Know Your Ice Melt

Ice, snow, cold and ice melt. They all seem to go together but what is the best ice melt to use for your sidewalk, driveway or other applications? There are five main materials that are used as chemical de-icers: calcium chloride, sodium chloride (table salt), potassium chloride, urea, and calcium magnesium acetate.

Calcium chloride is the traditional ice-melting product. Though it will melt ice to about -25 degrees F, it will form slippery, slimy surfaces on concrete and other hard surfaces. Plants are not likely to be harmed unless excessive amounts are used.

Rock salt is sodium chloride and is the least expensive material available. It is effective to approximately 12 degrees F but can damage soils, plants and metals. Potassium chloride can also cause serious plant injury when washed or splashed on foliage. Both calcium chloride and potassium chloride can damage roots of plants.

Urea (carbonyl diamide) is a fertilizer that is sometimes used to melt ice. Though it is only about 10% as corrosive as sodium chloride, it can contaminate ground and surface water with nitrates. Urea is effective to about 21 degrees F.

Calcium magnesium acetate (CMA), a newer product, is made from dolomitic limestone and acetic acid (the principal compound of vinegar). CMA works differently than the other materials in that it does not form a brine like salt but rather helps prevent snow particles from sticking to each other or the road surface. It has little effect on plant growth or concrete surfaces. Performance decreases below 20 degrees F.

Limited use of any of these products should cause little injury. Problems start to appear when they are used excessively and there is not adequate rainfall to wash or leach the material from the area. Since limited use is recommended it is best to remove the ice and snow by hand when possible. When they are applied, use only what you need.

Resist the temptation to over apply just to make sure the ice and snow melts. Keep in mind this can damage concrete surfaces as well as the plants and grass growing along the walks and driveways. When spring does arrive you want to enjoy the plants near your driveways and sidewalks instead of finding dead areas due to salt.


Hampton Today made possible by sponsors like:
Michelle Hartman – Tupperware –641-373-8880
Denise Passehl – Watkins – 641-580-4052
Franklin County Farmers Market 641-456-4811
Patrick Palmer – The Computer Guy – 641-420-1234
Seven Stars Restaurant – 641-456-5378
Debra Brown – Melaleuca - 641-458-1114

Beef Weigh In Scheduled for 4-H and FFA Members

The 4-H/FFA market beef weigh-in for members wishing to exhibit at the Franklin County Fair, Iowa State Fair, or AK-SAR-BEN will be held Monday, December 28, 2009 at the Hampton Vet Center, Hwy 3 west. ID forms and tags will be provided that day for members. In case of bad weather, listen to KLMJ 104.9FM, Hampton. The make-up date is December 29.

4-H/FFA members wanting to exhibit market steers or market heifers at the Franklin County Fair ONLY must weigh calves between 8:00-10:00 a.m.

Calves that need to be weighed and properly identified for the Iowa State Fair or AK-SAR-BEN must be brought to the weigh-in between 10:00-11:00 a.m. State Fair 4-H calves must be retinal scanned and AK-SAR-BEN calves must have hair DNA samples collected at the weigh-in site. FFA members verifying State Fair calves must get required tags, hair and nose print supplies from FFA Advisor. Verification forms must be signed by member, parent, and the site coordinator. Contact the Franklin County Extension Office at 641-456-4811 if you are planning to weigh in calves for state fair or AK-SAR-BEN. The cost is $5 per verification process per calf.

Hampton Today made possible by sponsors like:
Michelle Hartman – Tupperware –641-373-8880
Denise Passehl – Watkins – 641-580-4052
Franklin County Farmers Market 641-456-4811
Patrick Palmer – The Computer Guy – 641-420-1234
Seven Stars Restaurant – 641-456-5378
Debra Brown – Melaleuca - 641-458-1114

picture courtesy of flickr

Why Winter Solistice Was Celebrated

The winter solstice may have been immensely important because communities were not assured to live through the winter, and had to be prepared during the previous nine months. Starvation was common in winter between January to April, also known as the famine months.

In temperate climes, the midwinter festival was the last feast celebration, before deep winter began. Most cattle were slaughtered so they would not have to be fed during the winter, so it was nearly the only time of year when a supply of fresh meat was available.

The majority of wine and beer made during the year was finally fermented and ready for drinking at this time. The concentration of the observances were not always on the day commencing at midnight or at dawn, but the beginning of the pre-Romanized day, which falls on the previous eve. Wikipedia

Hampton Today made possible by sponsors like:
Michelle Hartman – Tupperware –641-373-8880
Denise Passehl – Watkins – 641-580-4052
Franklin County Farmers Market 641-456-4811
Patrick Palmer – The Computer Guy – 641-420-1234
Seven Stars Restaurant – 641-456-5378
Debra Brown – Melaleuca - 641-458-1114

How to Keep Christ in Christmas

It’s very easy to be swayed by all the advertisements to get your children presents for Christmas. We love our children and wish to see them happy. Well here’s an idea—what if we showed them the true meaning of Christmas? Here’s three suggestions you can do as a family to bring Christmas joy to others.

1. Plan a project of good will —- adopt a family whose needs are un met. Help an elderly neighbor by shoveling their snow. Buy Christmas presents for a family who has lost their jobs.

2. Take a group of friends and family Christmas caroling at one of the nursing homes. Have a great time, interact with the residents.

3. Read the Christmas story in Luke 1:5-56 through 2:1-20 instead of watching tv. Have a conversation about what that must have been like for the family of Joseph and Mary.

picture provided by Taking5

Hampton Today made possible by sponsors like:
Michelle Hartman – Tupperware –641-373-8880
Denise Passehl – Watkins – 641-580-4052
Franklin County Farmers Market 641-456-4811
Patrick Palmer – The Computer Guy – 641-420-1234
Seven Stars Restaurant – 641-456-5378
Debra Brown – Melaleuca - 641-458-1114