Patent ID: 7121048

Claim:
A method of removing a predetermined area and depth of formable material from an expanse of said formable material having a top surface, said method comprising: (a) providing a volume indicating tool, comprising: (i) a depth indicator that has a material surface indicator and a depth guide, said material surface indicator being at a height above said depth guide substantially equal to said predetermined depth; (ii) a frame made up of longitudinal elements and wherein at least two of said longitudinal elements are substantially opposed, said frame indicating an area equal to said predetermined area; and (iii) wherein said depth indicator is a rib extending between substantially opposed longitudinal elements and having a top; and (b) pushing said volume indicating tool into said formable material until said material surface indicator is level with said top surface of said formable material, thereby pushing said depth guide to said predetermined depth; (c) pushing a shovel into said formable material until it touches said rib, and running said shovel along said top of said rib to gather formable material; (d) emptying said shovel at a location away from said volume indicating tool; and (e) repeating steps (c) and (d), until said area indicated by said area indicator is cleared of formable material down to said depth guide.