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CBC News reported that in September, engineers at Ohio State University announced that they have come up with a patented process to use chicken eggshells to soak up carbon dioxide from a reaction that produces hydrogen fuel!

Amazing... and there was me just thinking that the only use for eggshells was to crush and place around the base of your vulnerable plants... slugs and snails have real trouble traveling over the sharp edges, I always crush into fairly small pieces.

They are a good solution to scrubbing out the pots and pans whilst out camping, they make a surprisingly good substitute for wire wool.

It long been known that placing crushed eggshell in coffee will produce a smoother and less acidic taste. Bake your shells in the oven at 350 for about 10 minutes, crush them and store in an airtight container. A teaspoon placed with your coffee grounds will give you wonderful smooth tasting coffee.

Filling the half eggshell with soil and using it as a starter home for your seedlings is another use remember to keep the egg box for supporting the shells.

A trail of crushed eggshells can make a useful marker when you are laying out your row of vegetables sprinkled directly over the seeds will also protect the young seedlings from slugs and snails.

Did you know that your eggshells can go into the compost heap? They will help to add valuable nutrients to your fertilizer.

Eggshells can be very useful for helping to clean a thermos. Dry your shells out in an oven for a few minutes, then break them into small pieces and place them in the thermos. The broken eggshell is delicate enough to keep the glass intact but effective in getting rid of difficult to remove residue.

Children love to create things and then see their works of art on show. A blown and decorated egg will make a pretty and useful Christmas tree or easter decoration that can be kept for many years.

One way to attract birds is by putting out eggshells. They are of particular benefit to the female birds who have been drained of calcium by egg-laying.

Cleansed and crushed shell powder can be used in the paper industry or in agriculture as a lime substitute or even as a calcium supplement.

Purified eggshell can be used in the treatment for treating certain diseases and to compensate for deficiencies of mineral in living tissues, particularly in bone tissues.

The benefits of egg shells have been known for generations and the larger type eggs such as Ostrich, were even used as water carriers by the hunter gatherer tribes in ancient times.

So next time you crack an egg, save the shell! You never know when it may come in useful for you - or for someone else.

Learn more about this author, Jane Allyson.
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