burnt stuff on ground

[waggi]

we have an area on our site where someone has has a massive bonfire - its full of bits of metal and other nastys - whats anyones best sugestion ?

what we think we are going to do is build a big raised bed there - as we have  loads and loads of compost to use

there is another area that has a mound of ash - where the previous guy emptied his fire bucket out - no idea whats in that yet - any sugestions about that

[waggi]

[djbrenton]

I've used the ash piles to even out paths before putting chippings down.

[ina]

The massive bonfire you talked about Waggi, it seems they burned all kinds of stuff. What about heavy metals and possibly dioxin in the ashes. I don't know if these things can end up in your veggies. Dioxin is created when plastics are burned.
I'm sure some people on this board know about chemistry and I hope they will post more precise info about possible hazards when the ashes are mixed with soil where your veggies will be grown.

[waggi]

i dont think its heavy metal stuff
its more nails, hinges screws etc

[wardy]

If you build a high enough raised bed you won't have to do anything with it if you cover it with plenty of soil/compost etc.  If not you could pick out the big bits by hand and sieve the rest.  I've got loads of metal and glass where there's been a fire and I'm having to sieve that.  Last time I tried though it was too wet and it blocked up me sieve  :(