Tag Archives: recycling

Recycling: More Useful Yard and Garden Items

Here are a few more ideas for handy items that you can make from things found in the recycling bin. Buckets Do you need to soak tools or paintbrushes? Cut the tops off plastic milk jugs (about half way down). Fill with degreaser or detergent and pop in tools to soak. These also work great as soap pails when giving the car or your patio furniture a good washing. Milk jug buckets also make good storage containers. Store rolls of weed-eating twine inside to keep them from unraveling, or place your garden trowel, gardening gloves, and other tools inside to … Continue reading →

Make a Bird Feeder

Since plastic is a huge source of material that requires recycling, limit the amount by making cool stuff from plastic milk jugs. You will of course want to start by thoroughly washing and rinsing the plastic jug, and the rest of the steps are just as simple. Milk Jug Bird Feeder Items needed: Milk jug Scissors or tin snips birdseed This project only requires cutting a milk jug in two places, but adults should do the cutting or supervise children closely. 1. The first step requires measuring a square about 2″ x 2″ and marking it on in the front … Continue reading →

Recycling: Make Useful Yard and Garden Items

There are lots great, useful items that you can make from things that would otherwise end up at the curb awaiting recycling. This is a good opportunity to re-use these items in handy new ways. Sure, they will eventually end up in the recycling bin, but you will have used them well. You will also save money by making useful things instead of having to purchase them. Patio Party Lanterns Cut the bottoms from plastic milk jugs (up to the bottom edge of the handle. Place stones or sand in the container. Insert a votive candle in the center and … Continue reading →

Yard and Garden: Composting

As we recycle plastics, glass, paper, and whatever else, we can also begin recycling organic materials as well. By composting, we can give nutrients back to the earth and enhance our soil. If you plan to plant a vegetable garden, grow flowers, or plant a tree, composting with help soil become richer and more hospitable to each type of planting. Composting is not difficult to do, it’s good for the environment, and it saves you money by helping you avoid paying for top soil and fertilizer. Many people avoid it because it can be a dirty job, but it doesn’t … Continue reading →

Moving in to Your New Home

Moving out of a home can be stressful as we all know, but moving into a new house has its own challenges. Where to put things, how to stay organized, how to avoid still having packed boxes six months later, and various other issues tend to crop up as soon as we put the key in the new front door. Here are a few tips: 1. The first step is pretty obvious, but it’s still worth mentioning. If your new home is not brand new, you may not feel very comfortable until you have cleaned certain areas yourself, such as … Continue reading →

Use a Little Less…of Wasteful Products

Today we live in a disposable society. We would rather throw something away instead of wash it by hand. A lot of this is because we sometimes fill our lives with so many things that we just don’t have the time to be earth-friendly, healthy, or even just plain economical. It is time that we stop filling our landfills with disposable products and start using less of these things. Here are some ways to replace your favorite disposable products with some better options: 1. Use rags. Save trees and use rags instead of paper towels for most cleaning jobs. Chances … Continue reading →

Don’t Get Rid of Last Year’s Calendar!

I know that it’s already a couple of weeks into the new year, but maybe you’re like me and you still haven’t thrown away your 2005 calendar for whatever reason. You know, it does feel like a shame to throw out a calendar that is full of great pictures. There are actually a lot of things you can do with those pictures instead of chucking them in the trash can. Now, if you are more on top of things than I am, and you still like some of these ideas, just go out and buy a new calendar. Since the … Continue reading →

Three Tips to Help Limit Clutter

These simple tips will help you limit the amount of clutter in your home: Take Out as Much as You Bring in Get in the habit of removing things in the same bulk as you bring items in. If you bring home two bags of groceries, take out two similarly sized containers of trash, papers, or recycling. If you bring home a new outfit, donate one that you no longer wear. If you purge right away, you won’t continue filling up your home with unneeded stuff. You’ll get rid of unused items and at the same time free up space … Continue reading →