Piles of wood ashes in the backyard can be unsightly, and throwing them away can feel wasteful. What can you do with all of those ashes, though? That question has been answered, and you'll start saving up even more ashes once you've seen this list.
Enhance compost nutrients by sprinkling in a few ashes so that it looks like a fine powder.
For calcium-loving plants like tomatoes, sprinkle and spread ¼ cup (NOT MORE) right in the hole when planting.
Spread evenly around
garden beds, ash repels slugs and snails.
One tablespoon per 1,000 gallons strengthens aquatic plants that compete with algae, slowing its growth.
De-skunk pets.
Soaking ashes in water makes lye, which can be mixed with animal fat and then boiled to produce soap.
A paste of ash and water makes a metal polisher.
Sprinkle lightly over lawns that have moss problems.
In the old days before toothpaste, ash was used to clean teeth.
Ashes are good for cleaning whiteboards that have been marked by grease pencil or marker. It even works on permanent marker.
Sprinkle handfuls of ashes out about a foot in front of the car tires. Drive right out of trouble as if you were on dry pavement. Eliminates the use of salt for icy sidewalks.
Wood ashes are amazing. No doubt the most useful item on this list is the use of wood ashes to create lye. For homesteaders and preppers post-collapse, lye is going to be an essential ingredient for making effective soap. Not only that, but you could stock up on that lye and use it as a tradeable commodity, as well.
Keep in mind that the best lye is made from hardwoods! Another great use for ashes is that you can use it as a toothpaste alternative. Sure, it won't taste good, and you'll look terrifying until you rinse your mouth, but this is an excellent way to keep your teeth clean when SHTF.
For more lessons like this, and to read the rest of the article, check out Peak Prosperity's Resilient Life.