A fun, fast and easy recycling project to help you get ready for Spring!
Wednesday, 19 Jan 11 Cloudy 1°C / 34°F
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Ever since I came back home from the States, back in July, we’ve been saving up our empty toilet paper and paper towel rolls. I’ve asked the neighbors to pitch in as well and nearly every week, we find a stack of five to ten rolls waiting for us on the front porch.
I’ve been meaning to put these to use and today, I decided I’d procrastinated enough and had to get to work on this and a couple other projects.
Step 1.
Smash the toilet paper roll flat and press the edges (I find the handle of my scissors works great). Open it up, line up the creases and smash it the other way so you end up with four bent edges and a squarish roll. (see first photo)
Step 2. Cut about one centimeter (half an inch) or so along each crease from both ends of the roll. (see second photo)
Step 3. Cut the roll in half across the middle. (see third photo)
Step 4. Fold the flaps in like closing a box (see fourth photo) and flip it over.
You now have a bio-degradable seed starting cup that you can plant right out in the garden. If you save up all of your rolls to use like this, you may never have to shell out money on peat pots again!
The last photo is just showing you what sort of multitude of seed starting cups I could make with about six months of community collected paper rolls. I just counted to be sure and I have exactly 80 cups, more than enough to get my seeds started for the first plantings in my garden.
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Comments
Deanna wrote:
Love, love, love this! I usually make little pots out of newspaper, but I’m going to give this a try instead!
Posted on 20 Jan 11 (over 2 years ago)
MistyRae wrote:
Let me know how it works out for you! I’ve never tried newspaper cups, they just seem like they’d be too mushy too quick or maybe take too much time to make. I’ll look up some instructions though and give it a try, I know far too much newspaper ends up finding it’s way into our recycling bin and it’d be a great way to cut back on that.
I’ve tried using plastic yogurt cups as well but I don’t like stressing my little seedlings by pulling them out of the pot when it’s time for them to go out.
My boyfriend might think I’m silly for having all these little projects going on but honestly, I love recycling things that would otherwise get thrown out but it gives me free stuff! Plus, I’m doing my bit to help out the neighborhood. I know for a fact that our next door neighbors never put out their recycling bin so I assume that all their paper rolls just got tossed in the trash before I asked them to save them for me. Sure, they might think I’m a bit weird for that request but I’m doing my little part to improve things for everyone and that makes me feel pretty good.
Posted on 20 Jan 11 (over 2 years ago)
Tomartyr wrote:
@MistyRae, none of us should be concerned about our neighbours (or anyone else for that matter) thinking we’re a bit weird. The differences between individual human beings in terms of opinion, habit, belief, personality, skills, talent, interests and so many other things should be celebrated. Too many of us try to act as we think others expect us to act and the result is dull, uninteresting people. Anyway, that’s my little bit of philosophy for the day. And if you recycle and they don’t, you’re right and they’re wrong!
Posted on 20 Jan 11 (over 2 years ago)
MistyRae wrote:
Hehe, don’t you worry about me for one second, Tomartyr. I have always been a bit of a black sheep and I’m the first real live American most of these sleepy small village people have ever met. While others in my situation would be oh-so-concerned about their neighbor’s opinions, I figure since they don’t know me very well yet (and won’t until my French improves) I might as well baptize them with fire. I’m allowing myself to be as weird and goofy as I feel like being, I collect funny looks like other people collect stamps!
Posted on 20 Jan 11 (over 2 years ago)
Deanna wrote:
I will let you know. My recycling just got picked up, so, sadly, I had no rolls to work with today!
I think the newspaper pots hold up really well. I have had no mushy issues with them!
There is a gizmo you can buy to make the newspaper pots, but I just use a shot glass. I think your pots are better, though.
I am with you on the recycling. Your efforts are a good example to your neighbours. I try re-use or re-purpose as much as possible.
I have a paper shredder and shred my newspapers and flyers for use in my compost or as mulch, but some do end up in the recycling box as well.
Posted on 21 Jan 11 (over 2 years ago)
sserendipityy wrote:
Just made my first two and they are great. These are the sorts of ideas I just love – recylce and save money. Thank you!
I will be going to work and requesting that everyone brings in their empty toilet rolls for me. I can keep the ones from work also. My area/community is big on recycling so if I asked people to save these for me, no eyelids would be batted.
Think I will check out your page for any other nifty ideas :-)
Posted on 23 Jan 11 (over 2 years ago)
sserendipityy wrote:
Just had a thought. If I only cut one end and didn’’t cut these in half they would be the perfect size for cuttings too.
Oh what have you started :-)
Posted on 23 Jan 11 (over 2 years ago)
WildSage wrote:
I love this idea! I made my first few today, and it really was simple. Thank you for sharing!
Posted on 30 Jan 11 (over 2 years ago)
MistyRae wrote:
That’s great to hear, Wildsage. I love finding little ways to save money and reuse things and I’m happy this tip is working out for other people as well.
Posted on 30 Jan 11 (over 2 years ago)
Deanna wrote:
Just wanted to let you know I made a few of these today. Brilliant! Love them! Much faster than making the newspaper pots.
Posted on 02 Feb 11 (over 2 years ago)
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