A forecast of snow and ice is our cue to start sitting aside ashes from our wood stove. The past two months of mid-Missouri weather have been difficult. Deep snow and ice have kept us home bound, which really isn’t a bad thing. It’s still important to keep areas of travel clear though. Here lies the benefit of wood ashes. Scattered in the driveway and along walking paths, ashes create traction, help with melting and causes no harm to plants or animals. And it’s free.