Surviving Ice and Other Problems
John and April Adkins sprinkle grass seed for traction on icy patches; Cecil Monk places Plexiglas on his windshield so he won't have to scrape off ice; Mrs. C. Pruitt uses a car jack to remove tree stumps; Janet Cunningham uses kitty litter to absorb the musty odor in her wood stove; David Blake poured flour on broken glass to find the shards; Cynthia Hamon soaks egg shells in water, then waters plants with the fertile solution; Elimore Davis adds egg shells to his compost pile.
February/March 1993
By the Mother Earth News editors
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Don't Let the Ice Bring You Down
Last winter, the bare path between our porch and gate became slippery from the packed snow. We sprinkled grass seed over the icy areas, which provided traction (and attracted birds as well). It did not harm the existing grass, as salt can, and when spring came, we were treated to a soft, green path where the bare dirt used to be.
-John and April Adkins
Charleston, West Virginia
For years I struggled with scraping the ice off my windshield during the winter. Last winter, I finally found the perfect solution: I purchased four pieces of scrap Plexiglas (approximately 10" x 24") from the local hardware store for about three dollars. I simply slip the Plexiglas on my windshield, and then pick them off in the morning for a perfectly clear windshield. -Cecil Monk
Bangor, Michigan
Jack of All Trades
Most of us drive around with a car jack stowed in the trunk. In the event of a flat tire, it's indispensable. But a car jack has plenty of other useful applications too.
When I first moved to Vermont, I wanted to remove three large stumps from my backyard. As I tried to dig and chop roots in the rocky soil, I realized why the previous owner had left the stumps. About two-thirds of the way around the first stump, I encountered a large root that ran straight out from the stump, just below the surface. It looked like a wonderful lever to pry the thing out of the ground.
About seven feet from the stump, I dug under the root and cut through it. Then I cleared enough space out to slide my jack under the root. As I cranked the jack up, I heard popping noises as the old stump started to rise. When the jack reached full extension, I slid a cinder block under the root to hold it up. Then I lowered the jack and repositioned it. The second time, the stump came free, and I was convinced I was on to something.
The next two stumps proved to be more formidable. I replaced my scissors-type car jack with a 10-ton hydraulic jack. I was amazed that I could lift the roots right out of the ground, considering the huge size of them. Since then, I have used my hydraulic jack for many applications. Often a scissors jack works just as well, but I am reluctant to take it out of the trunk in case I forget to replace it and then have a blow out.
