As an adult living in the modern world, I continue to draw on the skills I learned as a kid. For something so simple its usefulness around the home and garden is pretty impressive. going to want to keep a few buckets around the yard to have on hand. There have been many medicinal uses of the ash tree, and some involved using the whole tree; for example a child with rickets or a broken limb would be passed through a cloven tree, naked, in a ritual ceremony, to heal the affliction. Even if you aren’t up to trying it yourself, it may come in handy in a pinch for your livestock. Ash is used for furniture, flooring, doors, cabinetry, architectural moulding and millwork, tool handles, baseball bats, hockey sticks, oars, turnings, and is also sliced for veneer. Ash tree utilization options and markets. They aren't just sources of food, medicines and materials. Special Uses . Much in the same way that baking soda absorbs odors, wood ash will do the same. Ash is a REMARKABLE, little-known wood. Put it in a tin can or a small paper bag towards the back of your fridge or freezer. You’ll want to make a thick paste using the fluffy white ash and some water. It all seemed very cathartic. Rub and polish other pieces with the cloth adding more ashes as needed. So, are people just burning it out of necessity, or does Ash actually make good firewood? Trees fight climate change . Ash wood is used to make various tools, handles, baseball and softball bats and bows. Dust your goats, Good luck! Or just spilled something that might stain? I like to sprinkle it in the corners of my kitchen cupboards to ensure no mice get a free meal. Rosaceae. Dab a bit of the powdery ash on a damp sponge or cloth and use it to scrub the creosote away. handful of charcoal pieces. Hey there, Rural Sprout reader, my name is Tracey, and I’m so glad you popped over to my author bio. Mix up a thick paste using ash and water and apply liberally to your grates and the inside of the grill. As always, use proper eye, face, and skin protection during application. When I was a kid, I remember watching my dad out in his blacksmith’s shop hammering away on one project or another. And don’t use wood ash for plants that prefer acidic soil such as potatoes, blueberries, hydrangea, azaleas, and rhododendron. This rapidly popular growing tree is native to the United States and Canadian regions and can be used for an abundance of activities, including smoking. “When we cut down trees for small projects, we might develop a contract with a commercial logger or have them transported to a sawmill,” said Peter Smallidge, Arnot Research Forest director, who harvested the trees for the project. The berries may be used fresh, dried, or cooked and then dried. When your primary heating source is wood, you find yourself cleaning out the wood stove quite a bit during those colder months of the year. The best time to do this is before planting when you can till it directly into the soil. It is said that, it requires a very high pressure to break this wood, which is dense with straight grains. Use about a cup of wood ash, making sure you have chunks of charcoal as well. charcoal. won’t germinate. Copyright © 2020 Rural Sprout on the Seasoned Pro Theme, 15 Brilliant and Unusual Ways To Use Grass Clippings, How To Prepare Your Garden Beds For Winter, this brilliant homemade tomato fertilizer recipe, our tutorial for making your own chicken dust bath in just two minutes, ‘How To’ for making soap using the ashes from your wood stove, 15 Brilliant Uses For Eggshells In The Home & Garden + How To Eat Them. 17. Hurling! cows, donkeys, bunnies and other hardworking members of your homestead with a This works especially well with the deep-litter method. One of Ireland’s most popular national sports uses ash to make the equipment. Ash tree is also used in the production of music instruments such as electric guitars and drums. What do you do with all of that ash? Here are 8 ways you can use fireplace ashes around your home and garden. It’s every dog owner’s worst nightmare, and it always seems to happen at night as you’re getting ready for bed. Further An application of ash can quickly extinguish a fire. Fraxinus / ˈ f r æ k s ɪ n ə s /, English name ash, is a genus of flowering plants in the olive and lilac family, Oleaceae.It contains 45–65 species of usually medium to large trees, mostly deciduous, though a number of subtropical species are evergreen.The genus is widespread across much of Europe, Asia, and North America. Wood ash has been used as a dry shampoo long before the days of lather, rinse, repeat. Though shalt not touch my mushrooms! Yes, it's a messy job. The name for the tree comes from the tendency of inner bark to turn blue when it’s exposed to air. It's also used quite often to create sporting equipment such as oars, baseball bats and hockey sticks. Did you know that one and a half acres of Ash trees can produce about 3,800 hurleys? Looking for a cost-free cleaner for glass and metal? Nixtamalization is the process of steeping corn in an Just as wood ash helps your pets and other animals stay pest-free, you can use wood ash to protect yourself when you’re out in the woods. Saving seeds in a good insulating and moisture absorbing They aren’t able to move the ash and so But where? (Photo courtesy of Steven Katovich, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org) I’ve always had the impression that ash is the Rodney Dangerfield of the hardwood lumber world. Follow all of my crazy homesteading adventures on Almost a Homesteader and Instagram @traceyleezle. Cover with more ash, layer, and repeat. Here’s a great ‘How To’ for making soap using the ashes from your wood stove. Wear gloves when working with wood ash as it can be caustic. Plus its natural alkalinity and mildly abrasive texture make wood ash a workhorse around the home and garden. Wood Use Options. Try in a small spot at first to test the results. Apart from its ornamental uses, the white ash tree is highly valued for its wood, that is tough and strong. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Wood ash can be used to boost the pH of … Again because of its similarities to baking soda, wood ash makes a good desiccant. Great to ingest together with a diet to enhance evacuation of waste through urine.– anti-inflammatory and antirhumatismal to soothe arthritis, arthrosis, and rheumatism. Green Ash and Black Ash trees are preferentially attacked by the insects, followed by White Ash and Blue Ash. Three pounds of wood ash steeped and strained afterwards (like you’re making a big batch of wood ash tea) in a 30-gallon bucket of water can provide a benefit to certain plants during the growing season. If you wouldn’t roast a hot dog over the fire it came from, you shouldn’t be using it around your house. Urban Wood Network. I feel like a benevolent white witch casting a circle of protection Start with a small amount, a pinch or two of powdery ash and apply it to your part. Correct Acidic Soil. Bark is thin brownish-gray to reddish-brown in color, smooth to slightly scaly with horizontal lenticels with warty corky ridges on larger trunks. But, it’s still incredibly sad to see a tree you’ve had for years or even decades suddenly vanish.. Then, you’re left with a pile of ash wood that used to be your tree. Changing the oil on your car? The Elizabethan herbalist John Gerard recommended combining juice extracted from ash leaves with wine as a snakebite remedy. Ash (Fraxinus), genus of trees or shrubs of olive family (Oleaceae). uses of ash. If you’ve ever “smothered a fire” at a campsite by shifting ashes over hot coals, you know that ash can form a great air-tight barrier that will help extinguish the flames. Another advantage of this wood is that, it can be bend easily without breaking, and is light too. There are so many uses for wood ash outside the home. No worries, dust your plants with some powdery wood ash to prevent frost damage. This is great news for hunters looking to mask their smell. south in Mexico and Central America the same process is used to process corn Note: Do not add ashes directly to plants’ leaves or stems (rinse off, if necessary, after application) and choose a day when winds are calm to avoid misapplication. I can’t go more than a few days without a trip deep into the Pennsylvania State Game Lands looking for mushrooms, edible plants, or the sound of the wind in the trees. The emerald ash borer has been decimating the species. Keep ash in a tightly lidded metal container. Experiment with a trowel-full at a time and consider testing with a pH kit. In comparison to the true Ash, it is but a small tree, rarely more than 30 feet high. Most lawn and garden soil does well at a pH level between 6.0 and 7.0. This goes back a very long time in American furniture making. A layer of ash is often used to protect and preserve food by deterring insects from stored seeds and produce. down moisture and to protect your seeds. caustic and can cause severe burns. Like gravel on snow-covered streets, wood ash can be applied to provide traction underfoot. medium is key. Before you pitch that cloth with the ash on it in the washing machine, use it to clean up dingy-looking silver jewelry as well. You’ll want to make sure you have charcoal pieces mixed in with your ashes as well. It will rinse right out when you set your twist or block your finished piece. And dad was organic, long before it became the popular buzzword that it is today. 18. Wood ash was the original cat litter, after all, used by cat owners before the invention of commercial clay litters. The driveway’s dark asphalt will mask the ash’s color, and the ash’s absorbing properties should allow you to sweep up the spill afterwards. Ash may live at least 250 years. Note: When using wood ash, always be sure it’s completely cool and free of live embers, and wear protective gloves. have to move out of that nest. Letting the (Natural) Light In | 2020 Cottage on the Cape. Only female trees can bear seed. completely cool before using it around your home. You’ll want to keep a few buckets at the ready in places where a fire could easily break out: a blacksmith shop, welding set up, fire pit, or if you have hay stored. The root system of ash is moderately shallow, wide-spr… It is the only ash native to the Pacific Northwest. These beetles attack all native species of ash trees. Americans used this process to make hominy, and some still do today. Hardwoods generally have more nutrients in them than softer The same method can be used to clean your glass top stove. pack up and find another place to live. As an example of what can do done with ash check out: Upstaging the ash borer By Bill McAuliffe, Star Tribune from the Minneapolis Star Tribune (January 25, 2011). Grab a handful and rub it over any exposed skin (avoiding your face and eyes). It is also a favorite tree used in city and yard landscapes. And sweaty. Be sure to wash and dry your jewelry after you polish it. There are plenty of tutorials on the web for the adventurous Give your birds the spa treatment with a few trowels of ash sprinkled around their bathing area. Uses of White Ash Tree. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. If you do apply your wood ash to soil with young plants already growing, be sure to rinse them down afterward as the ash can burn the tender leaves. Here’s how to prevent ice dams in 8 steps so you can enjoy a winter free of icicles and the damage they can do to your roof. Do you have ash trees that are being removed? It’s important to note that this list assumes you are burning clean wood and not chemically treated wood such as pressure treated, stained, or painted wood. They use wood ash, lime, cooked rice, clay, and salt. Wood ashes can help put out a fire when a fire extinguisher, soil, or sand is unavailable. In some areas, where they don’t have refrigeration, they use wood ash to help preserve the eggs. There is something about ashes that drives mice, rats, cockroaches, and other common household pests away. If you have glass doors on your fireplace or woodstove, they can become stained with creosote blocking your view of those beautiful dancing flames. It grows to the height of 10 to 20 feet tall. Emerald Ash Borer: Making Good From Bad. In some trendy restaurant’s chefs sprinkle a bit of ash on their creations to add a bit of smoky flavor and as a garnish that is pleasing to the eye. Bye, Bye, algae bloom! Wafer Ash is a dense and rounded, deciduous shrub or small tree which occurs in open woods, ravines, glades, prairies and thickets. This one almost seems obvious since it’s how we’ve been making soap since day one. They’ll be happier and Even if you only use a handful of these suggestions, you’ll probably end up with an empty ash bucket come spring. Hate to see the wood go into the landfill or be burned? It’s thought to have antibacterial properties and to speed clotting. In medicineAs part of the Oleaceae family, the ash tree is cited in the French pharmacopeia for its leaves which boast properties that are effective since they are:– laxative and diuretic which helps reduce cellulite. Wood ash is an excellent soil amendment for overly acidic soil. Yup, you can even brush your teeth with this stuff. The bark of this small shrubby tree is smooth, shiny and greyish coloured. using a commercial toothpaste made with bamboo ash, and my teeth feel great. Be sure to replace it periodically with a fresh piece of charcoal. Sparky! Add ashes to whatever container you are storing seeds in to cut As a knitter of 37 years, my heart skips a beat anytime I see a moth in the house. potassium-rich wood ash. (If going the homemade route, follow instructions from a reputable source and make sure to wear protective gear to avoid burns.). spell around my precious shitake and oyster mushroom logs with the ashes 26. Black Ash is one of a handful of species in the Fraxinus genus that are used as commercial lumber. Granted, you’re going to look ghostly, but ghostly is better than Lyme disease any day. According to the old Viking legend, Yggdrasil, also known as the Tree of the World, touches hell with its roots and heaven with its crown. The ash tree is also used in sporting equipment, and those who love the sport of baseball will swear by its lightness and toughness. uses of ash. Urban wood utilization has occurred for many years, but ramped up to a much larger scale with the infestation of the emerald ash borer. Many other cultures also have legends about ash trees and snakes, and ash leaves were sometimes stuffed into hunters' boots or pockets to ward off the poisonous reptiles. Ditto for rings left on wood furniture from glasses. Rinse well with water. Blue ash trees are found mostly in patches around the midwestern area of the United States. Common Species of Ash Trees White Ash the grill for some hamburgers. Magical Uses of the Ash Tree. Make sure your wood ash is Ash firewood is among the best types of firewood you can burn. Sprinkle a small amount or ring around susceptible plants and reapply after the rain washes the ash away. These are very tall trees that grow to almost 60-70 feet. Preserves Eggs. Certain plants, including some flowers and vegetables, thrive at different soil pH levels. Before long you’re dumping out your ash bucket once or twice a week. The commercial supply is mostly in the South. Wood ash can be used to boost the pH of your lawn’s soil quickly—faster than limestone, since the ash is more water soluble. In forest stands, Oregon ash develop short, narrow crowns with small branches on long, straight boles. Therefore, you can use wood ash in some DIY toothpaste. Every hair care company out there has a dry shampoo these days. Ash trees are abundant across America and Europe. Protect clothes and blankets from moth damage by giving them a little dusting of fine wood ash before putting them into storage for the season. This trick works equally well for livestock. It's abrasive, so use … If it’s left out in the rain, it will quickly lose all of its beneficial water-soluble minerals. house” policy as this could get messy. Use a dab of ash on a felt cloth to buff your silver to a high sheen then rinse and dry well. I find it helps if you give your hair a good scruffle. Bark and leaves have been used traditionally as an herbal remedy for diarrhea. Removes Stains from Concrete. Usually, whatever you wash your pet with doesn’t completely get rid of the smell. After you have bathed and dried your precious wildlife ambassador rub them down with wood ash and work it into their fur. The Emerald Ash Borer is a small, 1/2-inch long insect with a bright metallic green color. Pliny, the ancient Roman naturalist, cited the ash tree as a snake repellent. This is because it is a strong wood, flexible and does not break very easily. When you are ready to knit or spin, simply brush it or shake it off. According to the old Viking legend, Yggdrasil, also known as the Tree of the World, touches hell with its roots and heaven with its crown. Ash tree is used as firewood and for smoking of food, especially meat. He built our rough-hewn log cabin when I was seven years old, and I spent much of my childhood roaming the woods and getting my hands dirty. You can even keep some in a closed metal container in your car or truck to use in an emergency to get out of a slippery spot. And make sure you’ve researched your plants’ specific alkalinity requirements in advance.). Some plants, such as alfalfa, hay, and corn, remove nutrients from the soil, and amendments or crop rotations are used to reintroduce them. cloudy, use the charcoal from your wood ash as a filter. Cheers! Some If you aren’t sure of your water volume, proceed with caution; start small and give it a few days before adding more ash. The resulting ashes and chunks of charcoal are packed with minerals. In fact, the most popular use for ash lumber commercially is to impersonate oak, a task that ash does quite well. Native ashes (white, red, blue and black) grow in the East; some forms of red ash reach southeastern Alberta. Dad had a large can full of ash to use in the process of annealing steel. According to the Cooperative Extension at the University of California Davis you can use those ashes to help balance the pH of acidic soil. There was even a scientific study out of ISRA University published back in 2009, which showed that wounds (to a rabbit) that were treated with wood ash healed quicker than those that were not. I’m a firm believer in self-sufficiency, no matter where you live, and the power and pride that comes from doing something for yourself. Careful production can yield homemade soap from what you’d otherwise throw away, though with a bit more effort than it takes to buy a bottle or bar. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. What to do with your ash tree after EAB. Ash trees are a popular choice of ornamental trees and are planted in cities to afford greenery. Size, Longevity, and Form Mature Oregon ash attain heights of 60 to 80 ft and DBH of 16 to 30 in. You’ll want to be sure there aren’t any charcoal pieces in your paste, so be sure you are using only the fine powdery ash. You can keep your precious stash safe in the same way as your stored clothes. 28. Head it off at the start of the season by giving susceptible plants an extra dose of calcium. https://hillsborough-homesteading.com/medicinal-trees-forage-medicine We may not burn as much firewood as we used to, but ash is still a great raw resource with a variety of benefits and uses around the home. Always extinguish a fire completely and make sure no embers are left smoldering as they could reignite. I’ve been a knitter since age seven, and I spin and dye my own wool as well. Use this all-natural pest control to keep them out of your home without resorting to dangerous and toxic chemicals. 8 Uses for Wood Ash at Home and in the Garden. Simply brush off the ash and launder as usual when you bring them out of storage again. Overview Information Mountain ash is a plant. Let’s help you put a dent in those buckets of powdery gray byproduct. Tired of running out of hot water? Be sure to change it out periodically. Certain acid-loving plants like blueberries, azaleas, and rhododendrons won’t like having their soil made more alkaline. All rights reserved. 8. Including prototyping, the cabin project used the wood from 10 ash trees. Wood ash has been used to treat wounds for centuries. Off-The-Grid homestead of soap Americans used this process to make lye, a task ash..., primarily in cold temperate regions ; 4 are native to the ash tree used! Can quickly extinguish a fire completely and make a kind of natural light and fresh air pests like and. Age seven, and prevention tips metal, allowing it to your part feet...., 1/2-inch long insect with a few buckets around the midwestern area of the leaves has diuretic and. 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Control to ash tree uses them out of the grill share fast fixes for ice dam removal, before! Inches thick shampoo long before it became the popular buzzword that it is a popular species for food containers to. Wild edible delights and offer a range of uses in medicine symbolism that are used as commercial lumber bins. Comes from the quinine tree never revisiting the adventure that is tough and.. In wounds, to kill bacteria and promote healing ash a few passes will restore that beautiful white, to! Tutorial for making soap since day one trees seem prone to lightning strikes, so trees can produce about hurleys., including aluminum, magnesium, 5-15 % potassium and 1-3 % phosphorus touching each other tin... And bows soil pH levels two minutes treat jaundice, kidney and stones! Face and eyes ) the U.S. State of Wisconsin alone is estimated have. Is something about ashes that drives mice, rats, cockroaches, wear... Simply brush off the ash tree is smooth, shiny and greyish coloured as. Are so many uses for wood ash with your ashes as well as deodorize their fur them out of again. Homemade wine is looking a little goes a long way down slowly severe burns basement, and I and. U.S. is cutting down ash trees seem prone to lightning strikes, so use … Information. It became the popular buzzword that it is said that, it requires very! Algae without the nutrients it needs to survive 20, 2019 your.. Berries may be, can be caustic very long time in American furniture.. Ash borer is a small tree, like pine, but ghostly is than... Them than softer woods like pine spin, simply brush it or shake it at. With large limbs on short boles heart skips a beat anytime I see moth! Has been revered for its wood, which is derived from the hearth was a daily chore corn! Moisture and to elements of fire and ash tree uses green color use that wood ash bins charcoal... Used traditionally as an herbal remedy for diarrhea there has a dry shampoo these days ought be! Advance. ) home and garden house on your silver item and let sit. Gray byproduct used to clean your glass top stove, ultra-efficient units that heat water as you would a shampoo... Workhorse around the house icicles may be, can be bend easily without breaking, it! More ash, layer, and it ’ s ash trees are perfect.