Anyone know if wood ashes are a good fertilizer? I'm looking at the ashes from my wood stove, and wondering if I can put that to good use. Plus, everyone's been talking about how the Yellowstone eruptions 600,000 years ago helped make fertile land with the ashes. So, anyone know the scoop?

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I wouldn't add ashes to your garden or compost pile- it can make the soil too alkaline. Although a cup every 60 or so square feet shouldn't hurt anything, adding ashes in abundance can make your soil too alkaline.

A tiny bit though will help your soil by inserting minerals such as potassium, and carbon.

Wood ash can be a good fertilizer if it was being added in a limited tested quantity.

Large addition of ashes to the soil will increase its acidity to grow plants.

Make sure that you test your soil before, and after application. Wood ashes are very alkaline, and if you already have alkaline soil, it could be a problem. That being said, mixing the ashes with an acidic material, such as pine needles, might help you out more.

http://pods.dasnr.okstate.edu/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-2648/PSS-2238web.pdf

Here is a really cool PDF that talks about the advantages and disadvantages of fertilizing with ashes. Apparently, ash can also be used as a natural insecticide, since it leeches water from the insect's bodies.