Viewing post #2410218 by ElPolloDiablo

If you want to use sand, make sure it's washed river sand: it's the kind that's generally used in the construction industry. Ordinary road sand is generally unwashed and comes from coastal sites, meaning it's loaded with salt. Problem: it cannot be washed off and needs to be removed.

Alternatives are molasses and beet juice (another way to stealthily subsidizing farming, like ethanol weren't enough ). Calcium chloride works but it's expensive. Finally if you live in a cattle ranching area, alfalfa meal can be probably found easily: it has the huge bonus you can just scoop it up and use it as a fertilizer once the cold season is over.