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Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Thu Apr 13, 06 6:36 pm Post subject: Chalk

No, not a complaint about our garden again but a question on it's usefulness.

Do people use crushed chalk in the garden at all? Will it change the pH of the soil to a similar, if less effective way, as lime? I remember my father adding crushed chalk to home made potting compost.

If it can be used I wonder if anyone would be interested in it as I have to extract several skip loads of virgin chalk from our garden. Obvioulsy it can't be posted but I could bung the on sack of the stuff in the car if I ever met someone.

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Thu Apr 13, 06 6:43 pm Post subject:
From what I've read, chalk can be powdered and used like lime. What are you doing back there that'll involve shifting so much chalk?

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Mon Apr 24, 06 8:21 am Post subject:
I need to dig out an off road parking area which is essential because we live near a station. No other ideas? I'm sure if we move to an area that has acid soil we'll end up needing the stuff.

Lozzie

Joined: 25 May 2005
Posts: 2595

Posted: Mon Apr 24, 06 8:29 am Post subject:
This is going to sound riddiculous and totally useless to you but ... (when has that ever stopped me?) every year the children at Cerne Abbas Primary school help re-chalk the outline of the Giant of Cerne Abbas. I wonder if they need any chalk? Do you have any chalk hill carvings near where you live, O Treacly-One?

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Mon Apr 24, 06 8:42 pm Post subject:
I don't think we do, although I could be tempted to carve a phallic man on my neighbours lawn moss killed lawn.

Lozzie

Joined: 25 May 2005
Posts: 2595

Posted: Tue Apr 25, 06 7:43 am Post subject:
Go for it, I say. A bit of artistic vandalism, like guerrilla gardening!

Joey

Joined: 03 Nov 2004
Posts: 191

Posted: Tue Apr 25, 06 8:17 am Post subject:
Chalk, limestone, marble. All are more or less Calcium carbonate.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Tue Apr 25, 06 11:23 am Post subject:

Joey wrote:

Chalk, limestone, marble.
All are more or less Calcium carbonate.

Yes but I would assume chalk breaks down slower than agricultural lime? So for an equall amount it would be less effective at reducing the acidity of the soil but it would last longer?

If anyone wants a bag or two and we get round to meeting up at a downsizer meet this year then shout!

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Sun Mar 09, 08 12:51 pm Post subject:
Yesterday I noticed some arable fields had a fair bit of crushed chalk spread over them, and the path and roads, so it looks like it is used. I wonder if there's any way of contacting local horticultural societies as I'm digging out a huge amount of the stuff from the back garden this time. Anyone want a few sacks, or a skip load...

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Sun Mar 09, 08 1:02 pm Post subject:

Treacodactyl wrote:

Joey wrote:

Chalk, limestone, marble.
All are more or less Calcium carbonate.

Yes but I would assume chalk breaks down slower than agricultural lime? So for an equall amount it would be less effective at reducing the acidity of the soil but it would last longer?

Yes & yes, slow release it not always a bad thing though, but it'll depend how much flint there is in with the chalk. It's most effective left on the surface before the first frosts & it'll soon get crushed with no effort.

If anyone wants rid of some round here we could make use of a few hundred tonnes.

dougal

Joined: 15 Jan 2005
Posts: 7184
Location: South Kent

Posted: Sun Mar 09, 08 1:14 pm Post subject:
One of the more unusual and interesting uses for chalk is as a building material. It can be rammed, between metal formers, to produce bloody strong (and very eco) walls. https://www.pinescalyxproject.co.uk/ Horticulturally, its much gentler and slower than lime, so it also has a soil texture effect (like pebbles) for much, much longer...

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Sun Mar 09, 08 1:29 pm Post subject:

Rob R wrote:

If anyone wants rid of some round here we could make use of a few hundred tonnes.

Well, if you have a word with Nick...

When the front was done they took about three lorry loads out, big 14 wheel lorries. It does contain flints though, in layers every 50cm or so (anyone want any flints?

). It's easy enough to supply sacks of it without flint for garden use.

If only I could store it, I bet when we move it would come in very handy.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Sun Mar 09, 08 1:55 pm Post subject:

dougal wrote:

One of the more unusual and interesting uses for chalk is as a building material.

It can be rammed, between metal formers, to produce bloody strong (and very eco) walls.

Interesting, but how do you stop the weather from braking down the walls?

dougal

Joined: 15 Jan 2005
Posts: 7184
Location: South Kent

Posted: Sun Mar 09, 08 6:09 pm Post subject:

Treacodactyl wrote:

dougal wrote:

One of the more unusual and interesting uses for chalk is as a building material.

It can be rammed, between metal formers, to produce bloody strong (and very eco) walls.

Interesting, but how do you stop the weather from braking down the walls?

Lime render on the exterior surfaces?
IIRC the interior walls were to given some sort of coating to stabilise dust yet not conceal the chalk. (The Calyx wasn't completely finished when I last visited.)
Google has more info eg https://www.rammed-earth.info/project/33/

vegplot

Joined: 19 Apr 2007
Posts: 21301
Location: Bethesda, Gwynedd

Posted: Sun Mar 09, 08 6:23 pm Post subject:

Treacodactyl wrote:

dougal wrote:

One of the more unusual and interesting uses for chalk is as a building material.

It can be rammed, between metal formers, to produce bloody strong (and very eco) walls.

Interesting, but how do you stop the weather from braking down the walls?

Limewash is very good but needs refreshing every year or two.

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