1Windy
I like to garbage pick in my neighborhood, because a lot of people where I live are well off. You can't believe the nice things people throw away! My kids are at an age where they are becoming humiliated by this, though, so yesterday when I saw a pair of green wooden shutters and a nice curtain rod sticking out of someone's can near the school, I waited until my daughter was inside and all the other mothers were gone before I snatched them up and bore them triumphantly home. No one will object, of course, if I clean them up and install them in their bedrooms, because they are pretty.
2nickhoonaloon
In the UK, people renovating houses or having a serious clear-out, often hire a skip (do you use that phrase in the US ? Big metal container, arrives on the back of a lorry).
I`m told some people find no end of useful discarded items in these. It just annoys me as I`ve never yet seen anything decent in one.
Someone i know once found half - dozen paperbacks in a paper recycling bin. Again, all I ever see in the things is old papers. Maybe it`s all in the eye of the beholder ?
I`m told some people find no end of useful discarded items in these. It just annoys me as I`ve never yet seen anything decent in one.
Someone i know once found half - dozen paperbacks in a paper recycling bin. Again, all I ever see in the things is old papers. Maybe it`s all in the eye of the beholder ?
3dodger
nickhoonaloon, we have those here in the US, but we call them dumpsters (charming, eh?) and of course, they arrive on the back of a truck, flatbed or simi (yeah, I know, a simi-what?) not a lorry—oh yeah, and we of course would rent it, we only “hire” people. It may be a small world, but we have managed to keep things interesting through the use of different nomenclature.
Windy, I surmise that, one day, your kids will join you in the hunt for useful things. We all reached that age where we had (as required by natural law) to be embarrassed by our parents. They will come around...though, it could be years! For now, I think you have found the best approach: don’t let them see you garbage-pick, and don’t tell them where things come from. What they do not know, I am sure, will not hurt them.
Windy, I surmise that, one day, your kids will join you in the hunt for useful things. We all reached that age where we had (as required by natural law) to be embarrassed by our parents. They will come around...though, it could be years! For now, I think you have found the best approach: don’t let them see you garbage-pick, and don’t tell them where things come from. What they do not know, I am sure, will not hurt them.
4Windy
They used to be proud of me, now they're embarrassed. So swings the pendulum of time! Years ago, I found an entire stained glass window sticking out of a dumpster behind a loft building in the South Loop of Chicago! I still have it in my bedroom.
One of the wealthier suburbs near where I live now has a special garbage pick-up day which is mobbed by pickers. When I went, I was clearly at a disadvantage in not having a huge pickup truck and not having started at 4am, but I did get a nice composter.
One of the wealthier suburbs near where I live now has a special garbage pick-up day which is mobbed by pickers. When I went, I was clearly at a disadvantage in not having a huge pickup truck and not having started at 4am, but I did get a nice composter.
5nickhoonaloon
dodger, windy
Actually, windy, after a certain point you wake up and find you`ve become your parents ! It`s a bit scary till you get used to it.
Dodger
The nomenclature thing - spend quite a bit of my LT time in a state of puzzlement due to differing use or words between here and there. So far I`ve discovered that American `liberals` are actually `left-wing` (a `liberal` here can be variously someone of the political centre/a person of tolerant disposition/an opponent of censorship) and a US `libertarian` can be right-wing. Almost no-one here would use the word `libertarian` at all, but if they did, they`d mean `anarchist` or something similar. There are some less political ones I`ve noticed from time to time, but don`t recall right now.
Oh yeah, we would only `rent` property. Everything else is hired.
Actually, windy, after a certain point you wake up and find you`ve become your parents ! It`s a bit scary till you get used to it.
Dodger
The nomenclature thing - spend quite a bit of my LT time in a state of puzzlement due to differing use or words between here and there. So far I`ve discovered that American `liberals` are actually `left-wing` (a `liberal` here can be variously someone of the political centre/a person of tolerant disposition/an opponent of censorship) and a US `libertarian` can be right-wing. Almost no-one here would use the word `libertarian` at all, but if they did, they`d mean `anarchist` or something similar. There are some less political ones I`ve noticed from time to time, but don`t recall right now.
Oh yeah, we would only `rent` property. Everything else is hired.
6Akiyama
I once found a lavishly illustrated history of the Second World War (about 20 volumes), and the official British history of the First World War (about 10 thick volumes) sitting in a skip.
Of course, I don't have room for these in my apartment (it's full of books as it is), but I couldn't let them go to the dump, could I?
That skip was rented by a property management company for all the householders who lived in their buildings to use. I noticed quite a few people taking things out of the skip. I think local councils should organise some kind of combination rubbish collection and swap meet on a street by street basis, combined with a barbecue or street party so people can get to know one another. By taking away people's unwanted large rubbish they would discourage fly-tipping too (a serious problem in my local area).
Of course, I don't have room for these in my apartment (it's full of books as it is), but I couldn't let them go to the dump, could I?
That skip was rented by a property management company for all the householders who lived in their buildings to use. I noticed quite a few people taking things out of the skip. I think local councils should organise some kind of combination rubbish collection and swap meet on a street by street basis, combined with a barbecue or street party so people can get to know one another. By taking away people's unwanted large rubbish they would discourage fly-tipping too (a serious problem in my local area).
7reading_fox
There are some odd laws regarding rubbish, I've got a feeling though can't be bothered to check, that - int eh UK at least - taking stuff out of a skip is technically still theft.
There is always FreeCycle if you are trying to dispose of no loner wanted items.
There is always FreeCycle if you are trying to dispose of no loner wanted items.
8dodger
reading_fox: I suppose it is “technically” theft in the UK or US, but (in the US at least) I don’t think that--typically--anything would come of it; perhaps a warning by a police officer. A trespassing charge may be more likely.
9dodger
Does anyone here ever have trouble using reusable bags at grocery stores?
When I use mine at a natural foods store (partially Whole Foods) it is never a problem; they even ask how full I would like them (in case I have to carry them far), and if I mind if certain items are bagged together. However, when I use them at “regular” grocery stores, it’s an entirely different experience!
Every time I go to the regular store near my home, they never put enough items in a bag. My bags will hold at least two times what a store’s plastic bag will hold, yet they put about the same number of items in my bags. I can bring four bags, and buy a relatively small number of items, and still be sent out the door with a couple of plastic bags! One bagger actually put a single bag of potato chips in a plastic bag by themselves! I mean really! there’re already bagged! I have complained; I have suggested items that don’t need bags be put in the cart; and I have even taken to pulling my cart off to the side after paying, and removing items from the plastic bags and stuffing them into my bags, then placing the plastic bags on one of the stores bagging stations. What else can I do? Any suggestions?
By far the most entertaining exchanged happened in the small town of Roswell, NM. I sought out an IGA (Independent Grocers Alliance) store when I needed a few items for my trip. I handed my bags to the cahier who looked very confused as she said, “What is that? An apron?” I said, “No, they are bags.” Another confused look was returned to me as she started placing my items in a plastic bag. I said, “Ah, I have my own bags.” She looked at me with another confused look and said, “Well I’ll put them in here (gesturing toward the plastic bag) and then I’ll put them into yours.” I said, “No, that’s the whole point; I don’t want the plastic bag!” Another confused look came my way as she finally agreed to put the items in my bag.
Does anyone else have difficulties like this, or am I just lucky?
When I use mine at a natural foods store (partially Whole Foods) it is never a problem; they even ask how full I would like them (in case I have to carry them far), and if I mind if certain items are bagged together. However, when I use them at “regular” grocery stores, it’s an entirely different experience!
Every time I go to the regular store near my home, they never put enough items in a bag. My bags will hold at least two times what a store’s plastic bag will hold, yet they put about the same number of items in my bags. I can bring four bags, and buy a relatively small number of items, and still be sent out the door with a couple of plastic bags! One bagger actually put a single bag of potato chips in a plastic bag by themselves! I mean really! there’re already bagged! I have complained; I have suggested items that don’t need bags be put in the cart; and I have even taken to pulling my cart off to the side after paying, and removing items from the plastic bags and stuffing them into my bags, then placing the plastic bags on one of the stores bagging stations. What else can I do? Any suggestions?
By far the most entertaining exchanged happened in the small town of Roswell, NM. I sought out an IGA (Independent Grocers Alliance) store when I needed a few items for my trip. I handed my bags to the cahier who looked very confused as she said, “What is that? An apron?” I said, “No, they are bags.” Another confused look was returned to me as she started placing my items in a plastic bag. I said, “Ah, I have my own bags.” She looked at me with another confused look and said, “Well I’ll put them in here (gesturing toward the plastic bag) and then I’ll put them into yours.” I said, “No, that’s the whole point; I don’t want the plastic bag!” Another confused look came my way as she finally agreed to put the items in my bag.
Does anyone else have difficulties like this, or am I just lucky?
10Akiyama
The larger stores here in England sell re-usable bags and encourage you to use them. Usually, if you take them back to the store when they are getting worn out, they will replace them for free. Some charge for plastic bags, or reward you with "clubcard points" or pennies off your bill if you use your own bags, and some accept old plastic bags for recycling.
The next battle between environmentalists and supermarkets in England is likely to be over the overpackaging of items on the shelves. Personally, I wouldn't mind stuff being overpackaged as long as it was biodegradable. It's the fact that everything is wrapped in non-biodegradable, non recyclable plastic that irritates me.
When I go shopping, I say "I have my own bag" and then I pack it myself, unless the cashier offers to take it from me (cashiers in England don't always pack your stuff for you). I don't mind too much about getting extra plastic bags though, as they will eventually get used as small bin bags.
Something I learnt from my wife: to fold a standard supermarket carrier bag up (for easy storage or carrying) fold it in half lengthways, then in half again, so it's a long strip. Then fold if from the bottom up to the top in a series of triangles. Finally, tuck the bag-handles into the centre of the folded triangle to secure it. You should now have a small, neat triangle that can be unfolded one-handedly by holding the handles and flicking your wrist in the right way. It takes a little practice.
The next battle between environmentalists and supermarkets in England is likely to be over the overpackaging of items on the shelves. Personally, I wouldn't mind stuff being overpackaged as long as it was biodegradable. It's the fact that everything is wrapped in non-biodegradable, non recyclable plastic that irritates me.
When I go shopping, I say "I have my own bag" and then I pack it myself, unless the cashier offers to take it from me (cashiers in England don't always pack your stuff for you). I don't mind too much about getting extra plastic bags though, as they will eventually get used as small bin bags.
Something I learnt from my wife: to fold a standard supermarket carrier bag up (for easy storage or carrying) fold it in half lengthways, then in half again, so it's a long strip. Then fold if from the bottom up to the top in a series of triangles. Finally, tuck the bag-handles into the centre of the folded triangle to secure it. You should now have a small, neat triangle that can be unfolded one-handedly by holding the handles and flicking your wrist in the right way. It takes a little practice.
11reading_fox
I have been told that you need a bag "for security" WHAT? I have recipt required by law to be given to me - this shows that I have paid for the item, WHY do I need to have a plastic bag to show that I have also paid for this item. I lost that argument and eventually accepted the bag.
I always use a rucksack for grocery shopping its just far more comforatable to carry than any other bag. Fortunetly in the UK one is allowed to pack one's own bag.
I also dislike the concep tof double bagging for meat and flour - if the original packagin isn't good enough to stop it making a mess make it better don't just give me another bag.
RE- reusing bags as bin bags, yes that's better than just throwing them, but ideally one really wouldn't have them at all. I get very few "new" plastic bags but still find they exceed my binbag usage.
I always use a rucksack for grocery shopping its just far more comforatable to carry than any other bag. Fortunetly in the UK one is allowed to pack one's own bag.
I also dislike the concep tof double bagging for meat and flour - if the original packagin isn't good enough to stop it making a mess make it better don't just give me another bag.
RE- reusing bags as bin bags, yes that's better than just throwing them, but ideally one really wouldn't have them at all. I get very few "new" plastic bags but still find they exceed my binbag usage.
12dodger
By far the best bag policy I have encountered was in Ireland. There, if you want a bag it will cost you 5 cents. If you want several bags: 5 cents each (this applies to convenience stores and petrol stations, too). The best part is that the money collected from the bag tax is used for a “green fund” for parks and such. What a great idea! Because of this, people throughout Ireland bring bags to the store to reuse, or they simply carry their items in their arms. This is brilliant; I would love to see every country do this!
Here in the States, most stores do reward customers for bringing in their own bags by deducting 5 cents from their bill for each bag. But I would love to see them charge people for using plastic bags. If nothing else, the money collected could be used to for the removal of the hundreds of plastic bags stuck in trees across the country!
And yes, the "for security" argument has always made me chuckle. If I were going to steel from the store, I could just bring in one of the store’s bags from a previous paying trip and load up my stolen groceries in that bag--since, as they seem to be saying, that bag is my proof of purchase!
Here in the States, most stores do reward customers for bringing in their own bags by deducting 5 cents from their bill for each bag. But I would love to see them charge people for using plastic bags. If nothing else, the money collected could be used to for the removal of the hundreds of plastic bags stuck in trees across the country!
And yes, the "for security" argument has always made me chuckle. If I were going to steel from the store, I could just bring in one of the store’s bags from a previous paying trip and load up my stolen groceries in that bag--since, as they seem to be saying, that bag is my proof of purchase!
13ranaverde
Where I used to live (California) I did get a bag discount for bringing in my own bags. Out here in the small town Midwest, there's no such thing.
So far I haven't had too much trouble with baggers using my bags. I use string bags, and they seem to be easier for them to fill than the canvas ones. I always tell them that the bags are a lot stronger than they look, and to fill them as full as possible. I bring about four with me each time, so I've yet to buy more groceries than will fit in bags. I also joke about having too many plastic bags under the sink at home. I haven't had a problem yet... except remembering to bring the bags with me each time.
(Now, if you really want to confound the baggers, ride your bike to the store, and fill up your backpack yourself, taking care to balance the weight. Somehow they find this more disturbing!)
So far I haven't had too much trouble with baggers using my bags. I use string bags, and they seem to be easier for them to fill than the canvas ones. I always tell them that the bags are a lot stronger than they look, and to fill them as full as possible. I bring about four with me each time, so I've yet to buy more groceries than will fit in bags. I also joke about having too many plastic bags under the sink at home. I haven't had a problem yet... except remembering to bring the bags with me each time.
(Now, if you really want to confound the baggers, ride your bike to the store, and fill up your backpack yourself, taking care to balance the weight. Somehow they find this more disturbing!)
14jagmuse
I think at most I've gotten weird looks, or had to tell the cashier several times that I don't need the bags (in some cases, I've actually had to take them out of the bag as they put them in and put it in my bag). But I've done this at Target, etc., and it's no problem, once you get the point across. I do find, however, that in order to get the bags full and not squirrel up the process, it is much easier to bag my own stuff.
I have Acme bags that are just like the plastic, but hold more because of their strength - seems to be less daunting to the baggers...
Ikea has just started charging 5 cents per disposable bag, which I think is great. And of course, they sell the reusable.
I have Acme bags that are just like the plastic, but hold more because of their strength - seems to be less daunting to the baggers...
Ikea has just started charging 5 cents per disposable bag, which I think is great. And of course, they sell the reusable.
15perodicticus
Questo messaggio è stato cancellato dall'autore.
16chloefdc Primo messaggio
on the topic of reusng- there is a great magazine called ReadyMade
www.readymade.com that is dedicated to remaking, reusing, recycling, etc.
It could offer great tips on what to do with the things you find!
www.readymade.com that is dedicated to remaking, reusing, recycling, etc.
It could offer great tips on what to do with the things you find!
17margd
I just discovered a "Freecycle" group in my area, and am so pleased with it! Members offer or request items, which must be freely given. Great for efforts at declutter, recycle, thrift! This week I received a free pine desk in make of my son's bed, and gave away a cockatiel cage (to working woman who kept her birds in a ferret cage), pumpkins (for grade school party), and a broken chest freezer (= mouseproof feed container for owner of a horse). Thus far, participants have all seemed very nice.
You can search for a freecycle group near you at www.freecycle.org
You can search for a freecycle group near you at www.freecycle.org
18GoofyOcean110
Freecycle is great! I've been able to get rid of some old electronics, and have gotten all sorts of random things. Including a fireplace tool set. Its really helpful!
19GoodHeartFarm
We don't tend to get a lot from freecycle because we're in a country town with a small population. However, our house is recycled ( cut in half and transported in) and nearly everthing in it is second-hand. We collect from side of the road (it's not stealing if you ask the owner first!), op shops, tips, garage sales and markets.
There is no shame in doing this. We are becoming richer by it. The things you find have a history and are often better than the new ones. It fits well with our environmental ethics. We get to meet a lot of interesting people - most people are happy to give stuff the're throwing away to us, knowing it's not going to waste.
Nearly our entire library (about 5000 books I estimate) is secondhand!
There is really very little you need to buy new.
There is no shame in doing this. We are becoming richer by it. The things you find have a history and are often better than the new ones. It fits well with our environmental ethics. We get to meet a lot of interesting people - most people are happy to give stuff the're throwing away to us, knowing it's not going to waste.
Nearly our entire library (about 5000 books I estimate) is secondhand!
There is really very little you need to buy new.
20FionaCat
There has been talk of banning plastic bags altogether here in California (I think they may already be banned in San Francisco) and starting tomorrow Whole Foods will no longer provide plastic bags at all.
When I remember to take my bags with me (I've started carrying a couple of Chico Bags in my purse -- they fold up into a little pouch and are about the same size as a standard plastic bag but hold up to 20 pounds), I hand them to the cashier at the beginning of the transaction, since they automatically start to bag items in plastic. I haven't gotten any weird looks lately, and even a couple of "Good for you"s :) And Trader Joe's lets you enter a drawing for a $25 bag of groceries every time you bring your own bags.
I am trying to get more of my books either from the library or through trade on Bookins.com (which is the best site for people like me whose goal is to give away more books than I receive, as they provide the postage and charge the recipient directly). I rarely buy DVDs anymore; I rent them from Netflix instead.
When I remember to take my bags with me (I've started carrying a couple of Chico Bags in my purse -- they fold up into a little pouch and are about the same size as a standard plastic bag but hold up to 20 pounds), I hand them to the cashier at the beginning of the transaction, since they automatically start to bag items in plastic. I haven't gotten any weird looks lately, and even a couple of "Good for you"s :) And Trader Joe's lets you enter a drawing for a $25 bag of groceries every time you bring your own bags.
I am trying to get more of my books either from the library or through trade on Bookins.com (which is the best site for people like me whose goal is to give away more books than I receive, as they provide the postage and charge the recipient directly). I rarely buy DVDs anymore; I rent them from Netflix instead.
21margd
Food for thought:
What is the Story of Stuff?
http://www.storyofstuff.com/
"From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It'll teach you something, it'll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever."
What is the Story of Stuff?
http://www.storyofstuff.com/
"From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It'll teach you something, it'll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever."
22GoofyOcean110
Latest things given away on Freecycle include 3 terrariums of various size/shape, discman, set of flashcards of the constellations. Got a shower radio.
About a dozen bags of clothes off to Goodwill, and heaps of books off to Bookmoochers. Yay for weeding season.
I keep a set of reusable grocery bags in the turnk of my car, and keep entering my name in the local Trader Joe's raffle. Haven't won yet though -- I'll just have to keep trying.
About a dozen bags of clothes off to Goodwill, and heaps of books off to Bookmoochers. Yay for weeding season.
I keep a set of reusable grocery bags in the turnk of my car, and keep entering my name in the local Trader Joe's raffle. Haven't won yet though -- I'll just have to keep trying.
23leahbird
> windy
it's actually my parents (and siblings) who are embarassed/frustrated with me for being thrifty and eco-minded. they are all sick of me telling them to recycle things or pointing out that some things have multiple uses. my sister gets the most annoyed. she never wants to hear me utter the words "biodegradable" or "off-gassing" ever again. but i keep reminding her that i'm trying to keep her and her ready-to-be-born-any-day-now daughter safe and healthy. (i did succeed in making my point about organic baby mattresses and BPA free products though!)
>dodger
when i lived in New Zealand, there were package stores that charged for bags but offered cardboard boxes (that had been used to ship the groceries to the store) for free. i loved this, as i was able to get TONS in the boxes and then recycle or reuse them.
here in Tennessee, though, it's a completely different story. most of the stores don't have a problem filling my bags, which are made from recycled plastic bottles, but they don't trying to encourage anyone at all. no discount or reward. they don't even really try to draw your attention to the reuseable bags they actually sell.
my favorite story was when i was at Target one day. i had bought a small laundry basket and some other odds and ends. the lady started to bag my small items (with about 2 items per bag), but i asked her instead to just toss them all in the basket as i didn't need the bags and it would be easier to carry in later. she just looked at me and said "Now, isn't that just the best idea? I never would have thought of that!" and then proceeded to point it out to her co-workers! it was like i had found the cure for cancer...
it's actually my parents (and siblings) who are embarassed/frustrated with me for being thrifty and eco-minded. they are all sick of me telling them to recycle things or pointing out that some things have multiple uses. my sister gets the most annoyed. she never wants to hear me utter the words "biodegradable" or "off-gassing" ever again. but i keep reminding her that i'm trying to keep her and her ready-to-be-born-any-day-now daughter safe and healthy. (i did succeed in making my point about organic baby mattresses and BPA free products though!)
>dodger
when i lived in New Zealand, there were package stores that charged for bags but offered cardboard boxes (that had been used to ship the groceries to the store) for free. i loved this, as i was able to get TONS in the boxes and then recycle or reuse them.
here in Tennessee, though, it's a completely different story. most of the stores don't have a problem filling my bags, which are made from recycled plastic bottles, but they don't trying to encourage anyone at all. no discount or reward. they don't even really try to draw your attention to the reuseable bags they actually sell.
my favorite story was when i was at Target one day. i had bought a small laundry basket and some other odds and ends. the lady started to bag my small items (with about 2 items per bag), but i asked her instead to just toss them all in the basket as i didn't need the bags and it would be easier to carry in later. she just looked at me and said "Now, isn't that just the best idea? I never would have thought of that!" and then proceeded to point it out to her co-workers! it was like i had found the cure for cancer...
24iatethecloudsforyou
in america and actually all around the world, i know people in south america, australia, europe, and in some places in asia people dumpster dive. its getting pretty popular among youth. first thing most people dumpster is food, second is up for grabs, its whatever else is thrown out. i lived 6 months on just dumpstered food and from just one dumpster. one grocery stores garbage supplied me and several other people with enough to eat and more. i would leave bread and pastries for many friends.
i occasionally drive around when a semester is over and find amazing things. sofas, frames, tables.
im only renting a house with a wood heater now so i can make use of all the free wood i see on craigslist.
in colorado i shop at an organic grocer and they wont give bags actually. you can get a box that there food comes in to use or you can use your own bag. but mainstore grocers dont encourage at all.
i occasionally drive around when a semester is over and find amazing things. sofas, frames, tables.
im only renting a house with a wood heater now so i can make use of all the free wood i see on craigslist.
in colorado i shop at an organic grocer and they wont give bags actually. you can get a box that there food comes in to use or you can use your own bag. but mainstore grocers dont encourage at all.
252wonderY
I've been keeping an eye out for pallet wood, and just found a local building supply company that stacks them out on their loading dock for the public to help themselves. YaY! The heavier wood is raw oak and poplar, and I've already made a classy crawlspace door from a few boards.
Most of the pallets are just slightly too big for my mini-minivan, so I need to borrow my daughter's truck or bring my battery powered saws to disassemble them. The full pallets will be used for composting bins. The thin wood slats for wall and ceiling finishes. there are all sorts of re-use ideas for wood pallets now.
Most of the pallets are just slightly too big for my mini-minivan, so I need to borrow my daughter's truck or bring my battery powered saws to disassemble them. The full pallets will be used for composting bins. The thin wood slats for wall and ceiling finishes. there are all sorts of re-use ideas for wood pallets now.
262wonderY
The community I'm moving to in Kentucky is somewhat advanced in recycling. The county recycling center crushes and tumbles all their glass bottles and offers it to the community as a permanent mulch. I can collect as much as my bones can carry for various landscaping uses. It has the consistency of fine gravel, packs better, and is kind and comfortable to the bare feet. I've used it to block aggressive blackberry weeds under my deck and as a substitute for packed sand under pavers and in the cracks between bricks in the front walk. Some people use it pure for walkways, but it tends to get tracked indoors by dog feet.
It also sparkles beautifully in the sun and children love to mess with it.
Closer in, the town chops all yard waste and offers it as regular mulch. Again, it's self-serve. Every trip to town I carry my 5 gallon buckets now and swing around for a fill-up.
It also sparkles beautifully in the sun and children love to mess with it.
Closer in, the town chops all yard waste and offers it as regular mulch. Again, it's self-serve. Every trip to town I carry my 5 gallon buckets now and swing around for a fill-up.
27milotooberry
That sounds like quite the nice recycling center! I'm getting pallets from our small town lumber store (we still have a local lumber store several years after Lowes moved in town! Can you believe it?) and looking into getting yard waste mulch from the recycling depot. I hope they let me have the yard waste. It takes work to make horse manure compost by itself!
282wonderY
You have horse manure?! Lucky you.
There must have been a fancy wedding in town yesterday, with a horse drawn carriage, because I saw several piles of brown gold. I've been known to take a bucket and shovel and clean it up.
There must have been a fancy wedding in town yesterday, with a horse drawn carriage, because I saw several piles of brown gold. I've been known to take a bucket and shovel and clean it up.
29milotooberry
Yes, my wife and I have three horses that our landlord allows us to keep in their pasture. Those three and our landlord's horse make far more than I can put to good use. If you want some manure, just ask around. It shouldn't be hard to find people with manure they don't use, even if for those who live in most cities.
Horse manure has about twice the nitrogen of an ideal carbon/nitrogen balance (30 C to 1 N), so I have to add brown leaves and other crispy things to keep the pile from overheating. That's only if I want to get faster compost, though. Leaving it in a pile as-is will still work, just more slowly, since the bacteria and fungi get kind of toasted by all the action in the pile.
I'm jealous of your town's free mulch and crushed glass!
Horse manure has about twice the nitrogen of an ideal carbon/nitrogen balance (30 C to 1 N), so I have to add brown leaves and other crispy things to keep the pile from overheating. That's only if I want to get faster compost, though. Leaving it in a pile as-is will still work, just more slowly, since the bacteria and fungi get kind of toasted by all the action in the pile.
I'm jealous of your town's free mulch and crushed glass!
30justjukka
#1: I generally didn't have a problem with my mother grabbing stuff out of the dumpster area. As you said, people throw some nice things out. We even got a nice, manual treadmill out of it (though my mother insisted, "Don't run on it! It's called a walker for a reason!"). I only felt embarrassed (and a little degraded) when she came into my room with an ugly, several-sizes-too-big autumn jacket that someone had tossed.
Regarding Reusable Bags: Woodman's (thus far a Wisconsin/Illinois chain) gives a discount for each bag you bring in. ^_^
Regarding Reusable Bags: Woodman's (thus far a Wisconsin/Illinois chain) gives a discount for each bag you bring in. ^_^
31milotooberry
If you live in the US in a state that has Half-Price Books, you should dumpster dive there after they close. They say they donate and recycle what they don't sell, but the reality is that they trash hundreds, if not thousands, of hardcover books at each store every week.
In Kansas City, we have two locations of HPB. I go there after they are closed and rummage through their recycling bins and dumpsters for books and other treasures. I believe they toss the hardcover books in the trash because you can't recycle hardcover books with the cover still on. They go through way too many books to tear off all those covers!
I have actually met several people at these dumpsters and we talk when we run into each other there, marvelling over what we find.
In Kansas City, we have two locations of HPB. I go there after they are closed and rummage through their recycling bins and dumpsters for books and other treasures. I believe they toss the hardcover books in the trash because you can't recycle hardcover books with the cover still on. They go through way too many books to tear off all those covers!
I have actually met several people at these dumpsters and we talk when we run into each other there, marvelling over what we find.
34milotooberry
@#33:
I have found too many to list, but here's a try:
Robert Ludlum's Bourne Trilogy in hardcover
Tolkien's LOTR Trilogy in a special red hardcover one-volume edition (http://www.amazon.com/The-Lord-Rings-Collectors-Edition/dp/0395193958) It was only missing the box and needed a bit of spine repair.
Life Publication's The World We Live In (http://www.amazon.com/The-World-We-Live-In/dp/B0006D7N9W/ref=cm_cr-mr-title)
Countless paperback classics of European and American Literature, as well as Fantasy and Sci-Fi
Older textbooks (I have kept ones on subjects that are not continually outdated, such as philosophy and history and art)
Jared Diamond's Collapse
Steven Pinker's Stuff of Thought
The entire Harry Potter series in paperback and a few in hardback
C++ manuals
Dozens of older books that I call "layman's science books." Books printed mostly from the 40s to through the 60s that give overviews of many subjects to generations of kids and adults who were actually curious about science.
Once I actually found declassified military documents about reading wartime maps in Chinese while behind enemy lines.
I encourage others to look in places like these dumpsters. You never know what you'll find.
I have found too many to list, but here's a try:
Robert Ludlum's Bourne Trilogy in hardcover
Tolkien's LOTR Trilogy in a special red hardcover one-volume edition (http://www.amazon.com/The-Lord-Rings-Collectors-Edition/dp/0395193958) It was only missing the box and needed a bit of spine repair.
Life Publication's The World We Live In (http://www.amazon.com/The-World-We-Live-In/dp/B0006D7N9W/ref=cm_cr-mr-title)
Countless paperback classics of European and American Literature, as well as Fantasy and Sci-Fi
Older textbooks (I have kept ones on subjects that are not continually outdated, such as philosophy and history and art)
Jared Diamond's Collapse
Steven Pinker's Stuff of Thought
The entire Harry Potter series in paperback and a few in hardback
C++ manuals
Dozens of older books that I call "layman's science books." Books printed mostly from the 40s to through the 60s that give overviews of many subjects to generations of kids and adults who were actually curious about science.
Once I actually found declassified military documents about reading wartime maps in Chinese while behind enemy lines.
I encourage others to look in places like these dumpsters. You never know what you'll find.
352wonderY
I brake for five gallon buckets!
They are the most all around useful item to have in quantity on my place. Without a truck, I often throw 16 buckets in the back of my mini-mini van and collect organic matter, from farm manure to leaf compost to sawdust. In the gardens I can leave them to collect rain water near the plants that need an extra sip to get themselves established. They can be used to round up all sorts of small items inside and out.
A recent stop at a construction site to salvage buckets gave us a couple of bonuses - 12 large panes of glass with annealed edges and some flooring tile. Also, one of the buckets still had paint in it - not much, but it was my favorite color, teal. Grabbed a paint brush and used it up on lots of small detail work in the kitchen.
They are the most all around useful item to have in quantity on my place. Without a truck, I often throw 16 buckets in the back of my mini-mini van and collect organic matter, from farm manure to leaf compost to sawdust. In the gardens I can leave them to collect rain water near the plants that need an extra sip to get themselves established. They can be used to round up all sorts of small items inside and out.
A recent stop at a construction site to salvage buckets gave us a couple of bonuses - 12 large panes of glass with annealed edges and some flooring tile. Also, one of the buckets still had paint in it - not much, but it was my favorite color, teal. Grabbed a paint brush and used it up on lots of small detail work in the kitchen.
36John5918
>12 dodger: In South Africa too you have to pay for plastic bags, and the cashier has to ask you whether you want to buy them. Most major supermarkets sell their own reusable bags, but they are obliged to let you use any bag, whether from another supermarket or your own. However in Africa as a whole plastic bags are over-used and, along with plastic water bottles, are a huge environmental problem.
When I first came to Sudan over 30 years ago we just used to tip all our rubbish over the fence into the street. Within 24 hours it would all have disappeared. People would have scavenged anything useful or resellable (including metal, glass, paper, cloth, wood, etc) and anything edible would have been eaten by people, animals, birds and insects. Glass bottles were particularly valuable (a Coke bottle was worth more than the drink that it originally came with, and could be found full of milk, cooking oil, petrol, locally-brewed alcohol, etc) as were tins of all sizes (up to and including 200-litre oil drums), which were turned into all manner of useful implements. Even 10 years ago kids would still beg for an empty plastic water bottle. Now the landscape is just littered with these plastic bottles.
But I would say that in Africa generally we do reuse and repair things a lot. Often it's because replacements are hard to get unless you happen to be in a big city, and anything imported is expensive while labour is cheap, so repairing things makes economic sense. There's also a tradition of repairing things by modifying them to make use of whatever is available in the way of spare parts or other materials. However I would also say that there is an up and coming middle class making all the same consumerist mistakes as the middle classes in the developed world.
When I first came to Sudan over 30 years ago we just used to tip all our rubbish over the fence into the street. Within 24 hours it would all have disappeared. People would have scavenged anything useful or resellable (including metal, glass, paper, cloth, wood, etc) and anything edible would have been eaten by people, animals, birds and insects. Glass bottles were particularly valuable (a Coke bottle was worth more than the drink that it originally came with, and could be found full of milk, cooking oil, petrol, locally-brewed alcohol, etc) as were tins of all sizes (up to and including 200-litre oil drums), which were turned into all manner of useful implements. Even 10 years ago kids would still beg for an empty plastic water bottle. Now the landscape is just littered with these plastic bottles.
But I would say that in Africa generally we do reuse and repair things a lot. Often it's because replacements are hard to get unless you happen to be in a big city, and anything imported is expensive while labour is cheap, so repairing things makes economic sense. There's also a tradition of repairing things by modifying them to make use of whatever is available in the way of spare parts or other materials. However I would also say that there is an up and coming middle class making all the same consumerist mistakes as the middle classes in the developed world.
372wonderY
>36 John5918: Re: the glass Coke bottle - You've seen the movie The Gods Must Be Crazy, I hope.
And so glad you've joined us here. Looking forward to hearing some of your building stories.
And so glad you've joined us here. Looking forward to hearing some of your building stories.
382wonderY
A new concept - Reusable Coffee cups!
They (gasp!) wash them.
Too bad they are made of plastic too. I can taste the difference myself, and I use only glass, ceramic or stainless steel.
They (gasp!) wash them.
Too bad they are made of plastic too. I can taste the difference myself, and I use only glass, ceramic or stainless steel.
39margd
Several ideas for reusing materials to garden and landscape in article below.
Hoping our community garden will consider a tiny (gardening) library!
45 Charming Garden Design Ideas That We Didn’t Know We Needed
Iulia P October | 26, 2021
https://morehackz.com/gardenhacks/19/
Hoping our community garden will consider a tiny (gardening) library!
45 Charming Garden Design Ideas That We Didn’t Know We Needed
Iulia P October | 26, 2021
https://morehackz.com/gardenhacks/19/
402wonderY
>39 margd: Nice! You should post it in the Garden and Books group as well.
41margd
>40 2wonderY: Would you? I'm not a member, though now I'll look it up!
42margd
Wonder if birds and mice would become acclimated? Bet the neighbours wouldn't!
Farmers Use Trash to Scare Pests From Fields
Farmers in Vietnam are using discarded plastic and metal to keep birds and mice away from their rice fields — here’s how 🌾
1:22 ( https://twitter.com/nowthisnews/status/1515143689450008577 )
Jim Uber @JimUber1
I wonder what the yellow plastic tube is?
Thinking to modify the design to transmit sound/vibration into the ground to deter moles?
Farmers Use Trash to Scare Pests From Fields
Farmers in Vietnam are using discarded plastic and metal to keep birds and mice away from their rice fields — here’s how 🌾
1:22 ( https://twitter.com/nowthisnews/status/1515143689450008577 )
Jim Uber @JimUber1
I wonder what the yellow plastic tube is?
Thinking to modify the design to transmit sound/vibration into the ground to deter moles?
Iscriviti per commentare
