DIY What I do with my Egg Shells

[Moe]

I have saved my shells forever for other gardening uses. I live in a cold climate and half the year turning on the oven for 5 to 8 minutes is no big deal because the heat is not wasted and just stops the furnace from running less. Anyway I keep my shells in a sturdy large glass jar and when the jar is full I pop the it in the oven at 350 for 5 to 8 minutes depending on moisture in the shells. Heating them seems to kill anything that would grow on them and breaks down the shells. After Cooling I just stick a meat tenderizer in and smash down the shells, and keep adding and repeating the process and I get no stinky smells this ways and the heat also helps break down the shells.

This can be used in place of Lime and is a great way to add calcium to you soil. Can also be use to help drainage. Also if you eat alot of hard boiled eggs you can use the water they were boiled in on plants to add calcium.

 

[Bushdocter]

I let mine build up in a jar as I use the eggs, then when they seem dry and brittle, I dump the shells into a bowl, then use the base of the jar and bowl as a mortal and pestal, couple minutes, i get a reall find grind thats ready to gow for soil amendmants. over if i'm really lazy, i'll add some of the resulting powder to why water holding vessal if the ph is a little. my 92yo grams taught me that one.

 

[agito]

I use them in my worm bin to help keep ph in check

 

[Moe]

Thanks for sharing.
Just want to add a safety note, when removing the jar from the oven - allow it to air-cool before smashing the shells up, don't try to rush the cooling process by placing it under cold running water as you risk the glass breaking/shattering.

Thanks for adding that, I forgot to add that safety tip. I usually let the jar cool down completely before even moving it because glass is just a supercooled liquid and you dont really want to mess with something like that especially since most jars are not tempered or pyrex quality. Definately do not do anything to cool the jar other than letting it cool in the oven because you will never get it to cool evenly any other way and that will lead to it breaking and then you will have a huge mess. I just kinda thought it would be obvious to let it cool on its own, slowly in the oven but not everyone took chemistry in school.

---------- Post added 11-07-2011 at 06:24 PM ----------

I use them in my worm bin to help keep ph in check

Hmnn good idea, I have been toying with the idea of my own but given the weather here and not wanting one inside I'm still on the fence about it. But a good idea, to keep in the back of my mind, thanks for the idea

 

[mr.mcgregor]

i put mine in a blender/smoothie maker with warm water, all the shells crush to a powder and sink and all the usless shit floats around. i tip the manky water out then pour some fresh water in and repeat all steps untill the shells are powdered and no more shit floats.

 

[boomer petway]

i wash , dry and crush mine. then i scatter them around the base of the plant during outdoor grows. this stops snails and slugs reaching the plant as they wont crawl over the jagged surface

 

[ggsm555]

if u wash the shells and then crush them with pestal and morter or if u dont have this use a coctail shaker and a marbel in it and shake. its working for me

 

[SuckmyHandheld]

Also if you eat alot of hard boiled eggs you can use the water they were boiled in on plants to add calcium.

I've been gardening for years and I haven't thought about this! Thanks! Rep given!

 

[ElGuapo]

As an experiment, I collected shells for several weeks, both fresh and from hard boiled, in a bowl and just let them dry. I didn't notice any odd smells at all. When I had a bowl full, I just mashed them with a spoon and dumped them in my soil bin. I figured that I dump bat shit, fish meal (guts), and who knows what else on my plants, a little dried egg can't be much of a shock. KISS

 

[Trifid]

Awesome Mo I'm going to do it. Wont be heating them though.. You never dissapoint round here. Good contribution mate :thumbs: +rep