We've used granular fertilizer on walks and steps that have lawn or flowers around them. Also animal minerals. Both are available in organic form if you so desire, and they both work. Basically putting back into the soil what came out of it. Pegi> From: [email protected]> To: [email protected]; [email protected]> Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2009 11:00:00 -0500> Subject: Re: [SustainableTompkins] salt for icy sidewalks?> > Thanks for the table salt idea, George; that would work better on a > "thin glaze" of ice better than larger chunks of salt, especially as > you note, on stair treads. And even if thin glazes do sublimate at a > low temperatures, (thanks Tom), this past fall, when we had so much > weather around 32 F, a west-facing entrance had persistent thin layers > of ice on the stairs--perhaps it was too humid to sublimate?> > Like Pat, I would still like to know more about the so-called "safer > salts," if anyone has explored them in depth. I just got overwhelmed > at sorting out hype from actual benefits and decided not to spend big > bucks on products that were hard to use (that is, prone to clumping).> > Margaret> > > On Jan 26, 2009, at 3:34 PM, George Frantz wrote:> > > I've been using salt, but table salt out of the cupboard for the > > past few years.> >> > I like it because 1)the crystals are very small and so I can target > > only the areas like stair treads that need it, unlike the 1/4-in. > > diameter chunks of rock salt; 2) because the crystals are so small > > it seems to take a lot elss volume of salt to melt ice and snow; and > > 3) it's expensive enough that I only use 2-3 lbs at most each winter.> >> > By clearing as much snow as possible off the walks is very effective > > because although we may not notice it on our bodies, darker surfaces > > such as asphalt and concrete do absorb a surprising amount of solar > > energy, even in below freezing temperatures. They thus are capable > > of melting snow and ice from below, on even 0 degree (but sunny) > > days, if sunlight can penetrate the ice and snow layer.> >> > George Frantz> >> _______________________________________________> For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ > > RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for:> [email protected]> http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins> Questions about the list? ask [email protected]> free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live™ Hotmail®:…more than just e-mail. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t2_hm_justgotbetter_explore_012009 _______________________________________________ For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/
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