Since the Primitives are now endlessly discussing vaccinations,25 separate threads on the first page of GD right now.
,I waded through the energy and efficient living group and found this.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/11283408 Sat Sep 13, 2014, 09:47 PM
Star Member IrishAyes (6,106 posts)
One more - What's the best frugal green way to rot out a tree stump?
I can't burn it because I'm afraid of underground fires even though I know we don't have the right conditions for one here. I'm just super careful about fire.
First problem you have is not being smarter then the tree stump.
Response to IrishAyes (Original post)
Sat Sep 13, 2014, 09:59 PM
Star Member Curmudgeoness (16,037 posts)
1. I know of no way.
The only green and frugal thing I know is to let it rot. I have a stump that is finally starting to fall apart now. The tree was taken down when I was a child, and I am 60 now. But I used it for years to put flower pots on.
I would think that stump grinding is the only way to safely get rid of it, although I have seen people burn them without problems. Or get yourself an ax and just start whacking on it, day after day until you make progress....you won't need a gym membership.
Could you leave it in place? Plant vines that will climb all over it, or something that grows tall enough to hide it all around it?
Sorry. I am not any help.
Response to LiberalEsto (Reply #5)
Tue Oct 7, 2014, 12:08 AM
Star Member kentauros (25,933 posts)
8. That looks like this "hugelkultur" method:
Hugelkultur: The Ultimate Raised Garden Beds
(image-intensive site)
hugelkultur raised garden beds in a nutshell:
grow a typical garden without irrigation or fertilization
has been demonstrated to work in deserts as well as backyards
use up rotting wood, twigs, branches and even whole trees that would otherwise go to the dump or be burned
it is pretty much nothing more than buried wood
can be flush with the ground, although raised garden beds are typically better
can start small, and be added to later
can always be small - although bigger is better
You can save the world from global warming by doing carbon sequestration in your own back yard!
perfect for places that have had trees blown over by storms
can help end world hunger
give a gift to your future self
Take note Mo,plastic buckets,bottles and lawn furniture are not listed.
Response to kentauros (Reply #8)
Sat Nov 15, 2014, 07:20 PM
justhanginon (434 posts)
10. Very interesting. I have some pretty well rotted
parts of trees and a large maple that fell last year. I have a raised bed that is 4 feet by 8 feet and surrounded by concrete blocks. I think I will clear the tomatoes out and give this a try. I need to read some more but at first reading it sounds promising.
Thanks for posting this.
It only works though if you have a rusted out Chevy Suburban that has chicken shit oozing out of it with rats running everywhere.
Farmer Mo knows!
Response to IrishAyes (Original post)
Sat Nov 15, 2014, 09:17 AM
Thor_MN (6,982 posts)
9. Dig.
I have pulled a 5 foot diameter Silver Maple stump, a 4 foot diameter Ash, and 2 foot diameter Red Maple and Pine stumps from my lot. It's a long, slow process, but you can dig and cut roots out, eventually the stump is free. It helps greatly if there is a section of the tree left to use as a lever, but stumps can be dug out of the ground regardless.
Just where are the rats going to be able to hide?
Response to IrishAyes (Original post)
Thu Jan 29, 2015, 08:58 AM
fasttense (15,726 posts)
11. Make it into a mushroom factory
It has been awhile since I researched anything but oyster mushrooms, but it seems to me there is a mushroom that eats dead tree stumps while giving you fresh mushrooms to eat. It's pretty easy to inoculate a stump with mushroom spores. You drill holes in the stump, hammer in some mycelium infested wooden plugs, brush with wax then wait. You can buy the plugs on line from most.mushroom spores companies. They can help you with the type of mushroom you need along with when and how to grow it on your stump.
Look into it. It is natural, nontoxic and wont hurt any animals.
I would have guessed any mention of mushrooms at the DUmp would have brought all the balding hippies out.
They need you Mo!
