What are your frugal and sustainable tips and tricks?

[gtaus]

I don't know if I posted it here before, but this is my trick for starting my own garden plants. I make pots out of quart-sized yogurt or cottage cheese containers.

I have been thinking about doing something similar with plastic containers I get my powdered mix drinks in from WalMart. I would cut them in half, so one part would be the bottom section which I would drill in some drain holes, and the top part could use the lid with drain holes and just invert that portion.

One thing... these are big pots. It takes a lot of potting soil to fill them. That would be very expensive for the number of starts I do, 85 +/- this year.

Those plastic powdered mix containers are a lot smaller. Probably good for lots of plants but maybe too small for larger things and you would have to then up pot them later.

So I make my own potting soil. The compost I get out of my compost pile and chicken run is a BIG part of that.

I was going to use my chicken run compost for seed starting in the house, but then I watched/read that taking living soil and compost from outside is a terrible idea if you are starting your seeds inside the house. Lots of problems with gnats, aphids, etc... if you bring in living soil into the house.

My long-term goal is to build a greenhouse outside so I can use more of my own compost and save even more money. But this year I ended up purchasing sterile potting mix for my seed starting inside the house. It won't save as much money, but it will probably save the marriage because I don't think Dear Wife would be very happy if the house filled up with fungus gnats and the like.

 

[gtaus]

Speaking of reusing those plastic powered mix containers, does anyone have some good suggestions for reusing them for different things? I have the type on the far left, the opaque light brown containers, which you really cannot see inside. I have saved maybe 30 of them and they are just looking for a second life. Any suggestions appreciated.

I have used one of them to hold batteries in our "junk" drawer. If a battery leaks, then it stays inside the plastic and does not affect anything else in the drawer. No fun getting battery acid all over other stuff.

 

[igorsMistress]

I don't know if I posted it here before, but this is my trick for starting my own garden plants. I make pots out of quart-sized yogurt or cottage cheese containers.
You need the lid too. Poke holes in it for drainage.
View attachment 3460019
Cut the bottom of the container off. It's easier, and safer, to do with them nested in a stack. When you're about half way around, the container gets less stable. Using scissors is safer, but VERY hard on the hands. Or I have dull scissors.
View attachment 3460020
The bottom of the container is now the top of the pot, and the lid is the bottom. Fill with potting soil. Since my pots are out in the green house, my light (the sun) is coming from an angle, not directly above. I fill the pots full, as the rim will cast a shadow over some of the soil. If the light is from grow lights above the plants, this isn't an issue.
View attachment 3460027
Plant seeds. Water. Wait. Water. Wait. waterwaitwaterwait, you know what I mean.

The pots are plenty big, so there isn't any up potting. When it's time to transplant them into the garden, dig the hole, add amendments as you need to. Take the lid off the bottom of the pot (support the dirt with your hand), place the pot in the hole. Wiggle the pot loose from the soil, and carefully lift it off and over the plant. The taper (draft angle, if you like) of the pot makes it lift off easily. Very little root disturbance.

One thing... these are big pots. It takes a lot of potting soil to fill them. That would be very expensive for the number of starts I do, 85 +/- this year. So I make my own potting soil. The compost I get out of my compost pile and chicken run is a BIG part of that.

That’s a great idea!

 

[igorsMistress]

I have been thinking about doing something similar with plastic containers I get my powdered mix drinks in from WalMart. I would cut them in half, so one part would be the bottom section which I would drill in some drain holes, and the top part could use the lid with drain holes and just invert that portion.

Those plastic powdered mix containers are a lot smaller. Probably good for lots of plants but maybe too small for larger things and you would have to then up pot them later.



I was going to use my chicken run compost for seed starting in the house, but then I watched/read that taking living soil and compost from outside is a terrible idea if you are starting your seeds inside the house. Lots of problems with gnats, aphids, etc... if you bring in living soil into the house.

My long-term goal is to build a greenhouse outside so I can use more of my own compost and save even more money. But this year I ended up purchasing sterile potting mix for my seed starting inside the house. It won't save as much money, but it will probably save the marriage because I don't think Dear Wife would be very happy if the house filled up with fungus gnats and the like.

You can use the powdered drink containers still though, it just gives a shorter time to keep the plant in the container because they’re smaller.

I would be using them to organize small stuff like washers, screws, nails, o rings etc. if you can’t see through them just use a sharpie and write what’s in it on the outside.

Also, not all compost is tainted with aphids and fungus gnats. You can very easily resolve those issues by pouring boiling water over the soil before you bring it in if you’re concerned about it though. They can also come into your house via fruits and veg you buy at the store, usually the gnats not aphids.

 

[NanaK]

If I have to take something apart to clean or repair it I like to have small containers to put all the screws or small parts in. Then when I put it back together I'm not looking around for the last screw. Those containers would work great for that too.

 

[gtaus]

Also, not all compost is tainted with aphids and fungus gnats. You can very easily resolve those issues by pouring boiling water over the soil before you bring it in if you’re concerned about it though.

I am using boiling water to sterilize my store bought potting soil. I heard that even though the companies tell you the soil is sterile, it still could be infested with fungus gnat eggs.

So, would you recommend I try to mix some peat moss with chicken run compost, sterilize it with boiling water, and call it good for seed starting indoors? I think that would save me money. From what I can see, the store bought potting soil is mostly peat moss.

 

[gtaus]

If I have to take something apart to clean or repair it I like to have small containers to put all the screws or small parts in. Then when I put it back together I'm not looking around for the last screw. Those containers would work great for that too.

I could see that would be useful for some repairs. Thanks.

 

[gtaus]

I cut some used PVC pipe into slats and made a cage for a wayward OEGB rooster. Clearly a case of having more time than money.

View attachment 3459699

That looks like a whole lot of work to me. I don't think I would have the patience, let alone the talent, to make that cage. Nice job, though.

 

[igorsMistress]

I am using boiling water to sterilize my store bought potting soil. I heard that even though the companies tell you the soil is sterile, it still could be infested with fungus gnat eggs.

So, would you recommend I try to mix some peat moss with chicken run compost, sterilize it with boiling water, and call it good for seed starting indoors? I think that would save me money. From what I can see, the store bought potting soil is mostly peat moss.

I think at the very least a small experiment would be in order. If the boiling water will kill the nasties in potting soil it should do the same in your compost I would think. If you’re confident it has composted long enough, why not?

 

[gtaus]

I think at the very least a small experiment would be in order. If the boiling water will kill the nasties in potting soil it should do the same in your compost I would think. If you’re confident it has composted long enough, why not?

Thanks. We still have about 2 feet of snow out in the yard, but today it hit a high of 60F and the snow if melting fast. Another week or two of warm weather and I might be back into the compost sifting business for the spring.