Robert Pressler, your order is ready

[Smoke]

Glen VanWinkle busy sifting soil today for a couple orders. One for Robert Pressler of Kimura Bonsai in Southern Cali. The other a large order for repotting of trees at the Huntington Gardens Bonsai Collection in San Marino Cali.

It starts with the hard pan broken down to golf ball size chunks and then fed into Glen's smaller crusher.



Once thru the second crushing it's on to the large sifter. This is back breaking work and you might notice so far you have not seen Glen doing anything!

 

[Smoke]

So now I turn around and here is Glen flappin his gums with a group while the grandkids do all the work.

Ok Glen makes it back in time for quality control as the stuff pours out from the sifter.

 

[Smoke]

It takes a keen eye to change out the buckets and not lose a kernel of rock.


The graded stuff in the bucket. This is a 20 gallon container full. About 3 bags worth of akadama size bags.



This is a days work breaking, crushing, sifting pouring back and forth. About 320 gallons of sifted cali-dama. You can see the huge pile of fines under the crusher. This also at some point has to be dealt with also. Those kids look tired to me!

 

[JudyB]

Is the coloration of this like a white pumice, or more like hyuga? I would try this stuff out if I were there...
I wish those kids were wearing breathing masks....

 

[bonhe]

I wish those kids were wearing breathing masks....

I am glad you pointed it out JudyB. Central California is an endemic area of Valley Fever! Even I don't live in that area, I am still wearing the mask every time I work with the soil. It is because you will never know which organisms or foreign bodies will be inhaled to your lungs!
Bonhe

 

[KennedyMarx]

Hard to tell the size from the pics. Is it graded and sifted into 1/4" particles? I wonder how it compares to the bonsai block material that Bonsai Jack sells.

 

[nathanbs]

Is the coloration of this like a white pumice, or more like hyuga? I would try this stuff out if I were there...
I wish those kids were wearing breathing masks....

More like the color of akadama

 

[Redwood Ryan]

I used it for a couple of trees. Didn't realize it wasn't washed or anything. Started using it and it was crazy muddy. Clogged the holes of my pots and made a big mess. Granted, this was mostly my fault, but it was still obnoxious.

 

[bonsaibp]

I like it and use it in place of Akadama in my soil mix. It's economical for me to get in semi-bulk. Best thing is it does not breakdown into mush like akadama does even after 3 years. Does need a good washing or sifting before use though.

 

[justBonsai]

I like it and use it in place of Akadama in my soil mix. It's economical for me to get in semi-bulk. Best thing is it does not breakdown into mush like akadama does even after 3 years. Does need a good washing or sifting before use though.

Will you be selling this at the nursery or is it just for your own use? I'd like to try some in the future if I can purchase it in person.

 

[bonsaibp]

Will you be selling this at the nursery or is it just for your own use? I'd like to try some in the future if I can purchase it in person.

We'll have some for sale -both on its own and mixed with pumice and lave.

 

[M. Frary]

We'll have some for sale -both on its own and mixed with pumice and lave.

I would like to give some a rip. Will you have it on the website Bob? I know shipping will be ferocious but I'd like to try it anyway.

 

[Redwood Ryan]

I would like to give some a rip. Will you have it on the website Bob? I know shipping will be ferocious but I'd like to try it anyway.

If he ships it the same way Glenn does, it won't be bad. A large flat rate USPS is about $20 or so.

 

[bonsaibp]

I would like to give some a rip. Will you have it on the website Bob? I know shipping will be ferocious but I'd like to try it anyway.

Maybe I have a hard time wrapping my head around having to charge someone so much for shipping. I'll figure out what I can get in a flat rate box and maybe do a litttle research on if thats the best way to ship it. Send me a message in a couple of weeks and I should have a much better answer.

 

[M. Frary]

Maybe I have a hard time wrapping my head around having to charge someone so much for shipping. I'll figure out what I can get in a flat rate box and maybe do a litttle research on if thats the best way to ship it. Send me a message in a couple of weeks and I should have a much better answer.

I will. And thanks!