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  • #1

    Pencil shavings.

    A good idea as mulch or not?

    My lad just lovingly emptied his school pencil case contents in the living room. Think it must be the first emptying since he got it in September

    Anyway, the contents are mainly from non toxic coloured pencils with a few lead pencil shavings (do they still even use real lead?)...I can't quite bring myself to throwing them away. Can anyone see a valid reason why I shouldn't use them as a mulch?

    Thinking also, if they're OK, the school could provide Eco club with tonnes.
    the fates lead him who will;him who won't they drag.

    Happiness is not having what you want,but wanting what you have.xx
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  • #2
    I'm actually now a little worried they will be OK....I have two bags of old pencils that I was going to throw out.....if turned to shavings, I could have the next week of lonely evenings sorted out!
    the fates lead him who will;him who won't they drag.

    Happiness is not having what you want,but wanting what you have.xx

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    • #3
      They don't use real lead, Di - it is graphite. I once saw a lovely piece of collage art work done using the longer shavings - the ones that form a complete circle - with the coloured paint on the outer edge and little flakes of the lead on the inside.
      In the spirit of minimum waste - use them!
      Whooops - now what are the dogs getting up to?

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      • #4
        Originally posted by di View Post
        A good idea as mulch or not?
        Won't they blow around? They can be composted though

        Originally posted by Jeanied View Post
        In the spirit of minimum waste - use them!
        Yep, compost everything
        All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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        • #5
          I don't have a problem with the graphite or the wood but what about the paint/enamel/whatever that coats the pencils?

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          • #6
            Would they blow around anymore than wood shavings? Not sure. Perhaps mixed up with coffee grounds and animal bedding.


            VC, they all come with a 'non toxic' label, so I don't know what they use to coat them.
            the fates lead him who will;him who won't they drag.

            Happiness is not having what you want,but wanting what you have.xx

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            • #7
              I am sure they will be safe to use - after all, kids often tend to chew the end of their pencils. But they are much lighter than wood chips so I'd compost them instead.
              Whooops - now what are the dogs getting up to?

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              • #8
                But they'd look so pretty as a mulch.
                the fates lead him who will;him who won't they drag.

                Happiness is not having what you want,but wanting what you have.xx

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                • #9
                  If you are a bit OCD you might even colour code the plants and shavings
                  Ali

                  My blog: feral007.com/countrylife/

                  Some days it's hardly worth chewing through the restraints!

                  One bit of old folklore wisdom says to plant tomatoes when the soil is warm enough to sit on with bare buttocks. In surburban areas, use the back of your wrist. Jackie French

                  Member of the Eastern Branch of the Darn Under Nutter's Club

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                  • #10
                    Thankfully, I'm not
                    the fates lead him who will;him who won't they drag.

                    Happiness is not having what you want,but wanting what you have.xx

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                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Feral007 View Post
                      If you are a bit OCD you might even colour code the plants and shavings
                      At school I have to have the coloured pencils in harmonious order: yellows & reds together, blues & greens kept separate


                      I'm 41




                      All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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                      • #12
                        pencil "lead" is made from graphite & clay - i wouldnt worry about the paint if the pencils are new - in 2010 the EU cut the number of VOC's in paint to make them less harmful to the environment!

                        i use to chew the tops off when i was younger and it didnt do me any harm.... hic-hic-hic@dhuifwhi

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