Seashells Seashells everywhere =(

[Laser_Cat]

So I have a bit of a conundrum. My parents gave me 2 boxes of seashells that they had collected over the years, and I've been carting them from one apartment to the next not really knowing what to do with them. I asked them if they wanted them back and they said no. (of course =P) So now I'm at a loss as to how to dispose of these little guys. Some are quite beautiful and I can see myself saving a few here and there as garden decorations but many are just chipped and faded. Can one compost seashells? If I'm out near the ocean one day can I just throw them back in? Any advice would be much appreciated! =)

[fidgiegirl]

I vote for listing them for free on Craigslist. I bet someone would be over the moon for those shells.

[Zoebird]

You might consider giving them to a kindergarden or child care center, as they can use them in play. :)

[thinkgreen]

We put all of our seashells into our planters & made a "beach" out of them. They make a lovely topping. Some of them do compost very quickly, i.e. sand dollars and starfish. Others are very resilient. I have seen driveways "gravelled" with oyster or clam shells.

[SteveinMN]

Think of them as raw material for crafts and offer them wherever you think they'll have a positive reception. However many are left over can be broken into smaller pieces with a rock or hammer and used as a soil amendment. Just be aware that the edges may be pretty sharp.

[KayLR]

+1 on the preschool or daycare idea. My sister loved the ones I brought her back from Florida for her Headstart class. They have theme days; one is "beach day."

[Laser_Cat]

Thanks for all the suggestions! I think the idea of using them for soil amendments, seashells are mainly calcium I believe, so I suppose I could grind them and use them in place of bone meal in the garden. The pretty ones I think I'll try to find a home for. Thank you very much everyone!!