What''s in YOUR handful?

Seems like the longer you do organics and construct your own mixes the less important exact measuremens become and you rely more on "eyeballing" stuff, along with "handfuls" of this or that.

But, just how much is a 'handful' and more importantly, your particular handful? Have you ever measured just how much your average handful is or, is it just a guess?

I was just reading a repy from @RichardDrysift (another eyeballing, handful, kind of guy), and he stated that his handfuls measured out to ~1 to 1 1/2 cups.

This is exactly how I used to calculate my own handfuls. Then I started measuring and found that what I had calculated on was WAY off, by a large factor.

How I measured: I didn't want the largest handful I could grab, but rather the handful you get just reaching in a bag and grabbing some. I keep 6 or 8 coffee jugs with snap lids on the deck with my container veggies. Saves a lot of stairs/walking from where my bulk amendments are kept.

Anyway, several were near empty and needed refilling, so I grabbed a big measuring cup and headed for the garage. I got a rhythm going and every now and then toss a handful in the measuring cup and check it out.

The handfuls ranged from ~1/4 cup to ~1/3 cup, with the chunky stuff, like neem cake, being larger (1/3cup) and the finer stuff, like kelp meal, being closer to the 1/4cup amount.

Whatever, it was still a long ways from the 1 to 1 1/2 cup amounts that I had been calculating.

I still mostly eyeball when I top dress stuff, but now I have a more realistic idea of just how much was actually applied.

Hint: If you can't see the bedding, you've applied too much.

Anyone else measure their handfuls?

Wow only 1/4 cup? Sounds more like a palm to me. Maybe I got big hands and you know what they say about a man with large hands? That's right...bigass gloves lol.
I try to grab as much as I can with a closed fist while the excess stuff slips through the fingers. It's not accurate at all but I don't think it always has to be when amending soil or building containers. I do fuck up my plants sometimes by adding too much N but when they get twisted at least I know how about much is too much. It's like you gotta fuck up sometimes just to know what to do better next time.

Palm size sounds good since most of it is top dressing dry amendments. Plus, my hands aren't large and RA doesn't help at all. For new mixes I have a 2 1/2 cup scoop and mix 2cf at a pop (wheelbarrow full).

The re amends is where it gets interesting, and trust me, you aren't the only one that's gotten too happy with the N.

But, you're right that's the way you learn.

I don't measure when adding to an existing pot, but did and will again when creating another soil batch.
I always use a big spoon or cup. Not knowing for sure which amendments are safe to handle or breathe I try to be careful with all of them and were a mask or with blood meal a respirator.