Show Us Your Spent Grain Pile!

[newguy]

Well every other 'show me' topic has been done, so why not the pile of spent grains? This is springtime here, so my pile of spent grains has just emerged from a snowbank. Soon it will find itself in my inlaw's garden as fertiliser. This pile is about 7 months' worth of brewing.

 

[Gerard_M]

Spent grain is awesome when spread out as top-dressing on your lawn. It helps keep soil temp & moisture in the soil resulting in a very thick healthy covering. I have top dressed my Dad's lawn front & back with spent grain from a couple of different breweries when our usual guy couldn't get down to take it for his cattle. I have been doing the same at our new place on a patch that seems a bit bare, and after 5 brews it has really started to kick on nicely. Duff is the turf expert so I guess he could combine brewing with turf research, for now I will just sit & watch the grass grow.
Cheers
Gerard

 

[PostModern]

When top dressing, does it start to stink?

 

[drsmurto]

I feed mine to the chooks - they go nuts when i dump it in their run but the maggies have discovered it to and dive bomb the little bantams!

Never thought about using it for mulch/compost.

 

[Darren]

When top dressing, does it start to stink?

PM,

Just make sure you spread it nice and thin and all will be fine. Big clumps will kill the lawn in my experience.

cheers

Darren

 

[Hutch]

Well every other 'show me' topic has been done, so why not the pile of spent grains? This is springtime here, so my pile of spent grains has just emerged from a snowbank. Soon it will find itself in my inlaw's garden as fertiliser. This pile is about 7 months' worth of brewing.

Hey Newguy - why not show us a photo? - snow blanket's are a rare thing in these parts!
I chuck mine in the compost bin, which doesn't really excite me enough to take a photo of (and it stinks too!)

 

[devo]

mine usually ends up in the green waste bin.

 

[enoch]

In the compost with a shovel full of dynamic lifter (chook poo). Heats up a treat.

 

[bakkerman]

Spread it thin on the garden, makes great cheap mulch..

 

[sathid]

in the compost bin/worm farm.

The worms love it! (and so does the garden)

 

[Cortez The Killer]

I give mine to my grandfather who feeds it to the chooks

They go berserk!

Cheers

 

[deebee]

If I leave it in the open it attracts rats like flies on a turd at my place. It goes in the sealed compost bin. A handful of dolomite lime and a stir and it won't stink.


DB

 

[razz]

Yep, mine goes into the compost bin as well. After a day it stinks to high heaven! I'll try dolomite lime, thanks deebee.

 

[ausdb]

If I leave it in the open it attracts rats like flies on a turd at my place. It goes in the sealed compost bin. A handful of dolomite lime and a stir and it won't stink.
DB

hey DB
I can lend you an air rifle if you want to do your bit for the native environment! On the point of leaving it in the open I have just dumped (very thinly) about 12kg over my back garden beds plus a heap of red wine pomace, hopefully not too much stink or rats.

I learnt my lesson a long time ago about dumping grains in a big pile and then leaving it there to rot, Mrs Ausdb was not pleased h34r:

 

[Hutch]

I learnt my lesson a long time ago about dumping grains in a big pile and then leaving it there to rot, Mrs Ausdb was not pleased h34r:

I also learnt my lesson in leaving 10kg spent grain in the mash tun for a week (sheer laziness).
The slimey vile porridge was not pleasent cleaning out, and the spew smell took a LOT of cleaning products to remove.
Now it goes on the compost hot, so that I DON'T forget about it!

 

[Airgead]

Dolomite lime.... my nose will thank you forever. I brewed the last 2 weekends so there's about 12kg of spent grain sitting in the top of my compost bin at the moment and boy does it pong. I chucked it in still warm and the bin is insulated so 3 days later its still steaming...

I'll chuck some lime in tonight and see if that helps the whiff.

Cheers
Dave

 

[deebee]

hey DB
I can lend you an air rifle if you want to do your bit for the native environment! On the point of leaving it in the open I have just dumped (very thinly) about 12kg over my back garden beds plus a heap of red wine pomace, hopefully not too much stink or rats.

I learnt my lesson a long time ago about dumping grains in a big pile and then leaving it there to rot, Mrs Ausdb was not pleased h34r:

You're on. I love fun with firearms. Throw in a few homebrews and it's an afternoon's pastime.

(A handful (or 3) of dolomite does reduce the stink. Also helps to turn it every day or so. )


DB

 

[warra48]

I don't bother composting mine, I just throw it on my vege garden and dig it in.
As my soil is red volcanic clay, anything I can do to break it up is good.
One thing I have noticed is that it seems to encourage worms like there is no tomorrow.

 

[milpod]

I can tell it's Canada,snow,birch's and weird fences

Hello heres my Canadian Passport,ey

 

[Back Yard Brewer]

I feed mine to the chooks - they go nuts when i dump it in their run but the maggies have discovered it to and dive bomb the little bantams!

Never thought about using it for mulch/compost.

Likewise,but to the neighbours chooks.I can hear them scratching at the fence on brew day!!

BYB