Recycle and Repurposing in the Vegetable Garden

In these times of environmental sensitivity and focus on being earth-friendly, being green is everywhere is news and television programming.  While I’m no green fanatic, I have found that being green friendly and organic sort of goes with being a gardener.  Additionally, most of us, rarely, have tons of money to throw at our gardens and recycling and repurposing seems a logical derive some extra value from our garden and our purchases. Gardening is very amenable to getting a little extra value from those things that might otherwise be thrown away.

Recycle and repurpose materials from your kitchen and garden. If you have extra tin cans and plastic bottles lying around, consider recycling them. Don’t throw away cooking water. You can reuse it to create your own compost! Recycle cooking water, plastic bottles, and even paper towels for garden projects. This is a great way to reduce waste and save money! Here are some ideas for using kitchen water in the vegetable garden.

Recycle tin cans

Recycled tin cans are a great way to add decorative elements to your vegetable garden. These containers are versatile enough to be used as hanging pots or a border. The tin cans can also serve as wildlife shelters. They can be attached to poles or fences with circular clamps or nails. Once you’ve planted your garden, you can move them to a better location.

You can even use tin cans to make hanging flower pots. This way, you can adjust the size of the pots to accommodate your plants. You can also recycle tin cans to make tin can candle holders or lanterns. Another easy way to recycle tin cans is to make herb pots. These cans are easy to make and require just three materials: a can, burlap, and glue.

To make these containers, first rinse the cans to remove any remaining food or liquid. If possible, remove the paper labels. Also, make sure to remove any lids. If you’re recycling them, some centers require you to remove the paper labels. After you’ve removed the paper label, you’re ready to recycle your cans. If you’re worried about rusting, drill drainage holes in the bottom of the containers to prevent rusting.

All metal cans are recyclable. However, it’s important to know how to recycle them properly. Metal cans can be recycled 100% of the way. However, be sure to rinse the cans completely to remove any non-metal materials. Then rinse the cans thoroughly to remove any paper labels. Lastly, make sure to remove the labels before recycling. Otherwise, they could contaminate the entire batch.

Recycle plastic bottles

You can recycle plastic bottles into useful items for your vegetable garden, such as plant pots. Most plastic packaging contains a triangle of chasing arrows, which is not always helpful in determining which bottles should go in your recycling bin. Identifying which plastics to use in your garden depends on their shape and number. Fortunately, most commercially-produced plastics have these codes. This way, you can recycle more plastic in your garden than ever before.

One way to make a bottle planter is to cut a hole in the side of a 2-liter plastic bottle. This will create four holes, which should line up with each other. Thread the string through the holes, tying it at the end. This will create a hanging planter that is useful for hanging herbs. You can create hanging planters with a few plastic bottles by following these simple steps.

Another way to recycle plastic bottles is to turn them into garden tools. You can use these bottles to make a potting soil shovel, compost shovel, or mulch shovel. These containers will be much more useful if they have handles. These tools can also be used for Halloween costumes or as decorations. Plastic bottles also make great reusable items, such as watering cans. If you have any extra caps lying around, use them to make decorations.

Recycled plastic bottles can be transformed into self-watering planters. You can plant directly into the bottles or connect them to existing plants. They can also be used as seed starters. Simply cut plastic bottles in half. Plants are sown into the bottom part, and the bottles’ top portion is used to protect seedlings. They can be used as pots for young plants as well. If you want to grow something more exotic, you can use recycled plastic bottles to make seedling containers.

Soda bottles are an inexpensive way to add some fun to your garden. You can even make a sprinkler for your plants with these bottles! Aside from being a fun way to recycle plastic bottles, these bottles can be used to grow ornamental plants such as succulents and cacti. You can even use a soda bottle sprinkler to celebrate Halloween. Once you have made a few, you can start growing something special.

Recycle cooking water

If you have a garden, you can reuse the water you use when cooking in your kitchen. It is rich in nutrients and can benefit garden plants when it has cooled. In addition to using your kitchen water to water your plants, you can reuse grey water that comes from your shower or sink. You can even put a bucket in the shower to collect the water. And you can reuse the water you use for washing vegetables and fruits in your sink.

To start, reuse the water that you use to wash and boil vegetables. This green water has nutrients that are good for your vegetables and plants. Make sure the water is free of fat, salt, and seasonings, and use it in your garden. You can also recycle water used for soups. Boiling veggies and pasta can give you a stock for your favorite soup. And don’t forget about the leftover water!

Most home waste water is either directly disposed of to the sewer or goes to a water purification plant. The majority of home waste water is grey water, which makes up about half to half of the total volume. By incorporating this water into your garden, you can help make the city a more green and verdant place. And you’ll be able to use this water to grow exotic vegetables as well. And it’s also better for the environment than if you throw away all your waste water!

If you’re worried about blackwater, it’s important to note that blackwater is water that has come in contact with feces. The water carries pathogens that can be harmful to plants. So, while salvaging water from your kitchen can add extra steps to your daily routine, the benefits outweigh any inconvenience. Just a couple of buckets here and there can add up to a few extra gallons saved in the long run.

If you’re worried about the amount of water your kitchen wastes, try recycling cooking water in your vegetable garden. This simple trick can save you a lot of time and water. Plus, you’ll save money on water that you would have otherwise wasted. And it’s a great way to teach your kids about water conservation as well! So, use this trick and start growing your vegetable garden today. You’ll be glad you did!

In addition to recycling cooking water, you can also reuse your dirty water as well. It’s a great way to add nutrients to your garden while preserving your natural resources. You can reuse the water you use for hand washing or to clean the toilet. And you can even place it in the bowl of your toilet instead of clean water. You’ll be surprised at the amount of savings you’ll see in the long run.

Perhaps the most obvious method of recycling is compost.  Compost, if handled properly, can allow you to use kitchen scraps and yard waste (e.g. grass clippings) to improve and maintain the garden soil.

Things that can be recycled in compost:

• Ashes from a wood stove
• Shredded office paper
• Vegetable Kitchen scraps
• Coffee Grounds
• Fall leaves
• Grass clippings
• Fine wood chips and sawdust
• Newspaper
• Paper Egg Cartons

 

Things that can be Recycled as Mulch

• Shredded office paper
• Newspapers
• Paper bags
• Cardboard boxes
• Coarse wood chips or shavings
• Grass cutting (if not treated with herbicide)
• Old straw or hay

Things that can be Recycled as Lines for Raised Beds

• Scrap office paper
• Newspapers
• Paper bags
• Cardboard boxes

Things that can be Recycled as Seed Starters

• Reused cups from restaurants ( large drink containers)
• Egg cartons
• Paper milk boxes
• Egg Shells
• Plastic muffin or cupcake packages

Things that can be Repurposed as Cloches

• Clear covers from rotisserie chicken containers.
• Clear plastic ice cream containers
• large glass or plastic jars bottles

Things that can be Repurposed Slug and Snail Traps

• disposable aluminum or plastic trays from pies and cakes make ideal beer slug traps containers.

I’m sure there are many more opportunities to get more value in our garden for our household purposes or other community resources.