Amos Valenti

Matt McSpadden wrote:Hi Amos,
I am so sorry to hear about your greenhouse. I'm glad that no one seems to have been hurt.

I just wanted to ask about the title of your thread. I worry someone might read it quickly like I did and be confused. It seems like the accident was related to improper ash removal which could happen with any wood burning device. Yours just happened to be a RMH. If you read the title quickly, it seems like this is specific to RMH which it does not seem like. I hope that makes sense.

Thank you Matt. And yes no one was hurt in the fire.

I could change the title to better reflect the main point of my post which is to establish a procedure for close out.  

Glenn Herbert wrote:One thing about a well operating RMH is that except in the coldest weather, it does not need to be run continuously, and will burn all coals to mineral ash. These facts will allow you to only clean it out just before starting it up after some hours of downtime and there being no really hot ash or coals in it. Also, mine at least does not need to be cleaned out every day; ash can build up a few inches in the burn tunnel without ill effect, and I only need to clean it out every week or so.

Thanks for sharing. We had a well operated, rocket mass heater for years. Not having an established procedure for cleaning it out caused a fire. That's the moral of this story.

Hello everyone!  This is a PSA to establish a procedure on how to handle ashes after burning combustible materials.

For example: when cleaning out your firebox after a recent fire, put the ashes in a fireproof container and move them to a location where there is not risk of them catching something of fire.

We did not establish a system like that and it only took 1 mistake to learn the lesson the hard way.

P.S. The picture of the fire itself was provided by the fire department. The great ball of fire on the back side of the greenhouse was a large rosemary plant!

Angela,

It sounds like you are aware of some external factors (media choices, source water, etc) that can impact pH levels so take my anecdote with a grain of salt. Before our AP system balanced out we were constantly worried about fluctuating pH levels. Adjusting the pH did not seem to have any effect and the levels would climb back into the high 7- low 8 range. My previous traditional hydroponics experience had us so focused on the pH that we were not considering the system as a whole. We stopped daily pH tests and stopped trying to adjust the level. We fed our fish good food and added in plants. After nearly 5 years the system grows healthy plants and fish and the pH is still in the high 7s low 8s.  Each system and set of factors is different but if it will support life then it will find its own balance. Good luck!

This is a tour of our aquaponics greenhouse located in Plains, Pennsylvania.  

Balazs Dibuz wrote:Hi, Amos.

Do you mean the link to the Sacred Stone Camp fb page? Or Glen's RMH example?

And are you considering traveling to Standing Rock? I will be arriving there between Nov 10 and 14 and would like help building RMH for small shelter.

Balazs

The Sacred Stone Camp FB page.

We were thinking about traveling to Standing Rock. I must admit, in my zeal to help I glossed over much of the original post. The location of the posters lead me to believe Standing Rock was in New York but after a very informative internet search and thoroughly re-reading the post it is obvious that I am mistaken. I apologize for creating any confusion. The offer stands for free brick if you have anyone traveling from the NY/PA area I would be happy to meet them along the way.

Hello,

I will be traveling to the Wappingers Falls area the 2nd weekend in November. I would be willing to help out. I tried visiting the Facebook link above but could not get any details as far as location. I have some extra materials that I can donate to the project, mostly orange clay bricks but they come in handy for all kinds of things.

Depending on where you are located I can get 1 or 2 friends to join me. We are in NEPA about an hourish south from Binghamton. Let me know!

Hi everyone! This Saturday (10/15/16) we will be building the first dome on our double chamber cob oven. The oven is located on the beautiful Susquehanna river at Perennial Point in Plains, PA. Work is starting around 8am; weather permitting of course. Anyone is welcome to attend and join in the fun. PM or reply to the thread for details!

Hi everyone! This Saturday (10/15/16) we will be building the first dome on our double chamber cob oven. The oven is located on the beautiful Susquehanna river at Perennial Point in Plains, PA. Work is starting around 8am; weather permitting of course. Anyone is welcome to attend and join in the fun. PM or reply to the thread for details!

Hi everyone! This Saturday (10/15/16) we will be building the first dome on our double chamber cob oven. The oven is located on the beautiful Susquehanna river at Perennial Point in Plains, PA. Work is starting around 8am; weather permitting of course. Anyone is welcome to attend and join in the fun. PM or reply to the thread for details!