do and you might end up being bankrupted over this little
project when some eco group, in conjunction with the EPA, sues you
because you disturbed the habitat of some kind if rare lizard.
It will not be "telling you to stop". It will be telling you to
restore it to the way it was. You do not have to look long to find
some of these horror stories.

I agree, especially if he is in California. To make the kind of changes to the landscape which he is
describing, in California, without a permit, is a recipe for financial ruin.

My biggest problem is that I have to level the humps by hand,
so that's my limiting factor.


Good luck with that ...
Some folks would rent a machine.
John T.

On 10/26/2016 10:06 AM, Algeria Horan wrote:

The neighbors would know, but they would welcome the effort. One even works
for the county in the planning office, so, if she wanted to complain, they'd
be all over me like stink.

I don't forsee anyone complaining and I don't plan on using anything but the
penultimate quality, which is "clean fill" or "Inorganic Clean Fill Dirt"
according to that one listing provided.

There is also the question about how stable the dirt road is that you said
is along the side of the hollow. I just wonder if it may not be suitable
for heavy trucks to drive on. But, one way to find out is just wait and see
what happens, and what they say when the trucks show up, if you do find some
free fill dirt and free delivery options and ask them to deliver it.

Trucks travel the road when they need to, so, I'm not worried about its
stability either. Really, I'm just trying to make a wasteland more useful to
pedestrians, which would walk on the side of the road instead of in the
middle rutted part.

Good intentions and no matter how much your neighbors will welcome the
change, check with the proper government agencies or it can be big
trouble. The DEP and the like have lots more money to spend on lawyers
than you do.

Just in our small town if someone wants to fill a few feet on some lands
there is a big uproar from the tree huggers.

It would be great, in my fantasies, to fill the entire hollow, but that's
never gonna happen, at least not in this million years, so that's why I can
safely say I can take anything they've got. My biggest problem is that I
have to level the humps by hand, so that's my limiting factor.

On Wed, 26 Oct 2016 13:32:59 -0400, Ed Pawlowski wrote:

The DEP and the like have lots more money to spend on lawyers
than you do.

I called the SCC county planning office.
(408) 299-5770x0

The operator said to call "land development", Jess, but he wasn't in when I
called earlier today. So I left a message.

When he gets back to me, I'll let you know what they say.

On Wed, 26 Oct 2016 13:13:21 +0000, Stormin' Norman wrote:

It reads as if you are in California, is that correct?

Santa Clara County. Unincorporated.

On Wed, 26 Oct 2016 13:32:49 GMT, Scott Lurndal wrote:

They just hauled thousands of yards of quality topsoil
from the newest apple campus (across from the end of the SJC runway).

There's a new Apple campus in San Jose, at the end of the SJC runway?
Not on the 880 side it can't be, unless you mean the buildings across the
street on Coleman (which is where I stopped to look for the foreman).

Don't know where they took it, but it took two scrapers (637G) and five
days of constant double-bottom trucks to move it all and that was only
for 1/3 of the acreage apple is developing.

I'll look at the other end of the runway, near Guadalupe.
Thanks.

On Tuesday, October 25, 2016 at 7:31:39 PM UTC-4, Oren wrote:
On Tue, 25 Oct 2016 15:49:48 -0700, Algeria Horan
wrote:

On Tue, 25 Oct 2016 13:10:48 -0700, Oren wrote:

A local pool builder here, often has ads on CL giving away free fill
dirt and free delivery. Just to get rid of it.

There is a local pool company, lifetime pools, which I think I can ask them.

Thanks for the great idea!

You mention a "big hollow" to fill. Perhaps consider taking dirty
fill, like broken concrete or even broken pavement and the later
taking on clean fill to finish off the top. If not building a house
foundation, the dirty fill could help you fill the space.

The "dirty fill" would add possibly pavement companies, demolition
companies, etc.

Finish the top off will clean fill. Tree Arborist can also give free
wood chip fill if they are local, instead of taking it to a dump.

YMMV

wood chips rot fast.

whats the end use for the property? if you want to eventually sell for say building homes there are rules about filling.

check with your local building inspectors......