Old blown in insulation as compost?

BKB HOMESTEAD · #1 07/01/13, 12:13 PM

Just curious, has anyone ever used the old blown in (toxic) insulation on their gardens? We have just removed about 300 large garbage bags of the stuff from our house and a visitor here asked if he could have it to put on his garden because it holds moisture good. If you ask me, I wouldn't eat anything from that garden-but I'm curious if anyone knows anything about this?

rambler · #2 07/01/13, 12:16 PM

The vermiculite (asbestos containing) stuff?

Paul

BKB HOMESTEAD · #3 07/01/13, 12:17 PM

Yes. They don't use it anymore.

7thswan · #4 07/01/13, 01:10 PM

If it's toxic, and is taken out of a house because it's TOXIC, why in the world would it enter someones mind to put on their garden? Heck just roll it up and smoke the stuff. Good Grief.

Bearfootfarm · #5 07/01/13, 01:48 PM

There's nothing "toxic" about asbestos.
It's only harmful if inhaled.

fishhead · #6 07/01/13, 03:23 PM

Vermiculite is expanded rock and won't decompose like organic material.

Harry Chickpea · #7 07/01/13, 03:29 PM

There are various types of blown in insulation. If it is cellulose, chances are excellent that it contains enough boron as an anti-pest measure to damage or kill plants. Don't allow him to take it for a garden in any case. You would be setting yourself up for problems.

Pony · #8 07/01/13, 03:37 PM

Vermiculite is (or was, it's been a while) a component of pre-mixed potting soil. My folks somehow acquired a few bags of it, and used it to loosen soil. Worked fine.

Pony · #9 07/01/13, 03:39 PM

http://www.harrisseeds.com/Storefron...Fehr7Aod6FQACQ

oneokie · #10 07/01/13, 03:40 PM

Borax (boron) is/was used as a fire retardant on/in the cellulose insulation.

Alice In TX/MO · #11 07/01/13, 03:59 PM

We put in borax treated blown in insulation in our house in 1979. We all had incredible hallucinatory dreams for a few days after doing the job.

I don't think I want it in my garden.

wannabechef · #12 07/01/13, 04:19 PM

I would not give the person the insulation for his garden or any other reason now.

NELSELGNE · #13 07/01/13, 06:28 PM

Vermiculite is one of the ingredients in the soil mix,
by the originator of Square Foot Gardening, Mel Bartholomew.

7thswan · #14 07/01/13, 08:37 PM

I would not trust anything from back in those days. You just never know what was in it and they ain't telling,if they can avoid it.

texican · #15 07/01/13, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

We put in borax treated blown in insulation in our house in 1979. We all had incredible hallucinatory dreams for a few days after doing the job.

I don't think I want it in my garden.

Kept waiting for the 'punchline'

As in, then we had it installed again a few months later.

doomas · #16 07/02/13, 12:03 AM

the only building scrap/waste i would put on my garden would be dry wall. plaster board. lay it between rows to keep weeds down and hold moisture. by the next spring,its ready to plow down. adds a lot of lime.

Paquebot · #17 07/02/13, 05:52 AM

If the material were pure vermiculite, there's no sound reason why it can not be used in a garden. If there was no toxicity when it was installed, there would be none when removed. It would be no more dangerous than Jiffy Mix which is available in just about every garden center nationwide. I just bought 4 cubic feet of it and mixed it with 2 cubic feet of milled peat for next year's starter mix. The only difference is that I bought medium whereas coarse would have been used for insulation.

Martin

Pony · #18 07/02/13, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by texican

Kept waiting for the 'punchline'

As in, then we had it installed again a few months later.

Too funny!

7thswan · #19 07/02/13, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paquebot

If the material were pure vermiculite, there's no sound reason why it can not be used in a garden. If there was no toxicity when it was installed, there would be none when removed. It would be no more dangerous than Jiffy Mix which is available in just about every garden center nationwide. I just bought 4 cubic feet of it and mixed it with 2 cubic feet of milled peat for next year's starter mix. The only difference is that I bought medium whereas coarse would have been used for insulation.

Martin

IF, is a big word.

Paquebot · #20 07/02/13, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 7thswan

IF, is a big word.

There should not have been anything added to it. Vermiculite is fireproof and the same material is used for insulation as is used for garden. Go to Home Depot and you can buy the same bag for either purpose. Any mention of adding borax or other fire retardants does not apply since they are not needed.

Martin