Douglas Alpenstock

Gray Henon wrote:Sulfur is another possible neutralizer.  Not sure what compounds it might create though.

Good point. As I understand it sulfur does not directly change pH -- rather it encourages certain microorganisms to metabolize it and excrete sulfuric acid. So this is a soil biota mechanism rather than a direct chemical reaction.

People make lye (strong base / alkaline) by leaching water through fresh hardwood ash. So that must neutralize the ash's pH quite a bit.

The question is, do you also lose a lot of the fertilizer components (phosphorus, potassium) in the process.

I would get up into the attic right away to spot leak and/or drip points.  You have to know where the problem is before it dries out.

Dennis Barrow wrote:I used an old toilet for one year. ... It definately was a sight to see flowers blooming out of the bowl !  

Somehow my inner troublemaker has this vision -- a community urban herb and vegetable garden all neatly and tastefully arranged, growing in a neat row of identical (well sterilized) toilet bowls. No, bylaw dude, you can't write it up. It's an art installation. Banksy meets Permie.

It's not just chalk! There's a little clay in there, which would make a paste that would stick.

From MSN dot com:

Meudon whiting is composed of calcium carbonate — the main component of chalk and limescale — and it also contains a small amount of clay. It takes its name from the quarries on the outskirts of Paris, where it was first thought to be extracted in the 18th century. You may also hear it referred to as Spain whiting, Champagne whiting, Troyes whiting and ‘white polishing stone’.

Artisans and households first used the powder to polish delicate surfaces, such as glass, marble and silverware. It’s also been traditionally used as a base pigment or additive in paints and putty.

I don't mind if the thread meanders. It's all valuable insight to a neophyte like me.

John Duffy wrote:Douglas, paint the inside of the window. The rain won't wash it off.

Yes! I was thinking that also, but the press articles weren't clear. It's so obvious.

The cleanup may be more messy though, requiring containment measures. Airborne chalk does not interact well with modern tech.

John Weiland wrote:What I was curious about with respect to the clipped statement is whether most pay their cards off themselves or have their bank/credt union do it for them.  

I wasn't aware that was an option. I pay off our cards manually using online banking. It works well because the due date is around the end of the month and a few other things need to be paid at the same time.

For anyone (re)building their credit score, a credit card with a very low limit and auto-payoff every month could be a very good approach.

Good info, thanks.

Given the current trade environment, shipping anything across the border is a giant, expensive hassle.

I'm going to keep poking around the used equipment market. Or maybe I'll get mad and make my own.

Nance Mortensen wrote:...but the whole point of the exercise was to become sovereign...

I like the word "sovereignty" when it comes to my personal food supply.