Oddbean

Creative Solutions needed. I’ve sourced some waste coco coir grow pots from a local cannabis grower. They’re filled with coco and the pots themselves are made from coco so 100% organic material. I can accumulate about 50 of these waste grow bags a week as they’d typically throw them in the dump and have to pay a service to haul off. My first thought has been to add them to a large compost heap but I see the decomposition process is slower than the rate I can accumulate the bags. My other thought is to incorporate the material in the chicken coup. Maybe as a bedding material. Then again, more material than I need in a given week. I’m looking for quick ways to process these bags down to either make a profit or make a useful product for the homestead. Any decent recommendations will receive SATS!!

If you have grow beds they may make a great mulch to retain moisture and help suppress weeds? I would assume you do as a homesteader. Another option of course would be to start growing plants to sell, for sats of course 😁

I like the idea of a mulch. As far as using them for new plants it may be tough but worth a try since they still have the stalk and roots from the cannabis plant. I suppose those will break down over time to feed the new plant. It’s worth a shot.

Coco coir is a nutrient-less growing medium with good moisture retention that is favored by high end pot growers due to the fact that they can control exactly what nutrients the plants receive. Pots and growing medium are discarded at each harvest due to the buildup of salts from chemical fertilizers and to help keep a clean environment as a method of disease control. The first thing I would suggest is asking what nutrients or fertilizer your grower is using. If they say Foxfarm, General Hydroponics, Advanced Nutrients or any other name brand you can be assured that everything is soaked in petroleum-chemicals. If you are trying to stay natural that would be a deal breaker for you. If however, the grower is using a natural system such as aquaponics, compost tea, etc. or you don’t care you are still limited. As you said, coco is slow to break down, its main uses for the average gardener are seed starting, a soil amendment for moisture retention and as a soil amendment to improve texture. As a mulch, I’m afraid you would end up with poor results. If I found myself in the same situation I would make biochar with it. That stuff is black gold in the garden and if you do enough volume, maybe even a profitable side gig for you. Coco biochar is used in many industries and several scholarly papers have been written about it.

Oh interesting, I didn’t think about biochar. I’d need to add it into some sort of container I could place in the fire or I’d think it would burn completely. I’ll look into this. I’m going to also mix some in the wood chip mulch to see how effective it is.

I have had good results making biochar in a 55 gallon drum, with no holes in it, leaning over at a 45 degree angle. When fuel on the bottom of the barrel has burned enough throw more fuel on top to starve the bottom of oxygen. I have only done this with wood, but it should work with other materials. Just keep an eye on it and add material at an appropriate rate. https://image.nostr.build/4e39b9e4dddc34a5f77304e4a21127a35fc67611c095756a0be5389c6bb0ac79.jpg

WHO WILL BUILD THE ROADS?? nostr:nprofile1qqs0psu8zs24nuwdcm8z7lyaguykpd8xxy92twtjj6a7gkg92zcxtxgpzemhxue69uhk2er9dchxummnw3ezumrpdejz7qgawaehxw309ahx7um5wgkhqatz9emk2mrvdaexgetj9ehx2aqpzpmhxue69uhkummnw3ezuamfdejsy4zf4g WILL BUILD THE ROADS! https://youtu.be/89d5qkw8B5s nostr:nevent1qqsq0h28aejq3e4nnclh3e03zahusrzdf7096qck0eeax0487fgvpvqprdmhxue69uhhyetvv9ujumn0wd68yurvv438xtnrdakj7q3q7rpcw9q4t8cum3kw9a7f63cfvz6wvvg25kuh994mu3vs259svkvsxpqqqqqqzuza6kj