I am not the queen of green

Not quite ready for that crown yet, but I'm working on it!

I'm not the queen of green, but I do try. For instance, I try to save all my empty glass jars and plastic containers, but I don't always have room for them. I try to re-purpose them all, too. But I have to be honest, sometimes I just don't have the space or even the need for that many re-purposed things. I confess, I have thrown away a few items over the years for those reasons that probably could have been put to good use. I want to do better though. So, Here's a few solutions I'm going to try that might help you too.

I'm now using every used container I possibly can for gardening.

Some might become starter pots. Some might be permanent pots. Some might be used for automatic watering. Others might hold supplies, feed the birds or be turned into bright garden decor. At any rate, garden containers don't have to be fancy, just useful. The plants are the pretty part, right? So, there you go. That's solution #1.

A glass cutter might serve me well in one respect.

I could turn those glass jars into drinking glasses. We certainly break enough glasses around here. So, instead of constantly buying beverage glasses, we could save all those glass jars to create more.

Used plastic containers with covers are ghetto tupperware.

I already know this. And yet, I still buy resealable containers from time to time when my stock gets low. Of course, that's because on my less diligent days, some of those used containers still end up in the trash somehow. Guilty as charged. So, from now on, I vow to do my very best not to let that happen.

I don't expect that I'll ever be a perfect green queen.

Still, with a little effort, I think I can come a bit closer than I am now to attaining that title. At least I have a few solutions to keep usable items out of the landfill. It's a good start for this good enough greener.

Cheap green office supplies to buy or make

Coffee tin filled with marbles hold pens. (Copyright Jaipi Sixbear 2014)

Are you looking for cheap office supplies for your desk? I've been searching for them recently, after remodeling my office. They can be found but it takes some unconventional thinking. Sometimes you have to make them yourself. Here are some ideas for cheap office supplies you can buy or make.

Stack-able paper file

These were once just a buck or two each. They are now 7.00 and up each! Make your own with 8x11 shallow cardboard boxes sold for a dollar or less. Simply put the boxes together, then cut out one side to slide the paper in. Stack these cheap office supplies up in a pile. Use clear tape to hold them together. Cover with contact paper if desired.

Upright magazine box

Once again, these are cheap no more. You can make an upright magazine file box out of an old cereal box. Simply cut box into triangles. Clever cutting gets you two magazine files from one box. Tape two or more together for stability. Cover with contact paper for a more finished look.

Pen holder

An empty coffee can or drink mix can makes a great pen holder. Fill the bottom with marbles or pebbles for weight and to hold pens in tightly. These cheap office supplies double as paperweights in a pinch. Cover pen holder with contact paper or leave as is for a cute desk accent.The picture above shows one I made for my partner's desk.

Paper clip and small supply holder

Drawer organizers are not cheap office supplies. Make a paper clip holder with recycled small lidded jars. Glue the lids to a wood block. Spray paint the whole thing. Fill the jars, invert block. Screw jars onto the lids. Small containers from the dollar store also work to organize cheap office supplies.

Rubber band holder

I saw these cheap office supplies in a magazine years ago. Simply screw short fat dowels into a block of wood and invert. Rubber bands and single binder rings slip right over the dowels for storage. These cheap office supplies can be varnished, painted or left alone. Consider letting kids paint the rubber band holder and other office supplies for a whimsical look on your desk.

File boxes

Plastic, metal and cardboard file boxes are available in many department stores. Take it one step further by making your own. Check grocery stores for empty boxes of the appropriate size. Cut an indentation from one side to make files easily accessible. Why pay for cardboard file boxes when you can make one for free?

CD holder

Shoe boxes make versatile cheap office supplies. CD holders can be made easily from one or more shoe boxes. Stack them vertically or horizontally. Tape together for stability. I prefer building these so that the CDs are inserted next to each other, rather than stacked. This makes it easier to remove CDs for use without disturbing the entire pile.

Desk /Book shelf

A desk may not be in the budget when looking for cheap office supplies. Consider stacking 4 milk crates, two on each side and laying a wide board across them. For stability use 4 crates on each side. Turn the front crates open side out to use as book shelves. Cheap office supplies can easily include this DIY desk. Another alternative is to use short file cabinets on each side to hold the board desktop. Use a cloth cover on the board and you won't need a mouse pad.

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Minimalist tips for creating space in a truly tiny home or apartment

Murphy bed and built-ins (public domain photo)

Minimalism is inherently green. Living in my tiny garden level apartment sometimes made me feel like a hobbit in a hole. I laugh when reading magazine articles on tiny apartment troubles. Those places look like castles compared to my old basement apartment. Those of you who may have a similar problem might welcome my green tips for creating space in a truly tiny little home or apartment.

Get rid of unnecessary furniture.

There are always those special pieces you want to hold on to. Still, it's best to keep it simple. Table and chairs, basic furniture for the living room, bookshelf, bed, desk, chair and a place to put clothes is all that's really needed.

Assessing the type of furniture used is another way of creating space.

Size down to fit the space. Using a love seat rather than a sofa is a start. Think functional and comfortable, down sized. Some of the new modern futons are quite attractive. There are also small sling chairs and recliners now. Think sleek. Say goodbye to bulky and puffy. Creating space with lightweight, portable items will make it a whole lot easier to move out too.

Clutter and disorganization must be addressed.

Get rid of anything that's gone unused for more than a year. In a tiny home there should be a place for everything and everything in it's place. Items that can't be parted with should be put into storage. Cleaning is essential to creating space in a tiny apartment too. Clutter and mess can make a tiny place look even tinier. Plus, having all that stuff is the opposite of green. It's a waste of resources.

Consider adding high shelves for nick-knacks and such.

This leaves room below for furniture and appliances. They don't have to compete for needed space this way. I used this tip for creating space in my tiny apartment kitchen. We had high shelves above the stove for spices and other dry goods. There's more space than a conventional spice rack. Shelves also create much needed cupboard space for other items.

Hidden storage is a fantastic way of creating space in a tiny apartment.

Rather than bringing a huge dresser, into our bedroom, all our clothes were hung up. We had a long shelf above the clothes rod with little baskets we could pull out. That's where we stored our underclothes and other things. Our coffee table was a chest. We used it to store games. The little stool I sat on while sewing in my tiny apartment had a lift up lid. That's where the scissors and such were kept. I once saw a bookshelf used as a working door and a small office under a staircase. What a great space saving idea!

Keep furniture out of the traffic flow.

Avoid the use of dividers and screens in tiny spaces. The idea is to keep the flow as open as possible. Large furniture creates clutter when placed in the middle of a room. Make it hug the walls instead. This goes against traditional decorating, but in a small apartment it can be a space creating lifesaver.

Proper use of color goes a long way toward creating space in a tiny apartment.

Use light or bright colors to give the illusion of a larger space. Avoid the use of heavy draperies and somber decor. Opt for bright cheerful curtains and happy spring or summer colors. Creating real or artificial daylight is important in a tiny basement apartment. Use natural daylight bulbs to keep away depression.

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Crazy green recycled crafts

Recycled crayons? (public domain photo)

Going green doesn't have to be difficult. It also doesn't have to be boring and tedious. In fact, it can be really fun. Crazy ecofriendly crafts made with recycled products and materials are both fun and rewarding. Recycled products can be used to make funny, decorative or kid friendly crafts the whole family will love. Your kids will love to go green with crazy craft projects like these.

Redneck wind chimes

This green crafts project will have everyone laughing. The recycled products used are beer cans. Aluminum beer cans make the loveliest sound when blowing in the wind. Continue to go green after the wind chimes have served their usefulness by recycling the aluminum cans as well.

To make the redneck wind chimes you'll need 6-8 empty washed aluminum beer cans. Drop a few marbles inside each one for weight. If you have no aluminum beer cans, pop cans will do, along with an old wire coat hanger and some nylon string.

These ecofriendly crafts are put together in traditional redneck fashion. First hang the wire hanger up. Now your hands are free to create. Tie strings of random lengths to the hanger. Tie the aluminum cans to the other end of the string through the can tabs. Now hang this silly wind chime on the front porch to amuse passersby.

Paper lunch bag puppets

Before undertaking this recycled crafts project, sit down and talk to your child about the importance of ecofriendly crafts and other green movement trends. Explain to them the need to preserve the earth for future generations. Then tell them to bring home their used paper lunch bags so you can make these crafts together.

In addition to a weeks worth of used paper lunch bags, gather up all the yarn, fabric and paper scraps and old buttons saved from crafts projects and recycled clothing. You'll also need some white craft glue or homemade flour and water paste for these crazy go green crafts projects. A few old crayon stubs can be used up by drawing on the bags. Save the rest of the crayon stubs for the candle making project.

The fold near the top of the recycled paper bag becomes a finger hold. This is the mouth of the ecofriendly puppet. Use the recycled crayon stubs to draw lips and teeth there. Now comes the rest of the project. Glue a yarn hairdo and eyelashes to the puppets head. Make it crazy and colorful. Add bits of recycled cloth and paper to make the cheeks and nose. The recycled buttons become eyes.

Recycled "crayondles"

Save all the crayon stubs and old wax from used candles for this crafts project. You'll also need some inexpensive wicks and wick holders from the craft store. Other recycled products needed include clean empty thick glass jars of all sizes and some tiny seashells.

Start this project by melting all the recycled wax from the old candles in a double boiler. If no double boiler is available use an old pan inside another pan filled with several inches of water. The inside pan can only be re-used to melt more wax for future projects. While the wax is melting, shave the recycled crayon bits.

Final instructions:

• Secure the wick tab with wick to the bottom of a jar with a drop of wax and let cool.
• Tie the wick around a pencil balanced on the jar top to keep the wick straight.
• Fill the recycled jar with ice cubes.
• Add the shavings from the recycled crayons and shells to the melted wax in the pan.
• Stir quickly. (Leave the colorful shavings partially intact.)
• Pour the melted wax into the jar.
• As the wax cools, the ice melts leaving air pockets in the crazy looking, colorful candle.
• Pour the water out.
• See the mosaic left by the air pockets, recycled crayons and shells.
  

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Creating a green home office the simple, sensible way

Print only when necessary (public domain photo)

Today's global issues make being green at home or in the office a necessity. Traditionally, an office is a busy place. We don't always think about ways to make our office environmentally sound. We're too busy getting the work done. Here are some tips for maintaining a green office without slowing down production.

Print only when necessary.

When making copies, one goes to file, one for each pertinent employee. Avoid making extra copies, "just in case". Figure the exact amount needed. Print that exact amount. Save the document on computer. If more copies are needed, it's easy enough to pull up the file and print another. Be ecofriendly at work by cutting down on paper usage in other ways too.

Keep documents brief and to the point.

Long winded documents are boring. No one reads the whys and wherefores. Environmentally sound office documents are brief and to the point. Outline the major points of a meeting, then explain these points verbally. The longer the document, the more paper is wasted. Keep meetings environmentally sound by sticking to one piece of paper. If no employee signature is needed, only the boss needs a copy.

Use both sides of the paper.

Think of the paper thrown away in an office in a year's time. Does this seem ecofriendly? When done with a piece of paper, turn it over. Use the other side for scrap or notes. Cut it into 4 pieces. Make a green note pad by stapling the pieces together. Now there's no need to buy notepads. Paper trash has been reduced as well.

Shredding.

Once all the office paper has been used to it's fullest extent, shred it. Be sure to remove all staples first. Keep shredded paper for use as packaging material or gift bag shred. Being environmentally sound in the office means using everything to it's full usefulness and then recycling it. If the shredded paper can't all be used in the office, let employees take it home for environmentally sound use as garden mulch or when moving, as a packing for breakables.

Buy only what you need.

Some office supplies are basic necessities. Others are just window dressing. Keep your office green by purchasing only the supplies you need, when they are needed. Sure those cute little matching desk sets are nice but are they a necessity? Purchase only useful office supplies that save time and money. A pen cup is unnecessary if there's room for pens in the desk drawer. Remember where all those items end up when they have outlived their usefulness. Cluttering up landfills is far from environmentally sound.

Reuse or don't use trash can liners.

Plastic is a major environmental hazard. It is likely that your office trash can is plastic. So is the liner. How about forgetting the liner unless there's always a lot of messy wet trash? The most green idea is to go without out a liner. Carry the trash can directly to the dumpster to dispose of the trash. Rinsing the office trash baskets out occasionally is a more environmentally friendly practice.

Reuse shipping boxes and packaging.

The average office ships and receives a multitude of packages in the business day. How about saving the empty packages from goods received? Reuse them when shipping packages out. New labels can be pasted or taped over the old. Another related green office trick is to reuse bubble wrap and other packing materials. If you run out, don't forget about those paper shreds. They make excellent ecofriendly packing cushion.

Avoid the use of disposable dishes, silverware and cups.

Chances are, the break room has a sink, fridge and microwave. Disposable dishes are far from environmentally sound. Stock the cupboards with inexpensive plates, silverware, bowls, and mugs that can be washed and reused. Each person is responsible for self clean up. The average office goes through an enormous amount of throw away dishes every year. If every office was environmentally sound in this area, imagine the amount of waste saved.

Chip in on lunch supplies.

Stock the work fridge with sandwich and salad supplies. Stock cupboards with soups and snacks. Have a variety of drinks on hand as well. Designate one person to purchase these weekly items. Everyone splits the cost. Why is this environmentally sound? Think about all the fast food bags, boxes and containers thrown away every year in the office. Think about all the money wasted on going out to lunch as well.

Do recycle those aluminum cans.

This might sound like an obvious environmentally sound office procedure. Why isn't everyone doing it? It's best to designate someone to take the cans once a week. They can keep the cash in exchange for their trouble or donate it to the break room food supply fund. To encourage this environmentally sound office practice have a special container for cans only. Cut a hole the size of a pop can in the top of a large plastic garbage can lid. Now lock the lid on with the handles. Wrap a chain and padlock through the handles so the lid can't be removed, except by the designated office employee.

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Green your spring cleaning with easy homemade recipes

Re-purpose mesh bags as scrubbers. (copyright Jaipi Sixbear 2012)

Traditionally, spring cleaning involves using lots of harsh chemicals to wipe away the germs. Now we know better. There are plenty of nontoxic cleaning supplies that kill germs just as well. Plus, most are things you already have on hand. Why complicate things? Give your outgrown clothes and other discards to charity. Then, start cleaning the ecofriendly way with these easy homemade nontoxic cleaning supplies.

Green window cleaner

You can buy “green” cleaning supplies in the store. Unfortunately, some of those supposedly green cleaning supplies contain harmful chemicals. For instance, most window cleaner contains ammonia, which (although natural) is highly toxic. Here's an easy green spring cleaning solution. Simply mix ¼ cup apple cider vinegar with a quart of water. Use as you would any window or glass cleaner. It's completely nontoxic. In fact, if your pet or child drinks it, it's actually good for them. It's great for stainless appliances too.

Green wall cleaner

Cleaning walls and other painted surfaces with conventional cleaners leaves chemical fumes for your family to inhale. These same chemicals can also peel paint from the walls. Why not make your own ecofriendly spring cleaning solutions for walls and other painted surfaces? Simply mix together 2 tablespoons of glycerin, ¼ cup vinegar and two cups water. Making nontoxic cleaning supplies like this is a snap.

Green drapery cleaning

You might think it's a good plan to have your drapes freshly dry cleaned each spring. While it sounds good, the chemicals used to dry clean drapes can linger, causing health issues for your family. Do yourself a favor by purchasing washable drapes and curtains. One of the most effective and easy ecofriendly cleaning methods I've used is simply washing window coverings in vinegar and baking soda. These nontoxic cleaning supplies will freshen up dusty drapes and curtains without harmful chemicals. Just toss a cup each of baking soda and vinegar into the wash cycle.

Power scrubber

Green your spring cleaning by eliminating gritty chlorine based cleansers from your cleaning supplies. What works just as well? Sprinkle baking soda on surfaces like baths, showers, sinks, toilets and counter tops. Spritz on full strength vinegar (from a spray bottle). Watch the bubbles scrub away grime and soap scum. Add the cleaning action of your own muscles to further the effectiveness. Think of it as a bonus workout to save the environment.

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Greening your tiny house

Tiny House (public domain photo)

I love tiny houses! They have so many environmentally sound benefits. From reducing your consumption to saving living space to, well, just about everything about tiny houses is green, isn't it? Still, you can make them greener. Here's how.

You can add flower boxes or....

Growing your own is an economical way to go local with your food sources. So, why not add some flower boxes or trade that tiny house porch for a tiny greenhouse? You could also park your tiny house in a permanent, tiny spot and grow a small garden or build a stand alone greenhouse.

Gray-water

While you're at it, why not pipe the gray-water from tiny house living right to those plants. It's doubly green. It may even be triple green if you consider the water you save, the local plants and your good health, which eliminates meds in the water.

Of course, you can go solar.

It's fairly simple to generate whatever little power you need in a tiny house. After all, you're not lighting up a mansion. You can even use electric, solar powered heat in a tiny house. You don't have room for energy draining large appliances anyway, so why not make that tiny fridge even more ecofriendly?

Building materials can be reclaimed.

Finding used materials is as easy as surfing Craigslist. The bonus to this is that sometimes you can even get them for free. You also use less of everything. So, you can buy the expensive green materials like bamboo flooring and still save money.

Tiny houses are green for so many reasons.

You can easily make them even greener. The ideas above are just the tip of the iceberg. You could have a composting toilet, for instance. And speaking of compost, why not put a tiny compost bucket under your tiny house sink for veggie scraps? The ideas just keep coming if you give it some thought. So, why not make your tiny house a green house? You're already halfway there anyway.

Is it possible to eliminate plastic in the home?

Even my laptop has plastic parts! (public domain photo)

Why would you want to eliminate plastic in your home? What is the environmental impact of plastic products? Is it enough to choose BPA free products? It's all very confusing, isn't it? Today I decided to take an inventory of all the plastics in my kitchen. How will I ever eliminate plastic in the home? I'm afraid it will have to be one piece at a time.  

Let's start with the obvious plastic food storage containers.

How many do you have in your home? I have more than I can count. What can I replace them with? Well, there's glass, of course. That could be rather expensive. Still, it's worth it, for the health of my family. OK. Let's just do it. I'll recycle all the plastic food storage containers and gradually replace them with glass. Meanwhile, I'll use foil wrap and the dishes I already have to store leftovers. I'll nix the plastic baggies and plastic wrap too.

What about the rest of the plastic dishes?

I have plastic cups for when the grand-kids come over. I don't like them drinking out of them, but I also don't like replacing glassware every few weeks. I have a plastic pitcher for making juice and the like. I also have some plastic mixing bowls. OK. My next step will be to replace those items with glass for the health of my family. I'll just have to live with the breakage. Maybe if I buy thicker glass items, it won't be so bad. I have plastic utensils too. Maybe I can switch to wood or metal?

Is there anything I can do about the appliances?

We have a coffee maker, a toaster, a mixer, a juicer, a crock pot, a waffle iron and more. Plus, there are the usual major appliances. All are made, at least partially from plastic. I don't think you can buy appliances that don't have at least a little plastic on or in them these days. Wow! I guess I have to keep some plastic in my home.

I just realized something.

We have a kitchen that needs updating. That's right. You guessed it. We have a linoleum kitchen floor. Linoleum is a form of plastic, isn't it? We also have cabinets with a small amount of vinyl coating, vinyl drawer slides and vinyl shelf holders. Oh boy. Our silverware tray is plastic too. I guess I can get a wood one. Unfortunately, replacing the floors and cabinets just isn't in the budget right now. At least we have old time white tile counter-tops. No plastic laminate. I knew there was something I liked about them.

I don't think it's possible to eliminate all the plastic in our home.

It's simply too prevalent. I've only gone through the kitchen. I'm already seeing an incredible amount of plastic that needs to be dealt with Not only that, there are many items that are no longer manufactured without plastic components. What a shame! I can, however, do my best to get it down to a reasonable level. So in this case, good enough greening will have to be good enough. However, I will do everything I can.

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Unique ideas for recycling old magazines

Old magazine (public domain photo)

As I sit at my writing desk I look over and see my stack of old magazines. The pile grows but it also shrinks occasionally. That's because my Mom taught me some unique ways for recycling old magazines. My Mom is clever, artistic, creative and frugal. Luckily, these are talents she passed on to me. My Mom grew up when being frugal was a necessity. Using every item to it's full usefulness was part of everyday living. Here's some of my Mom's tips and some of mine for recycling your old magazines and making less waste.

Cancel your subscriptions

Magazine subscriptions are great for those who actually make use of them. On the other hand, some households receive magazines every month that they never read. Why? They're too lazy or too busy to cancel the subscription. Rather than recycling them, they just gather them up and toss them every few months. If you have a subscription like this, cancel it. Better yet, cancel all your subscriptions. Buy magazines only when you have time to read them. This is a great way of reducing the amount of magazines in the landfills. It's not recycling, it's precycling.

Donate old magazines

Are there charitable organizations in your city or neighborhood that shelter, feed or clothe the less fortunate? When you are done with your magazines, how about donating them so others can have something free to read? Sure, reading a magazine won't help them put food on the table. Still, it may take their minds off their worries for a little while. Recycling old magazines is sometimes as simple as sharing them with others.

Note: You could also drop them at your doctor's office, hospitals, car repair shops and more.

Share your magazines Before recycling old magazines, talk to your friends, relatives and neighbors. They may have similar interests. Maybe they would like some new reading material. Better yet, how about sharing subscriptions? This could save you money and is a clever way of recycling magazines through reuse. Have a monthly magazine swap to recycle all your old magazines. It's a great excuse to get together and catch up too.

Make paper dolls

When I was a kid there were paper dolls in some of the woman’s magazines. When there wasn't, my Mom had a clever trick. She would find a magazine page with the right size and pose of person on it. Then she would glue the page to a shirt cardboard or other stiff paper. Once it dried, she would cut around the picture to make a paper doll. She cleverly left a rectangle at the bottom. She would slit a hole in the rectangle center and insert a piece of cardboard as a stand. I always had the best and most original paper dolls.

Recycled crafts, puzzles etc. for kids

Kids are great at making something out of nothing. From collages to calendars to scrapbooks, recycling old magazines is second nature for kids. They can glue a picture onto cardboard and cut it up to make a puzzle. I used to recycle old magazine for dioramas at school. Scenery pictures make awesome backgrounds. Sometimes you can use the cardboard backing trick to make stand up people and animals for kids dioramas. Throw old magazines at your kids. They'll recycle them for you in no time.

Frame old magazine pictures as decoupage and more

Admittedly, this is a little cheap but there are some beautiful pictures in magazines these days. Think National Geographic and you'll get the picture. Why not frame a set of pictures to decorate the house?
Another way of recycling pictures from old magazines is decoupage. Paste the picture to a wooden object and cover with shellac or acrylic coating. I like to use Mod Podge decoupage glue. It's non-toxic.

Want an antique look? Crumple the picture. Iron it smooth. Use a light colored wood stain on it. Another way is to burn the edges. Add magazine pictures to paintings for another unique look. Recycling old magazines can create some beautiful new art pieces.

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Hand me down recycling

Clothing donation (public domain photo)

Receiving hand me down clothes is like shopping without spending any money. Giving away used clothing is a very green thing for someone to do. Isn't it funny how we do this a lot but never think about how earth friendly it is? I recently received some hand me down clothes from my daughter. That started me thinking about how it's not only a wonderful, surprise gift, but green as well.

I was going to have to buy new clothes.

Now, I don't have to. That saves resources. Plus, not only do I get some free new clothes, I save myself a shopping trip. Going to the store to buy new clothes takes gas and adds to pollution levels. That's good enough greening for me.

More green benefits to hand me downs

Going green with hand me downs means not adding to the landfill. I'm pretty easy on clothes, too. So, chances are that when I get tired of them, they'll still be gently used. They can become hand me downs again.

What if I don't like the hand me downs?

Well, then, I'll hand them down to someone else who can use them or give them to goodwill. The same is true for those clothes that don't fit me. The nice thing about goodwill is that even if they can't re-sell donated clothing, they'll shred it for recycling.

Who knew hand me downs were so green?

It's amazing how much a small thing like handing down clothes instead of throwing them away can help the earth, isn't it? So, next time you're about to toss some outgrown clothes, stop to think who can use them. Or, simply donate them. You can save the planet, one dress at a time.

Unique cardboard recycling in the garden

Cardboard box (public domain photo)

My partner and I were at the recyclers about a week ago to drop off a used water heater. He's a plumber, so this is a frequent occurrence. Still, I couldn't help but turn my thoughts to cardboard. The cardboard pile (and I use the term loosely, as it's not a pile but a heaping 12 foot tall, 100 foot wide, mass) really grabbed my attention. You see, we were dropping off the box to the new water heater while recycling the old one.

Random recycling thoughts

Now, I know that recycling the cardboard is a good thing. Still, I couldn't help but wonder if I could have made better use of it in the garden. There are, of course, many ways to do this. The one I'm most familiar with is keeping down weeds. This is recycling too, of course as the box breaks down to provide compost once it has outlived its usefulness as a weed blocker.

Normal garden cardboard recycling

In the gradual garden, we do a lot of good enough greening. We try to make our recycling methods there as simple as possible. Those water heater boxes, when cut in fourths the long way, are the absolute perfect size for blocking weeds in garden paths around raised beds or between rows. However, that's not what I was thinking to use them for this time.

A new recycling idea

It occurred to me that if they were cut in half, the long way, those pieces would be the perfect size to top a raised bed. You see, some of our raised beds are older and getting a bit weedy. I'm thinking that cutting holes in a couple of cardboard boxes for plants or seeds might be a good enough option for weed control right within the beds themselves, next year.

Cardboard box planters?

I was also thinking that since the boxes are quite strong, they might make good temporary, small raised beds all on their own. We could cut the bottom out, cut horizontal pieces the right height, fill them with soil and go to it. Of course, they would have to be replaced each year. However, we have a good, continual supply from the plumbing business. Plus, it would certainly save us a lot of money on lumber, not to mention labor when we go to expand the garden.

What do you think of these two ideas?

Do you have a favorite recycling tip for cardboard boxes? If so, please feel free to contribute in the comment section.

Five benefits of a manual push mower aka reel mower

Reel mowers are as green as it gets. (public domain photo)

There are a lot of good reasons to own a manual push mower. It isn't just about saving the earth, but that is a big part of it. Right now, we have both a gas and a reel mower. That's because our fixer upper backyard is full of nasty weeds. We use the reel mower in front. That's good enough greening under the circumstances. Of course, once the back lawn is tamed, we'll use it for both. Here's why.

Reel mowers don't pollute.

That fact alone would have made our decision easy. Protecting the environment is very important to both of us. Neither of us are city people. We're not impressed with fancy gadgets and noise. We like the simple life. We're both happiest when puttering around the yard. Somehow the idea of polluting our little paradise just doesn't suit our style.

Manual push mowers are cheap.

I would say inexpensive, but I'm not that fancy. I tell it like it is. In fact, you can buy a reel mower for under $100. Even the deluxe model comes in under $200. While it's true, a cheap gas mower can be under $200. as well, it won't be as reliable as the push mower and requires a lot of maintenance.

There's very little maintenance involved with a reel mower.

There aren't a lot of moving parts to replace. You don't need oil, gas or electricity to run them. You do have to lubricate the parts occasionally. You have to keep the blades sharp. They don't break down very much. In fact, my Dad had one that he had since he was a kid. He was in his fifties when I left home. It still hadn't broken down.

A manual push mower is good exercise, but lightweight.

They are admittedly, a little harder to push than a self propelled mower. They're definitely harder than a riding mower. Still, I like them just for those reasons. I think we need a little more exercise in our day anyway. Why not get it through a little good honest work? The newer reel mowers aren't quite the struggle the old ones were. I think I can handle it.

Manual push mowers are quiet and don't bruise the grass.

You can mow at midnight (without disturbing the neighbors). What's more, they're actually better for your lawn. They don't rip and tear at the grass the way motorized mowers do. So all that sodding, seeding and weeding you did won't go to waste. Keep the blades sharp and you get a nice clean cut.

You can buy a bag for your reel mower if you like, but it's not necessary. They spread cut grass evenly to give your lawn a fertilizer boost.

Portions of this post were previously published on Yahoo! by this author.

Recycling junk mail

Junk mail gift bag shreds (public domain photo)

Why not make good use of junk mail by recycling or re-purposing it? We all hate it. We all get tons of it annually. Why waste an opportunity by throwing it directly in the trash? There are some interesting things you can do with junk mail. Here's a few simple ways you can recycle or re-purpose junk mail without cluttering up your home.

Let the kids play with the fake credit cards.

These come with those annoying credit card offers. They're quite realistic, at least in the eyes of a young child. Kids can use them at their pretend grocery store. Or, they can put them in a purse or wallet to feel more grown up. My younger grand-kids get happy when I open those credit card offers and hand them one.

Light your fire.

You know you want to burn that crap up. Why not use it as a fire starter for your back yard fire-pit or grill? You were going to light the fire anyway. Why not at least do it non-chemically? This works great if you have no shredder and have a lot of those credit card offers. Did you know there's a scam where people steal them out of your mail, write in a new address and attempt to obtain a credit card in your name? If you burn it up or shred it they can't.

Make gift bag filler.

If you do have a shredder, you can turn all that junk mail into gift bag filler. Just shred it up. It costs nothing. Free is much better than the price they charge for colored shreds at the party store, isn't it? You can also use those shreds to pack breakables for moving or mailing. Do be sure to shred it first for security reasons.

Make more paper.

Shred it. Mix it with water until it becomes a pulpy mess. Spread out the goop thinly, on a flat surface or screen. Let it dry completely. Peel it off. Presto! You just made your own paper. You can do this with newspaper too.

Up-cycle this tip: Mix seeds with your paper for easy planting. Just bury the whole sheet about an inch deep in a pot filled with potting soil.

Indirect recycling

Produce bags can be re-used. (public domain photo)

Last post, I talked about how my plumber boyfriend shares his recyclables with local scrappers. We also save aluminum cans for the neighbors to recycle. They use more of them than we do. I call all this indirect recycling. That term could also be applied to up-cycling and other green methods that benefit others or don't involve a trip to the scrapyard.

I indirectly recycle in the garden.

I use wet, rolled newspaper to attract pesky bugs I use cardboard for weed control. Sometimes, it's the cardboard from those water heater boxes. It's the perfect size for garden paths. It biodegrades harmlessly too.

I indirectly recycle in the house.

I use grocery bags (when I forget to bring the cloth bags) as trash bags in the bathroom. OK, it's not exactly recycling, but at least they get more than one use. Plus, I'm not buying special bags for the small bathroom trash cans, which saves resources. I also save the vegetable bags from produce to cut down on the number of plastic zip-lock bags and containers that I buy.

I indirectly recycle on the job.

Sure, I write online for a living. That means I'm at home. So, rather than using disposables for my lunch or generating fast food trash, I eat off my own plates and use my own silverware. Right now, I'm indirectly recycling articles from a soon to close site by posting them on other sites. It saves me writing time, which means less computer time, which means less energy wasted.

How do you indirectly recycle?

Maybe you have some good ideas that my readers and I could use. Leave a comment!

No fuss recycling for plumbers

Plumbing tools (public domain photo)

We don't have any of those fancy recycling containers at our house. However we do recycle anything we can. My gorgeous partner is a plumber. So, in addition to aluminum, glass, cardboard and kitchen waste, we have leftover plumbing stuff to deal with. There's water heaters, bits of metal and more that he doesn't want to throw away. On the other hand, he works hard. He doesn't want or need elaborate recycling methods. He just doesn't have the time for complicated processes.

The metal

None of the metal is extremely valuable. Nevertheless, we don't like having much of it around, so we make a trip to the recyclers once a week or so. We have two small bins for recyclable metal. Very simply, when he gets home, he yanks any salvageable metal out of the van, then cuts and sorts it into the appropriate containers.

He puts some hard to cut and sort metal out with the trash. Nine times out of ten, it gets recycled by someone who comes by looking for it each week. Some does end up in the regular trash at times, but it's not enough to worry about. Plus, the landfill people don't bury it. They salvage what they can for a profit.

Note: Never use your property for valuable metal storage unless it's extremely secure. It's not uncommon for thieves to watch for signs that you might have recyclable metals on your property.

What about large items like water heaters?

My partner occasionally installs water heaters as part of his job. The old ones are worth about ten or twelve bucks each at the recyclers. So, since we're already taking the small metal, we haul whatever water heaters and household recyclables we have right along with us. If we wait too long, we can get a ticket for accumulating large items on the property. So, sometimes when we have nothing else to recycle, the water heaters and such go right out in front of the driveway with a free sign on them. It's a great solution.

You see, several trustworthy scrappers know where we live. They check our house for water heaters and other large plumbing scraps periodically. Honestly, they never sit there for more than half a day. If they do, I have their phone numbers on the fridge. They earn money. We help the environment without having to make an extra, gas guzzling trip to the recyclers. It works for everyone and helps save the earth too.

Easy green compost

Simple compost (public domain photo)

So you want to make your own compost? You can do it the hard way, following complex instructions or you can do it the good enough greening way. Either way, you'll get great compost. So why not skip the complex whys and wherefores and get right to it?

Making compost is a snap.

Nature does most of the work for you. Oh, you can get out your pitchfork and turn it daily if you have the time, I suppose. You can carefully measure out your proportions of green and brown matter. Or, you can just throw it all in a heap and harvest your perfectly wonderful compost in the spring.

I like the last suggestion, don't you?

Here's how you make lazy compost.

-Continually toss layers of leaves, small twigs, lawn clippings, coffee grounds and vegetable scraps in a heap in a sunny corner of your yard, throughout gardening season.

-Use no animal products, like fish, waste, bones, meat leftovers and such. They make things nasty and unusable.

-Wait until spring.

-Turn the pile over, shaking the loose stuff to the ground.

Voila! Perfect compost without the fuss.

The loose stuff is your lovely, perfectly composted material. It should look like black dirt. It might have a few bits of leaves in it, like the compost in the picture. That's OK. Till it into your garden when preparing for planting, along with the grass clippings from your first spring mowing (for nitrogen). Nature will finish the job of breaking it all down to feed your plants over time.

Keep making perfect compost every year.

Repeat by adding this year's twigs, leaves, grass and scraps to whatever is left of the pile that didn't fully decompose.

Harvest it again next spring. And so on.

Who needs chemical fertilizers? Not me.

About good enough greening

Just throw it in a pile! (public domain photo)

It's overwhelming isn't it? There's so much environmental damage and so many different reasons, causes and evils behind it. What can one person possibly do to stop it, reverse it or at least slow that train down? Well, you can't do it all. That's what I realized a few years back. On the other hand, you can make your environmental efforts a little less complex.

For instance:

-You don't have to compost exactly like the experts say. You can just throw that crap in a pile. Voila! It still works. Nature is great like that. She heals and renews herself naturally. Duh!

-You don't need a fancy-shmancy container for your aluminum cans, glass bottles, newspaper and whatever else you're recycling. An old trash can (or a bunch of them) will do.

-You don't even need a plan, a book or a guide.

You do, however, need this blog. Ha-ha. Hey, you can't blame a girl for trying, right?

Anyway.... This blog is all about making it easier to go green. It's not about making concessions on what or even how much you do to save the earth, but on how you do it. So, why not follow me on my lazy, crazy journey toward a green planet? It beats sorting out those recyclables, right?