Homesteader Depot

Tag: Recycle

  • How to be More Environmentally Friendly

    How to be More Environmentally Friendly

    Do you want to live a more environmentally friendly life? Making a few small changes is the best way to do so. You don’t have to drastically overhaul how you do everything in order to be kinder to Mother Earth. Instead, just follow the suggestions described here and pick a few that sound the best. It’s easier to make these changes a little at a time, so once your first few choices have become ingrained habits, it’s time to pick a few more. Before you know it, your lifestyle will be very environmentally friendly.

    Stop Wasting Water and Using Disposable Water Bottles

    Sit back and think about how much water you use every single day and then find easy solutions to the problem. Do you take baths? If so, gallons of excess water are going down the drain every single time. You can reduce your water usage and still maintain your expected cleanliness levels by switching to showers with a low flow showerhead. In addition to this, if you go through quite a few bottles of water each day, you can switch a much more environmentally friendly solution with a reusable water bottle and a water filter that’s attached to your faucet.

    Use CFL (Compact Fluorescent) Bulbs

    If you go into any home improvement store, you’ll find an entire aisle dedicated to light bulbs of all shapes and sizes. The one thing that you won’t find are those old fashioned “traditional” bulbs that use up a lot of electricity. Now is the best time to stock up, so when your last of those traditional bulbs finally burns out, you can replace it with a CFL bulb. These bulbs use less electricity and will last much longer, making them very environmentally friendly.

    Related Article: 15 Things That Will Help You Conserve Your Home Energy

    Skip the Paper Towels

    Paper towels are handy. They clean up messes of all sizes and are very absorbent. The problem is that they’re bad for the environment. Think of how many paper towels you go through on a regular basis and then imagine how many are ending up in landfills. (The answer here is almost all of them.) Rather than fill your trash with used paper towels, switch to standard cloth towels. Microfiber ones are absorbent, don’t leave fibers behind, and can be washed and reused. Stock up on a bunch of them so that you have enough for a full load in the washing machine when they’re all dirty.

    Purchase Secondhand Goods or Borrow Things When You Can

    Have you heard of fast fashion? This clothing is designed for short-term use because it’s trendy and not made extremely well. With that said, it will hold up for quite some time when you treat it right. Rather than contribute to the environmental catastrophe that is fast fashion (think of how much pollution the manufacturing process creates), buy secondhand clothing. You also have the choice of purchasing clothing made in an environmentally friendly manner.

    Now, for the second part of this – borrowing things. Think of what’s involved every time you place an order for a book. It needs to be packaged in cardboard and then shipped using trucks that run on fossil fuels. If you just borrow the book from the library, you’re not only money but also the planet.

    Carry Canvas Grocery Bags

    The states that have banned plastic grocery bags had the right idea. Those bags just end up in landfills, dumping grounds, or even waterways. They’re a hazard. Invest in a few good quality canvas grocery bags and use them instead when you go to the store. You can wash these bags and reuse them again and again.

    This Water Freedom System Will Completely Change Our World>>>

  • 3 Surprising Ways to Reuse Old Electrical Cords and Cables

    3 Surprising Ways to Reuse Old Electrical Cords and Cables

     

    Since the dawn of cable TV, the number of electrical type cording we have around the house has expanded almost exponentially.  What started with coaxial and extension cords now include shorted out or plain outdated AV connectors, HDMI wiring, and USB cords in about every shape, size, and color.

    If you are anything like my family, you have at least one box filled with outdated wiring, some of which is so old you probably have no idea what ancient piece of tech you’ve since gotten rid of it used to go to. The first idea we usually have is to toss them in the trash.  Next time you are ready to purge your collection, stop and consider one of these options instead.

    1.     Sell Them

    Does this sound familiar?  You’ve upgraded your camera/laptop/computer/monitor/etc. and now you have a collection of accessory cords that still work perfectly, but you have absolutely no use for.

    Believe it or not, there are techies out there who may want them.  They may need a replacement cord for an item they refuse to part with, they may be “frankensteining” their own unique machine and need just the spare cord you want to part with.

    If you’ve managed to keep track of the specs of some of your cords and the stuff they went to originally, you can sell these cords online or at your next garage sale and make a little extra cash on something you would otherwise toss aside.

    Bring batteries back to life with this simple battery reconditioning resource…never buy batteries again!  Learn More Here >>>

    2.     Recycle Them

    It probably won’t shock you to hear that electronic cords and cables are not biodegradable.  Fortunately, recycling is getting easier.  Even if your local curbside service doesn’t take them, you can do a search for electronic recycling in your area.  Best Buy has a recycling program for electronics.  The policy changes occasionally so check with your local store to see what they currently take, how much at once and if there are any fees.

    Suggested Article:  5 Creative Ways to Reuse Old Cans

    3.     Upcycle Them

    One of the things most of these cords have in common is copper. Copper is not only a good conductor; it looks good all by itself.

    Copper wire has many distinctive properties that have made it a go to wire for projects.  The wires flexibility is matched by its versatility.

    Although some wire crafting projects require special tools, plus time and years of practice, others are relatively easy and can be accomplished with just a few basic tools from your toolbox and time to have fun. Using copper wiring for a project adds an additional level of aesthetic that will enhance the finished product even more.

    You can “harvest” the copper wire from cables for homemade jewelry and other craft projects.  Collect your copper by using wire snips to cut it out of the PVC covering and dielectric spacers.

    Depending on the type of cord you are cutting open, you can end up with different gauges by using not only the main wiring but by unbraiding the thinner wire that makes up the protective guard.

    One of the easiest copper wire projects you can do it creating ire Word Art. The process is simple.

    • Use MS Word or a similar program to type your word in the font you want to copy and then select the font size you want the project to be.
    • Print out your final design on paper to use as a guide.
    • Using wire snips, needle nose pliers and regular pliers, bend the wire to create the shape of the letters, checking your design by laying the wire on the printout.

    Try this: Trick to Recondition and Reuse Old Batteries>>>

  • Simple Reduce – Reuse – Recycle Methods

    Simple Reduce – Reuse – Recycle Methods

     

    If you are a parent, the words “Reduce – Reuse – Recycle” may conjure up the theme music of Bob, the Builder.  But, that’s not a bad thing, unless you can’t get it out of your head.

    I used to enjoy watching that show with my son when he was still part of “Bob’s” demographic because very often they gave the adults sitting through it really good ideas about upcycling stuff.

    If you’re looking for ways to put into action the three R’s at home, here are some ideas to get you started.

     

    Paper Products

    Egg Cartons –  Great to sort and organize small items, either in a drawer or in a storage box.  Since they are easy to cut apart, you can trim them to fit just about any space or secure more than one together to expand the storage options.

    Have a year-round garden?  You’re probably always looking for containers to start seed.  Paper egg cartons are great for this since they provide excellent drainage.  Plus, since they are biodegradable, you can plant the whole “cup” once the baby plant is ready, instead of making a mess trying to transfer the soil.

    Toilet Paper Rolls: Also can be used as seed starters.  Cut each roll in half. Wrap 4 or more mini-rolls together with a rubber band or bungee cord, fill with potting soil and place in a shallow container or tray.

    8.5 x 11 Paper: Create notepaper pads by cutting down the used paper.  Then clip them together or stack them in a small box with a pencil for a convenient note area.

    Packing Paper: Fold into long thin pieces approximately a quarter inch to an inch wide and use the strips to weave baskets. Decorate before you weave them or after to get interesting patterns and designs.

    Gift Wrap and Old Magazines: Looking for something to do in the winter when all the chores are done?  Roll a thin strip of used wrapping paper or old magazines into different sizes of paper beads to use in future jewelry and craft projects.  Or, take up Quilling, the art of rolled paper.

     

    Brown Wrapping Paper or Grocery Bags: Paper grocery bags are one of my favorite things to upcycle.  I crumple it up and then flatten it to use a background for photos and artwork.  I wrap book with it for a more decorative display on my bookcases (my HTML and CSS Coding for Dummies manual looks a lot better in brown).  I even used it to cover the top of a desk to give my office a new look.

    Last year I used brown paper grocery bags and my scrapbooking stamps to create one of a kind gift boxes for Christmas gifts.  The shoe boxes I refuse to throw out came in handy for that project as well.

    Newsprint:  Makes a great mulch for the garden. To use it, tear it into strips, then lay it around your plants. Have more than you need for mulching?  Toss the extra shreds on the compost pile.

    Do you keep chickens or other livestock that required bedding?  Shredded paper works well.  Then, when its time to lay down fresh, you have extra fortified mulch/fertilizer for your garden beds.

    Scrap Paper: Any other paper you can’t immediately find a use for can be stored in a plastic bag to keep moisture out and used when packing and shipping an item, or just storing something fragile away. It’s also good for kindling if you have a fireplace.  Just steer clear of shiny paper, they contain additives that smoke very badly and release toxins into the air.

     

    Plastic

    Plastic Shopping Bags: This seemingly never-ending supply can be repurposed.  Use them a stuffing for plush items and pillows, braid them into rope for a variety of activities or crochet them into reusable bags.

    Plastic Bottles: Thanks to all the creatives out there, more and more ways of using plastic bottles are popping up every day.  From self-watering planters to chandeliers it appears that only your imagination is the limit when it comes to reusing them. For some fun idea, check out this post by DIYProjects.com.

     

    Glass

    Glass containers can be used indefinitely.  They can even help you reduce the number of plastic containers you end up with.  Try buying as many things in bulk and using your glass jars and bottles for storage.

     

    I hope at least one of these methods caught your attention and can be put to use immediately.  As always, leaving as little footprint on the earth is desired, so reduce – reuse – recycle.

    Click Here

  • 4 Crafty Ways to Reuse Mason Jars

    4 Crafty Ways to Reuse Mason Jars

    Mason jars. Are they not one of the best inventions of all time? Originally designed for canning, mason jars (or Bell, or Kerr, or other canning jars…wide-mouth canning jars are just all-around awesome) have so many uses. They’re sturdy, difficult to break, have a big capacity-well, a quart!

    Lately, the annals of Pinterest have shown us that there are dozens of ways to use mason jars, so we picked a few particularly clever uses.

    Mason Jar Herb Garden

    Probably the most homestead-applicable, a simple mason jar herb garden is pretty much exactly what it sounds like! In lieu of drainage, you simply place rocks or marbles at the bottom of the jar, then fill with potting soil, and finally your direct-sow seeds or plant your herb starts. This would make a great project for early fall, so you can enjoy fresh herbs inside throughout the winter.

    Suggested Article:  Five Ways to Preserve Herbs

    Fragrant Mason Jar Oil Lamps

    This requires a bit of craftiness, but it would make an awesome holiday gift and is also so pretty and rustic looking it’d be a great addition to any homestead decor. There are a couple of different methods – here’s one that’s perfect for the holidays. The cool thing about this one is you can add herbs, fragrant leaves, cinnamon sticks, or citrus peels that make a wonderful smell with the lamp is burned, and also make for a beautiful display.

    Weather-proof Matchbox

    A very un-glamorous but fantastic way to use a mason jar. A great option for a bug-out bag or camping. You simply fill the mason jar with matches, then cut the strike-anywhere surface off the box and affix to the lid of the mason jar. You have your matches protected from moisture and can strike them right on the lid of the jar. Perfect!

    Solar Lights 

    Ever try out those cheap solar lights to illuminate your paths only to find they get knocked over and broken in a stiff breeze? Well, you can simply remove the tops of these and place in-you guessed it-mason jars! You’ll have to pick some that fit a mason jar, of course, but these will illuminate the solar light beautifully and look way more stylish and rustic than those cheap plastic lamps. The glass will, of course, be breakable too, but being sturdier and heavier than the plastic lamps simply speared in the ground, they’re likely to hold up better. You can even bury them in the ground a few inches to ensure they don’t get knocked over easily.

    Related Article:  Solar Energy Options for Homesteaders

    These are just a few ideas for ever-versatile mason jars-I’m sure if you think outside the box you can think of cool ways to use them too! Ever tried a mason jar DIY craft?

    [Bonus] Never Buy New Batteries Again – Try this trick to recondition and reuse old batteries>>>

  • 10 Ways to Reuse Citrus Peels

    10 Ways to Reuse Citrus Peels

    Reusing things is more than just a habit for self-sufficient homesteaders; it’s an essential part of living. Food scraps are often tossed to animals, or composted for great gardening material. But there are many ways that you can reuse citrus peels,including lemons, oranges, grapefruits, and limes.

    1. Create an eco-friendly cleaning solution by tossing lemon peels into a re-sealable container, and adding just enough vinegar to cover the peels. After two weeks, the mixture will have taken on the smell of the lemons.

    citrus

    Related Article: Easy and Effective All Natural Homemade Citrus Cleaner

    2. Small pieces of lemon peel scattered around windowsills and other thresholds will help keep ants out of the home.

    3. Lemon peels can be used to polish chrome, copper, brass, and stainless steel.

    4. Leftover orange or lemon peels can be baked until they are darkened and dried, and then used as a natural fire starter.

    5. Boil orange peels, and then strain the peels out of the water. This liquid becomes a natural glass cleaner that won’t leave streaks like some vinegars. Toss the peels into the garbage disposal when you’re done to make your sink smell great.

    6. Cut up citrus peels of any sort can be added to brown sugar to keep it moist.

    7. Adding dried, chopped citrus peels to tea makes a flavorful treat that brightens up your afternoon break.

    8. Citrus is a great bug repellant. Fill a small herb pot with soil, coffee grounds, and some dried citrus peels. Plant your starter herb, and place on the picnic table, or near the window. Bugs won’t come near it.

    9. Make a citrus-infused oil to use for cooking.

    10. Dried lemon, lime, or orange peels added to either salt or sugar can make a wonderful skin cleanser. Try this one out for gifts next time the holidays roll around.

    A Revolutionary, Double Patented-Technology That Allows You To Wash Your Clothes Without Using A SINGLE DROP Of Toxic Chemical Detergent — Learn More>>>