Chocolate Mint Life

unconsumption:

5 biodegradable seed-starting planter-pots to DIY
Like many of us, the gardening plans of Michele Pacey (mentioned previously here and here) include growing plants from seed.
In a recent blog post, Michele describes her seed-starting setup: seeds planted in biodegradable newspaper “pots,” which are placed indoors on foam meat trays while the seeds germinate.
After seedlings have sprouted, the plants — pots and all — can be planted in soil.
To make your own biodegradable seed-starters:
Roll newspaper pieces around a jar and close the ends, as Michele shows in this short video, or roll pieces of newspaper around something like this.
Fold newspaper pages, origami-like, into pots. For folding tutorial, see the For Greenies blog.

Cut pieces of paper towel or toilet paper tubes, adding four slits on one end, then fold end pieces together to form a closed bottom. (Photo via girlgearstudio.) Ends also could be left open, as pictured in this earlier Unconsumption post.

Use eggshells, as mentioned here (with description for blowing out eggs).

Use citrus peels. (Found here.)

Another idea: Create mini-greenhouses from cut plastic bottles. Simply place bottle tops over plants. (Found on Poppytalk.)

What household waste do you use for starting seeds?

5 biodegradable seed-starting planter-pots to DIY

Like many of us, the gardening plans of Michele Pacey (mentioned previously here and here) include growing plants from seed.

In a recent blog post, Michele describes her seed-starting setup: seeds planted in biodegradable newspaper “pots,” which are placed indoors on foam meat trays while the seeds germinate.

After seedlings have sprouted, the plants — pots and all — can be planted in soil.

To make your own biodegradable seed-starters:

Roll newspaper pieces around a jar and close the ends, as Michele shows in this short video, or roll pieces of newspaper around something like this.

Fold newspaper pages, origami-like, into pots. For folding tutorial, see the For Greenies blog.

Cut pieces of paper towel or toilet paper tubes, adding four slits on one end, then fold end pieces together to form a closed bottom. (Photo via girlgearstudio.) Ends also could be left open, as pictured in this earlier Unconsumption post.

Use eggshells, as mentioned here (with description for blowing out eggs).

Use citrus peels. (Found here.)

Another idea: Create mini-greenhouses from cut plastic bottles. Simply place bottle tops over plants. (Found on Poppytalk.)

What household waste do you use for starting seeds?

Camera: Panasonic DMC-GH1
Aperture: f/1.7
Exposure: 1/1600th
Focal Length: 20mm

Vinegar Orange Peel Cleaner: Green Cleaner

Green Cleaner!

I noticed several Orange Peel Cleaner displays on Pinterest, and wanted to try it myself. I had pickle jars saved for future sprouting projects but decided to use them for my orange cleaner project.

I collected various orange peels for my pickle jars.
Added white distilled vinegar and capped my jars.
Labeled the completion dates 10-14 days out.
Strained and contained!
Voila! You have your cleaner!

Orange pickling…I say!

Label the dates

Final Product…it doesn’t hurt to dilute this with water!

Review:

I attempted to clean my stove top with the undiluted version of my orange peel cleaner. The first thing I noticed was the smell. Yes, I forgot to dilute this cleaner. I added more sweet orange essential oil, which barely masked the smell. I tried it again on my counter tops. Overall, it’s another vinegar cleaner with a slightly better smell and more slippery texture.

Results:

It works. Please dilute this cleaner with a 2:1 ratio of cleaner to water. I’ll use it until it’s gone, and try it again!