It is time to get fired up. Atypical of the hearty New Englander who takes pride in waiting as long as possible before turning on the heat, we get ours going on the first uncomfortably chilly day. It’s something to look forward to all year, a treat for the nose, ambiance and, of course, body warmth, since we heat with wood. 

While we agree with Roman philosopher Marcus T. Cicero, who knew “there is no place more delightful than one’s own fireplace,” we also must accept the dusty downside of this heating method. Already we have a full pan of ash. This isn’t surprising, considering that burning one cord of wood produces 50 pounds of ash. That is a lot of gray dust. In an effort to rethink our usual throwaway method of ash disposal, I came across some interesting uses of what I had previously considered waste.

But, first, consider safety. 

When removing ash from your stove, protect yourself. Using gloves, eye protection and even a dust mask is best practice, since ash can be hot, cause burns, and the small particulates may irritate eyes, throat and skin. 

Store your ash carefully. This is no time to think outside the box. A metal container with a closed lid, kept safely away from any flammable surfaces, is the best storage choice. Contrary to what one might think, embers can remain hot for days or even weeks. Smokey the Bear didn’t spend his time trying to educate people about this very fact for nothing! Also, never combine ash with any compound containing urea, as dangerous ammonia gas may be produced.

When ash is cool and ready for use, consider these ideas. Some will be obvious and well known to some of us, while others are more surprising.

Most folks know that you can use ash in your yard. Being high in nutrients, including calcium, potassium and magnesium, ash is a natural soil additive. For those garden gurus out there, if ash was packaged as fertilizer, the NPK value would be 0-1-3. Be sure that your ash is clean by avoiding burning chemical-infused, painted or other treated wood or commercial log products. And remember that hardwoods, such as oak and maple, have five times as many nutrients as soft woods.

There are many ways to use ash in your garden. Boost tomatoes when planting them by adding a bit of ashes in the hole, and sprinkle some on soils around calcium-loving plants such as carrots, potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower and lettuce, among others. Make ash compost tea for supplemental potassium. Ash can also be used to neutralize acidic soil and has been used as a lime substitute. Be wary not to use too much in any of these applications or apply directly onto the plants.

This wood waste product can also help repel pests. Slugs and snails won’t cross an ash barrier even if your succulent and delicious plants are on the other side. Sprinkle around your plants to keep out these desiccant-disliking nuisances, and re-apply as needed after rain and over the season.

Dog owners with woodstove ash rejoice, since this ash can act as a de-skunking agent. A handful rubbed on your stinky pet will help neutralize odor. Ash paste can be made to clean metal and the stains off of your glass fireplace or woodstove doors, acting as a scouring agent.  And soap can be made by mixing ash in water to make lye, adding animal fat, and, then, salt to harden.

Ash can even de-ice your driveway or reduce algae growth in a pond, according to tips offered by This Old House magazine.

Perhaps ash is, then, more of a treasure than trashy byproduct. This winter and come spring, we will be using it in a variety of ways and look forward to seeing the wonderful things that just may rise from the ashes.

Suzan Bellincampi is director of the Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary in Edgartown, and author of Martha’s Vineyard: A Field Guide to Island Nature.