So, lets pretend you had a bag of chemical fertilizer.

**Kimberlina** · 05-15-2005, 02:21 PM

(We're just pretending. Really. Okay, maybe not.)

If you had a partial bag of chemical fertilizer, purchased before you wised up, would you use it? Is it more irresponsible to use it, or to waste it once you already have it? I have about 1/4 bag left (don't ask why we bought it- maybe DH did it- he isn't as ecologically minded as I am) and I don't know what to do with it.

I don't even remember using it at all. I think most of it is spilled on the shed floor and mixed in with all the stones.

**QuilterMom** · 05-15-2005, 02:34 PM

Nope, I'd personally let it go to waste since I refuse to use anything like that.

**Kimberlina** · 05-15-2005, 02:55 PM

So, what would you actually do with it? Dumpi t in the weeds? Put it in the trash (and fill up the landfills?) I don't mean any of this in a snarky way- it is all sincere, but it is hard to make that come across on screen. If I don't use it, what do I do with it? I just don't know. Dump the rest of it on the shed floor since no plants grow in there? Ack! What do I do with this junk???

I thought about putting it on my flowers since I will not be eating them, but I just don't know. And then I think, well, I shouldn't waste it now that I have it, and it would be a joke to pretend that I buy/eat all organic food, because it just isn't available here. Oh, what to do, what to do?

**forestdale** · 05-15-2005, 03:08 PM

I would use it, but only with the knowledge that it's a one off waste disposal technique and I would only use it on my flower garden that is well away from my vegetables.

The real problem was in the buying of that fertilizer. You created a market for it that will be followed by more chemical fertilizer to replace it - both by the retailer and the manufacturer. Now that you have it you have a choice of two things. Use it on your flower garden or waste it at the council rubbish dump. Either way it will end up in the local soil.

Nature is fabulous, over years the residual effect of the fertilizer will dissipate and the beneficial microbes will return. The important thing is that you've seen the light now and this will be the last chemical mish-mash you'll deal with.

Oh, and don't stress out about it.

**QuilterMom** · 05-15-2005, 03:42 PM

My nature would be to find a friend or one of dh's co-workers that wanted it (we're the only people I know that do organic gardening).

**Kimberlina** · 05-15-2005, 03:43 PM

You know, I've been out in the shed looking for more wood to build another garden box. It occured to me that we probably didn't buy the stuff. I honestly don't remember buying it, and hwile I was out there I found a bunch of other stuff I know we didn't buy. There is some big bag of stuff called "Agra Hydro" out there. I don't even know what it is. Anyway, I feel pretty confident that the previous owners must have left it, but I could be wrong. In ay case, we certainly won't buy any more.

Now I have to figure out what the Agra Hydro is and what to do with IT. And all the other junk the previous owners left behind....

**forestdale** · 05-15-2005, 03:45 PM

Of course Kim comes up with the best solution.

I agree Kim, giving it away to someone who would use it anyway is the best way to go.

**QuilterMom** · 05-15-2005, 03:45 PM

Since I can't edit my post - 'waste' was the wrong word for me to use. (Bad day here waiting on some workers to show up and I wasn't in the best frame of mind when I posted) Anyhoo - yes, I would feel like I personally was letting money waste by not using it, but since we've changed our lifestyle I would get over that quickly knowing that I had bought it when my lifestyle was different. I would try to pass it along to someone who would use it before just getting rid of it.

**Kimberlina** · 05-15-2005, 03:46 PM

QuilterMom, I never thought of giving it away. I don't want to encourage people to use it, but there are people who will use it. Kind of like when I got all that stupid formula when DD was born. I certainly wasn't going to use it, but I think it is morally wrong to just waste it- that makes all the damage done making it for nought.

So, I will either put it on my flowers out front (near the road, where there are probably other chemicals in the soild anyway) or give it to my friend at work who I am sure will use it.

Thanks for both suggestions, Rhonda and Kim!

**Darlene** · 05-15-2005, 04:13 PM

Originally posted by Kimberlina
You know, I've been out in the shed looking for more wood to build another garden box. It occured to me that we probably didn't buy the stuff. I honestly don't remember buying it, and hwile I was out there I found a bunch of other stuff I know we didn't buy. There is some big bag of stuff called "Agra Hydro" out there. I don't even know what it is. Anyway, I feel pretty confident that the previous owners must have left it, but I could be wrong. In ay case, we certainly won't buy any more.

Now I have to figure out what the Agra Hydro is and what to do with IT. And all the other junk the previous owners left behind....

Hey Kimberly, are you in the right garage?

I'd use the fertililizer on your flowers.

**homesteadmamma** · 05-15-2005, 05:43 PM

I would not use it nor would I give it away.

First, not only have you not bought it you don't really know what all of it is and the question is, will the stuff leech into your soil. That would be my biggest concern.

I'd call my local recycling company and have them pick it up or bring it to them. They have specific places for chemicals such as this.

**Mamawolf** · 05-15-2005, 06:35 PM

Freecycle it?

**jlxian** · 05-16-2005, 09:54 AM

Kimberly,
Another thing you can do with the fertilizer is put it on your icy sidewalks -- which hopefully you won't have any more of until next winter. My dad used to use fertilizer for de-icer, anyway.

Hope you can find a use for it!