What do you use that other people don't?

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What do you use that other people don't?
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Downsizer Forum Index -> Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

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2steps

Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Posts: 5349
Location: Surrey

Posted: Mon Sep 05, 05 10:07 pm Post subject:
I've always thought of using those for things but never had the chance to have any. I am half way through building new fences for my garden from old pallets that were going to be thrown away. pretty hard work but I'm getting there and its all free and recyling

nettie

Joined: 02 Dec 2004
Posts: 5888
Location: Suffolk

Posted: Mon Sep 05, 05 10:21 pm Post subject:

culpepper wrote:

buttery,what about a twin tub? They arent plumbed in.Our neighbour has one that uses the taps for filling and a hose into the sink for emptying.

Hurrah! Another twin tub fan!! Wish I could find one in the shops. You have complete control over how much water and energy you use. Things get really clean because of the agitiation. And you can use the grey water on the garden

Lozzie

Joined: 25 May 2005
Posts: 2595

Posted: Tue Sep 06, 05 7:14 am Post subject:

I visited with a neighbour to borrow newspaper and catfood for a potentially poorly hedgehog. To his consternation started digging grass-cuttings out of his wheelie-bin "to put on the allotment".

It wasn't that I particularly NEEDED his grass cuttings, I just couldn't bear seeing them filling up his bin - almost to the top - so early on in the week. He has plenty of areas in his garden that he could use to dump the clippings - even make a bit of a hedgehog nest for his own garden. But no.

hils

Joined: 08 Mar 2005
Posts: 568
Location: Nottingham

Posted: Tue Sep 06, 05 8:07 am Post subject:

nettie wrote:

I saw a new one on ebay recently but it was a small one designed for caravans and camping. Was going to get it for the crew boys so they had no excuse for nasty smelling feet due to no clean socks!

culpepper

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 638
Location: Kent

Posted: Tue Sep 06, 05 8:46 am Post subject:

nettie wrote:

Im saving our grey water for the watering.We have an automatic washing machine that empties into a drain outside,so I've got a large tin with a spout bent into the rim using pliers ,under the pipe,then that feeds into a second the same and then into a washing up bowl.I do have to go and empty the bowl part way through the wash . That and the rainwater butt mean I dont need the mains water at all for watering.
Ive been using it to colect the washing up water too.

Lozzie

Joined: 25 May 2005
Posts: 2595

Posted: Thu Sep 29, 05 1:57 pm Post subject:

We ran out of kitchen towels and it occurred to me that to mop up spills - not oily ones, necessarily, but most other stuff, I could use old cotton sheets that have long passed their sell-by date, cut to an appropriate size.

Cotton is good because it can be washed at high temperatures or even composted if it gets too soiled for words.

This Christmas none of my family is going to have their presents wrapped - instead, I will be putting them in old pillowcases

Suz

Joined: 19 Oct 2005
Posts: 23

Posted: Sat Oct 22, 05 9:50 am Post subject:

There's not a bottle, jar or can that gets thrown away in our house - opening the kitchen cupboard door gets more and more tricky every time though.

Only thing I can't seem to keep a hold of are egg boxes. Every time I trade our hens eggs with our neighbours (for various vegggies etc) I never get the box back - it's very annoying. And I haven't discovered anything to do with egg shells yet. I've tried them as slug deterents but it made no difference.

Most recent recycling venture was when our neighbours got a new central heating boiler put in. We snaffled their old copper one, cut it in half length ways and used the two half as planters/troughs. They look lovely in the garden full of nasturtiums, now that they've gone all verdis gris.

nature's child

Joined: 14 Aug 2005
Posts: 194
Location: Midlands

Posted: Sat Oct 22, 05 9:08 pm Post subject:
Used egg shells can apparently be made into chalk, (only for use outdoors, on pavements etc) I will let you know it's one of our half term projects, along with decorations for the C word.

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Sun Oct 23, 05 10:30 am Post subject:

I've tried eggshells for slug deterent, and it didn't work for me either - I use them crushed up in the worm bin now, to keep the acidity down.

I also have loads of egg boxes that I give to my mother in law (who has six black rocks) and mother (who has six unidentified flffy bummed chickens!)

What about putting peoples names on the box, so they can just leave the box on your step (maybe even with the money in) and you can refil them - perhaps that would get the message accross.

Suz

Joined: 19 Oct 2005
Posts: 23

Posted: Sun Oct 23, 05 11:26 am Post subject:

The chalk sounds like an idea, my twelve year old would definately be interested in that

I've tried everything to get the egg boxes back Wellington Womble, but short of thinly veiled threats of violence, nothing seems to work

I guess people are just so used to throwing things away unfortunately.

And no money changes hands, but we have a group of neighbours who all grow their own fruit and veggies, so we have a nice little barter thing going amongst us, which works out well. Half a dozen eggs gets us some onions (cos our didn't do very well this year) or some kale for the chooks. Jams and jellies get us some nice homemade wine - it all works out great.

Lozzie

Joined: 25 May 2005
Posts: 2595

Posted: Sun Oct 23, 05 1:05 pm Post subject:

Suz wrote:

I've tried everything to get the egg boxes back Wellington Womble, but short of thinly veiled threats of violence, nothing seems to work

Sometimes in charity shops you can pick up little baskets that have held flower arrangements or table decorations for a few pennies. Could your neighbours have a different one of these each for eggs? You could even line them with straw or shredded paper. They would perhaps be less inclined to throw them away.

jamsam

Joined: 21 Oct 2005
Posts: 2560
Location: erm....i dont know, its dark.

Posted: Sun Oct 23, 05 1:41 pm Post subject:
my god...i could print the last 4 pages and use them as christmas presents, any chance of a downsizer book here?????? for years my mum embarressed us by doing all those things, and now i find my self with pockets full of stuff at the end of the day as my kids constantly appear with 'stuff for sticking' or 'tubs for lego' or something else

jamsam

Joined: 21 Oct 2005
Posts: 2560
Location: erm....i dont know, its dark.

Posted: Sun Oct 23, 05 1:44 pm Post subject:
did any one else 'borrow' some of the free nappies in supermarket changing rooms??? no i didnt think so...but wet wipes have been used in my house for years to polish and wipe the wooden stairs, then my mum does the unthinkable....and washes them!

jamsam

Joined: 21 Oct 2005
Posts: 2560
Location: erm....i dont know, its dark.

Posted: Sun Oct 23, 05 1:51 pm Post subject: scrap store
i just realised thsi is the perfect place to drum up some help...any one living in carmarthenshire( close to camarthen) who wants to help set up a scrap store??? i have contacts from aberwystwth( badly spelt) who can help. jamsam ( email me a reply if it has phone numbers etc)

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Sun Oct 23, 05 1:55 pm Post subject:

Suz wrote:

I've tried everything to get the egg boxes back Wellington Womble, but short of thinly veiled threats of violence, nothing seems to work

I guess people are just so used to throwing things away unfortunately.

Your egg boxes are probably being used to chit potatoes, protect small seedlings and aeorate compost and things! I think thats lovely, though!

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