When you cut away the label or top portion of any produce that comes in a net bag you end up with a nice little bowl ideal for camping or a picnic.
Produce Bag Bowl
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Category Archives: Food
Trellis Garden Netting For Amateur Gardeners
While this article advocates buying a product instead of re-using a recyclable item we at Irish Attic feel that its well worth it for our readers to explore gardening in small spaces, on walls and fences and even rooftops as a way to live a little greener and enjoy a delicious bounty as well!
Of all the different ways that netting can be used in the garden, a surprisingly small number of people are familiar with garden trellis netting or its uses. For those that are familiar and experienced in its application in the home garden, not actively using the netting for their gardening is simply unimaginable. The versatility and space efficiency are simply too valuable to dismiss.
The primary purpose of trellis garden netting is to implement some form or vertical gardening techniques into your design. Some plants, such as green beans, are naturally inclined to use trellis netting for their growth. They need a way to spread out, grow, and climb. The netting provides that structure for them to grab hold of, and helps facilitate their healthy progress.
What many people fail to recognize is that your typical vine plants are not the only types of vegetables that thrive in a vertical environment. Not only can you grow beans up your trellis, but cucumbers, tomatoes, squash, peas, melons, and a number of other indeterminate plants will also thrive. A basic rule of thumb is that if the plants can spread out on the ground to grow, it can spread out vertically as well.
The first question that people ask is whether or not the plant and/or trellis can really hold the weight of the fruit that is produced. Particularly for plants such as melons, pumpkins, and squash, the fruit can be quite heavy. The only real deterrent to this is whether or not your support structure can handle the weight. As long as the supports for the netting are strongly secured, the netting will hold and the plant will be more than strong enough to handle its own weight. If you grow paranoid, you can simply support the plant with additional homemade systems.
How To Grow a Container Garden
Recycled Aluminum Foil = Easy Cleanup
Are you into recycling aluminum foil? If you have a piece of foil that is too soiled or crumpled to wrap your food try using it one more time to make cleaning your muffin tin a breeze.
Spread the foil your recycling one last time, over the top of the muffin pan. Cut an X in the foil over the center o each muffin cup. Push the foil into the cup and pop in your muffin liners. When it’s time for cleanup you can just toss out the foil and stick your pan back in the cupboard.
Recycled Candy Wrapper Art
Wait – don’t toss out all those candy wrappers! Halloween is a prime time to collect recycled candy wrappers for art projects all year round. I’ve listed a few ideas below but I’m sure you all can come up with many more. Please post your ideas, successes and failures in the comments section.
Ribbons and Bows
Cut each recycled candy wrapper to the same width and tape to package as a decorative ribbon. You can then loop each length of candy wrapper and tape or glue it to the package as a bow. You can face the shiny side out or the writing side out.
Decoupage
I hardly ever buy silver leaf anymore. I just use recycled candy wrappers and recycled potato chip bags.
When carefully opened and washed the shiny side of these wrappers can be used in a decoupage or collage project, or to simulate a body of water in a doll house or Christmas gingerbread house.
I like to use recycled candy wrappers to cover smaller surfaces or surfaces like a frame where a long skinny shape is best. I use recycled potato chip bags for larger surfaces such as pots, trays, etc.
Antique Foiled Frame
I’ve covered scratched wooden frames with the shiny side of recycled candy wrappers. First crumple the candy wrapper. Smooth with your hands. Cut to fit, and glue to the frame. Wipe the foil with brown or black shoe polish to age it.
Contemporary Foiled Frame
Cut wrappers into squares or rectangles. Glue pieces to frame, butting together or overlapping.
Mod Frame
You could use the packaging label side to cover a frame for a retro mod look.
Decorative Tray or Box
Any of the ideas above can be used to cover a tray or box. I’ve used candy wrappers to cover a tissue box, then I use the box to store spare change.