What did you do in the garden today?

[FrannyNZooey]

I am looking into expanding the material I shred at home for use as chicken coop litter and later compost for my food gardens. I have been shredding all our paper, newspapers, light food box cardboard, and most junk mail for over 2 years now.

Recently, I bought one of those power cutters at Harbor Freight and am now shredding almost all our heavy cardboard packing boxes. I just cut them into 2-3-inch-wide strips, and they go down the center of the shredder without any problems.

One of the few items I am tossing into the recycle bin has been all those color magazines I get in the mail. Like the magazines I get monthly from AAA...

I have always been told not to compost color magazines because the ink is toxic. Well, I think that may have changed for some magazines. I looked at the inside cover pages with the Contents, and found these logos...

It appears to me that these magazines are now OK to shred for use as chicken coop litter and compost for the food gardens later. But I'm not 100% sure. Can anyone help me with the Enviro/Tech*Ink logo and let me know if that means the ink is safe for composting? I am thinking that the ink is soy-based, or algae-based, and is not toxic.

It would be nice to start shredding up some more of these magazines at home instead of dumping them off into the recycle bins. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

I am looking into expanding the material I shred at home for use as chicken coop litter and later compost for my food gardens. I have been shredding all our paper, newspapers, light food box cardboard, and most junk mail for over 2 years now.

Recently, I bought one of those power cutters at Harbor Freight and am now shredding almost all our heavy cardboard packing boxes. I just cut them into 2-3-inch-wide strips, and they go down the center of the shredder without any problems.

One of the few items I am tossing into the recycle bin has been all those color magazines I get in the mail. Like the magazines I get monthly from AAA...

I have always been told not to compost color magazines because the ink is toxic. Well, I think that may have changed for some magazines. I looked at the inside cover pages with the Contents, and found these logos...

It appears to me that these magazines are now OK to shred for use as chicken coop litter and compost for the food gardens later. But I'm not 100% sure. Can anyone help me with the Enviro/Tech*Ink logo and let me know if that means the ink is safe for composting? I am thinking that the ink is soy-based, or algae-based, and is not toxic.

It would be nice to start shredding up some more of these magazines at home instead of dumping them off into the recycle bins. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Curious. Info on Enviro/Tech Ink is not readily popping up in searches. I assumed they would have a dedicated website. I did find more of a description of the ink on this publication. Sounds like it’s just more environmentally friendly than most and recyclable, but not necessarily home compostable. I wouldn’t put it in my garden compost just to be on the safe side.

https://www.wengercorp.com/Lit/Wenger_Environmental Story.pdf

 

[FrannyNZooey]

I am going to try Prairie Fire tomato, Purple Bumble Bee cherry tomato and Heavy hitter okra next from Bakers Creek. I especially want to taste the Prairie Fire tomato; it has a level 10 Brix reading and positive reviews. https://www.rareseeds.com/tomato-prairie-fire

I also want to try growing their new purple tomato that will be available in 2024. I'll order them as soon as they put it up for sale on their website.

View attachment 3678895

Those sound fabulous! I’m so tempted to add them to our mix for 2024.

 

[Dadanga]

Those power cutters are really handy. It makes is much easier to cut up all that heavy cardboard that I used to just dump off in the recycle bins. Now, I easily cut the heavy cardboard into strips and feed them down my shredder. Better for me to use all that cardboard as free chicken coop litter than buying litter for the chickens.

I have all kinds of utility razor knives. I only use them out in the garage. You have to be careful not to slip and cut yourself. With the power cutter, it is just so much safer.

The big reason I got the power cutter was because my old hands would start to cramp up if I used a heavy-duty manual scissors to cut that heavy cardboard. The heavy-duty manual scissors will do the job, but it takes a toll on my hands. When I found one of these power cutters on a great sale, I bought it. For me, it was well worth it considering the price I paid for the power cutters. I use it a lot more than I thought I would. Of course, it cuts many more things than cardboard, but that is mainly what I use if for.

Lots of companies make basically the same power cutter item, just under their brand. You might find a good deal with Christmas sales coming up.

I gotta look up your old pics and see if you have that little cutoff saw because unfortunately I didn't see ozito with one. Yeah I couldn't imagine cutting cardboard with big scissors, that would hurt my hands big time. Mine cramp up on the hot days if I don't drink water and like I can't unclamp them. I almost forgot I do have one ryobi power tool but it's a corded garden mulcher/crusher.

Speaking of which. Today was spent mostly helping my dad prune his ficus and other trees and I had to do some shaving of his dog. Poor thing had some burrs. We end up using manscapers on them I actually find them better than the wahl bravuras that just go blunt super fast.

https://media.prod.bunnings.com.au/...af843a4b20bea2f018ebc36?v=c5efadd4&t=w500dpr2

Is probably the saw I'm thinking of. I do like Ryobi's range of tools. Ozito only just released a drain cleaner. Not many photos today. Just scanning for changes really and despite helping my dad, I managed to work on the quail coop some and got the door latches/handles installed along with patching some holes in it.

Tomorrow I'm wondering if it's finally time to tackle the watering situation and automate things.

 

[jerryse]

Cloudy with a high of 71. Chance of afternoon rain. Still adjusting to the time change. Not wanting to do much outside. Birds are using the bird feeder.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

I actually did something in the garden this morning. I found some kale that the bugs hadn’t discovered. Then I pulled the last 2 baby leeks. I started pulling up some of garden stakes and tomato cages and disconnected the sprinklers for winter storage. My last stop was to pick mustard greens. That’s all for now. Have a great day.

Something looks suspiciously like wheat. Just growing alone.

 

[Sally PB]

I had to drive my son to his doctor appointment

How's he doing?

You have to be careful not to slip and cut yourself.

https://www.mybinding.com/cutters/accessories/safety-rulers.html
I'm putting in the link, just in case this is something someone can use.

We used these at the photolab all the time for trimming printed sheets into individual images with a razor blade knife. The ones we had were 36, 48, and 60 inches long, but you can probably get them in shorter lengths.

They probably saved MANY hands and fingers; we also had to cut/trim plastic substrates, and those took some force. The safety edge protected hands and the image you were trimming.

 

[igorsMistress]

G’morning gardeners. I’m done outside for today, but I got the sink mostly done. I haven’t decided what I’m going to do with the corners yet, might just plant some smallish things the chickens won’t eat; or I might rearrange the blocks and see if I can close that gap. Still need to cut off the sprayer and put the faucet back on it.

Here’s the Vitex and the last Arabian lilac. I’ve got three of the lilacs along the north wall to shade it from the sun and three vitex in a row along the west end of the yard . Hopefully the microclimate of the yard will be cooler when they grow up.

We’re only getting to 80 today and slightly below for the next couple, otherwise we’re supposed to be pretty average. We are three inches below normal rainfall this year.

Went out and planted a pup from the hedge. Then added most of a bag of perlite to the soil and replanted. Now it’s done, thinking about what to do with the other side.

 

[CNJ]

My Bing Copilot A1 bot said that Sun Gold Cherry tomato has a Brix of 9.30 to 10.50 and it wrote a poem for me;

"Sungold tomatoes are a treat.
They're juicy, sweet, and hard to beat.
They grow in clusters on the vine.
And make your salads look divine.
They're perfect for a summer snack.
Or any dish that needs a splash
Of orange color and tangy taste
Sungold tomatoes are a blast!"

The A1 bot is beginning to scare me.

 

[TJAnonymous]

I am going to try Prairie Fire tomato, Purple Bumble Bee cherry tomato and Heavy hitter okra next from Bakers Creek. I especially want to taste the Prairie Fire tomato; it has a level 10 Brix reading and positive reviews. https://www.rareseeds.com/tomato-prairie-fire

I also want to try growing their new purple tomato that will be available in 2024. I'll order them as soon as they put it up for sale on their website.

View attachment 3678895

I grew Prairie Fire last year. I'll send you the rest of my seed packet if you want it. I wasn't impressed, personally.

 

[TJAnonymous]

Going to rain tomorrow. I need to get my new tulip bulbs in the ground... Why am I always swamped with work (day job) at the most inopportune moments?