View Full Version : Grinding egg shells for your nanners
Snarkie
02-07-2018, 08:04 PM
One of the most important things we can put in our soil is ground egg shells. I have been playing around with this for a while, as my dad boils a LOT of eggs. I tried crushing by hand (ouch), using a mortar and pestle; even a hammer. Then, I decided to get the blender out. I mashed them by hand and then added a little at a time on the LIQUEFY setting. Works like a charm! Just make sure you leave the lid on. It makes a lot of noxious dust.
The result is egg shell sand that mixes with any soil. It helps with drainage, as well as adding calcium to your mix. I've been adding a half cup of egg sand per gallon of mix, and it seems to be working well. I add to that, sawdust from the shop, as well as any recycled soil from dead plants, and composted wood shavings from my dad's wood turning shop. Then, I add a heavy heaping of ground pumice for additional drainage.
Mark Dragt
02-07-2018, 11:46 PM
I haven't tried the blender idea, but have tried the others you listed with different levels of success. What I did find to work really good for me is a old meat grinder. If you don't like the level of goring just run it through again till you like the end product. Works great!
Snarkie
02-08-2018, 05:39 PM
I haven't tried the blender idea, but have tried the others you listed with different levels of success. What I did find to work really good for me is a old meat grinder. If you don't like the level of goring just run it through again till you like the end product. Works great!I think I saw that in Pink Floyd's The Wall.
Richard
02-08-2018, 11:58 PM
One of the most important things we can put in our soil is ground egg shells.
Maybe in your soil, but not in the majority of Florida and many western states.
Tytaylor77
02-09-2018, 10:13 AM
Most important thing I put in my Sand is Soil haha.
Anything exiting the chicken goes into my compost! Never ground them though.
aruzinsky
02-09-2018, 10:55 AM
One of the most important things we can put in our soil is ground egg shells. I have been playing around with this for a while, as my dad boils a LOT of eggs. I tried crushing by hand (ouch), using a mortar and pestle; even a hammer. Then, I decided to get the blender out. I mashed them by hand and then added a little at a time on the LIQUEFY setting. Works like a charm! Just make sure you leave the lid on. It makes a lot of noxious dust.
The result is egg shell sand that mixes with any soil. It helps with drainage, as well as adding calcium to your mix. I've been adding a half cup of egg sand per gallon of mix, and it seems to be working well. I add to that, sawdust from the shop, as well as any recycled soil from dead plants, and composted wood shavings from my dad's wood turning shop. Then, I add a heavy heaping of ground pumice for additional drainage.
If you want to grind them very fine, use a ball mill:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball_mill
You can make a small one out of a lapidary tumbler:
https://www.google.com/shopping/product/3398565444968480628
And, fill it with stainless steel ball bearings:
https://www.amazon.com/Inch-Stainless-Steel-Bearing-Balls/dp/B015RY6F16/ref=sr_1_9
Snarkie
02-09-2018, 03:41 PM
Maybe in your soil, but not in the majority of Florida and many western states.Richard, while it is abundantly obvious that both you and I have above-genius IQs and can engage in fascinating conversations about a multitude of topics, there is something that I must articulate to you:
The majority of people on this forum do not reside in Florida or Western states, where the soil is pH+. Instead, they live in Americana Generaloides, where the soil pH tends to lean on the negative side. It is to those people whom I addressed this post. Sorry it did not include you in your San Diego County location.
Great to hear from you though! I always love a challenge; not only from you, but anyone who wishes to engage a published author and screenwriter in a printed forum.
edwmax
02-09-2018, 04:40 PM
I agree that adding calcium to the soil is of great benefit for those who's soil and fertilizer is calcium deficient. ... However, i use a balanced fertilizer with micro nutrients which supplies calcium in the proper ratio for nutrient uptake of the plant. Since calcium is believed to be a regulator it has been reported that an overload condition will block or inhibit plant nutrient uptake. Much of the function & effects of calcium are not understood and currently being studied.
As for my eggs shells I feed those back to my chickens as the 'girls' need the calcium to replace that which was lost laying the egg. ....
customgreen
02-10-2018, 08:37 AM
I use an old fashioned meat grinder. Works like a charm. I also grind up my veggies with the same grinder and toss it all in the compost. Breaks down in a third the time.
Snarkie
02-10-2018, 12:56 PM
I agree that adding calcium to the soil is of great benefit for those who's soil and fertilizer is calcium deficient. ... However, i use a balanced fertilizer with micro nutrients which supplies calcium in the proper ratio for nutrient uptake of the plant. Since calcium is believed to be a regulator it has been reported that an overload condition will block or inhibit plant nutrient uptake. Much of the function & effects of calcium are not understood and currently being studied.
As for my eggs shells I feed those back to my chickens as the 'girls' need the calcium to replace that which was lost laying the egg. ....Now see, that was an intelligent reply that makes a lot of sense. :08:
I should further add, that my egg shell aggregate is so far used for potted plants only. It goes into the garden by the plant.
Snarkie
02-10-2018, 12:59 PM
I use an old fashioned meat grinder. Works like a charm. I also grind up my veggies with the same grinder and toss it all in the compost. Breaks down in a third the time.If I could give you 1,000 thanks, I would.
Since I have no need for the blender, other than grinding egg shells, I will now dry my veggie mass and blend it as well.
Kudos, my friend! :bananas_b
Kelly00077
02-10-2018, 03:17 PM
I also use coffee grounds egg shells and wood ash
customgreen
02-10-2018, 06:13 PM
I also use coffee grounds egg shells and wood ash
I use coffee grounds also, and a little bit of wood ash. My neighbor behind me is from Thailand and she swears by wood ashes. She uses it all the time. I use only a very little bit as well as the eggshells, and used coffee grounds. It all goes into the compost bin which is 1/2 yard capacity.
Snarkie
02-11-2018, 11:45 AM
I use coffee grounds also, and a little bit of wood ash. My neighbor behind me is from Thailand and she swears by wood ashes. She uses it all the time. I use only a very little bit as well as the eggshells, and used coffee grounds. It all goes into the compost bin which is 1/2 yard capacity.I use ash as well.
I add sawdust from the table saw, I burn the leaves and sticks from the yard, and then I also add the curlings from my dad's lathing that mulches down. The ash is what adds the carbon to the soil. Burn the little stuff for ash, but smash the charcoal from the bigger mass. That is what gives you that rich, black soil.
cincinnana
02-14-2018, 11:12 PM
:woohoonaner:I put those in the compost
PR-Giants
02-16-2018, 07:25 PM
I've always ground them up in the blender with water, coffee grounds, and any other vegetable waste. My millipedes love the egg shells.
Nice thread, Thanks
One of the most important things we can put in our soil is ground egg shells. I have been playing around with this for a while, as my dad boils a LOT of eggs. I tried crushing by hand (ouch), using a mortar and pestle; even a hammer. Then, I decided to get the blender out. I mashed them by hand and then added a little at a time on the LIQUEFY setting. Works like a charm! Just make sure you leave the lid on. It makes a lot of noxious dust.
The result is egg shell sand that mixes with any soil. It helps with drainage, as well as adding calcium to your mix. I've been adding a half cup of egg sand per gallon of mix, and it seems to be working well. I add to that, sawdust from the shop, as well as any recycled soil from dead plants, and composted wood shavings from my dad's wood turning shop. Then, I add a heavy heaping of ground pumice for additional drainage.
cincinnana
02-16-2018, 07:58 PM
Compost is great:08:
However your going to need a lot of shells to make difference in a garden..
But every bit helps..
Keep non peeling:)
Snarkie
02-24-2018, 12:09 PM
Haha, Mike. You wouldn't believe how many eggs my dad eats, and this is all going into the planting pots.
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