I've used about a quart and a half of DE sprinkled through a 55 gal drum of corn. Is this enough? Too much? I have no idea, it just seemed like the thing to do at the time. Need I add more?

Opinions, thoughts, advise, and good Bill Clinton jokes are welcome.

No, wait. Let's just stick to the DE thing. BC is funny enough by hisself.

-Greybear

-- Greybear (greybear@home.com), November 20, 1999

Answers

From: Y2K, ` la Carte by Dancr (pic), near Monterey, California

That sounds about right. I bought some, but I'm not using it until the after times, if necessary. I vaguely recall the instructions I saw called for about a cup per 5 gal bucket. I think it doesn't matter much if you're off on the amount. One thing they did emphasize, though is that you thoroughly mix small quantities, to be sure that the dust is on every grain, through and through.

-- Dancr (addy.available@my.webpage), November 20, 1999.

http://www.bigbirds.com/ridgewood/earth.htm and http://www.lis.ab.ca/walton/grain/faqs/ive.html have D.E. info.

-- Ken Seger (kenseger@earthlink.net), November 20, 1999.

Remember to *only* use food grade DE. The "pool grade" type is extremely unhealthy.

-- Ron Schwarz (rs@clubvb.com.delete.this), November 20, 1999.

I can get a light dusting on all kernels with about 3/4 cup per five gallon bucket.

-- Not Whistlin' Dixie (not_whistlin_dixie@yahoo.com), November 20, 1999.

Hello, Greybear, I bought my DE from PermaGuard. They recommend-- "1 measuring cup-ful per 50 pounds of clean, dry grain. Mix thoroughly, making sure that a light coating covers all kernals". I paid $31.95 for 2 - 5LB bags of their Perma-Guard D-10 food grade DE. Their phone # is 1-800-813-9641, or www.wholewheat.com. Email: INFO@WHOLEWHEAT.COM I was very impressed with their service and with the information enclosed with my order. Juniper

-- Juniper (Silverfox@milfordnet.com), November 20, 1999.

Thanks for all the replys.

Wow! We bought 50 lb bags of food grade DE in the FtWorth-Dallas area for $23.95 each.

Looks like I've under treated by using a quart and half per drum.

BTW, for corn, using wieghed bags at 50 lbs each a 55 gal drum holds 7 bags with a small space at the top - maybe 2 inches.

Guess I'll have to treat the next ones heavier.

The corn is selling for around $3.00 - $3.50 per 50 lb. bag. Just finished grinding a quart of the treated stuff to see how it went through the grinder. It worked great. Mom is cooking it now. Cornbread Tonight!!!

If the future really is a BITR I'll have some very happy goats and chickens next year (and the next), if it's not then we'll have some very happy/unhappy people.

Happy to have something to eat. Unhappy with eating so much cornbread.

I've always been of the belief that if you don't want what there is to eat just hold off on the eating for a few days. NO ONE shold have to eat something they don't want to eat. I'm pretty sure that in oh, say, 3 or 4 days it will start to look pretty good.

If it doesn't look good at that time then you should repeat procedure (don't eat) until sucess.

I've been hungry.

Hungry enough to eat the south end out of a north bound cow. I've been pretty amazed at what I'll eat when hungry enough.

I hope to God not, but I think there may be a lot of hunger in America soon.

We're just doing our part to try to see that we're not part of the problem.

Best to all of you, and thanks again for the comments and advise.

And, BTW, thanks for omitting the BC jokes.

-Greybear

-- Greybear (greybear@home.com), November 20, 1999.

Wow, sounds like you're using way too much, to me. Don't have the exact numbers, but I packaged 50 lbs into quarts, and each quart will do about 300 lbs of grain if I recall. One tablespoon does 15 lbs. Overusing isn't terrible, the stuff isn't toxic, but the more you use the more abrasive you're running through your digestive system. Also increases your chance of lung irritation - wear a good mask, as approved by Bureau of Mines.

-- bw (home@puget.sound), November 22, 1999.

bw,

Can one consider Diatoms as fiberous?

Well, maybe I can cut back on those laxatives I was stocking.

It seems that most folks were saying 1 cup per 50 lbs of grain.

So (apx) 6 cups (1 qt and a half) of DE for 350 lbs of grains seems pretty close if a tad shy.

Did I miss something? (Wouldn't be the first time)

-Greybear

-- Get Everything!

-- Greybear (greybear@home.com), November 22, 1999.