Life Changes: Month 1

[madelynsmom]

For the Month of May, I will start recycling and composting. Really these are carryovers from April but only part of April. THis month I will take the challenge full on though.

Goal 1: Recycle EVERYTHING that can be recycled
Goal 2: Compost EVERYTHING that can be composted

Goal 1
I am actually going into week 6 of recycling but I have been kind of lax

Comments

[bluegingham]

Good job with your changes! I need to get better about these things too. We don't have a composter and I so want one! When you say you go through 4 quarts of compost, is that what you are making or what you are putting into it?

We are blessed with being able to mix-recyle, we don't have to seperate anything. I've never been a recyler and I don't know enough about it so I just put all our cardboard into it. I need to learn how to recyle the rest of it.

[madelynsmom]

I have a 4.2 qt container I keep in my sink. It fills up within a few days with scraps from dinner and fruit guts. I have only had the composter for a few weeks but I understand that it takes months and months to get the actual compost. The Nature Mill will give you compost in a few weeks but I am not a fan of the machine. It seems really flimsy in person.

[daniels_kitty]

You are doing a lot better than I am. I made a trashcan composter a couple of years ago and lately I don't have time to stir it. I keep a ziploc bag in the freezer with all the stuff to put in the composter in the winter so I don't have to go out if it is really cold. I have a huge nesquik container that I kept when Daniel was done with it that I use for watering it so if the boys don't finish their water or juice I can pour it in there or if I just had to rinse some dust off of something.
Sorry about the book!

[madelynsmom]

We have a really small yard so I am making an effort to stir it every time I put the compost in it. I am sure the winter will be tougher of course. I never thought about saving water though. I may make that my next month's goal! I really want a rain barrel as well for watering the gardens.

[lady1297]

I like the water recycling goal!! I want a composter so bad. Maybe this summer sometime!

[madelynsmom]

I will try to scare up the directions I found to making your own composter. I think I can make a rain barrel by simply diverting the drain spout to a trash can and putting it in the nook between my porch and the neighbors.

[lady1297]

I don't know if this helps, but I put all my recyclying into my laundry bins. When it's time to take laundry down to the basement where our recycling bins are, the recycling rides down with the laundry. That way I don't have yet another container somewhere and I don't have to think past "Put it in the laundry hamper". That may help you with the upstairs things?

[madelynsmom]

I was thinking of getting an Ikea trashcan and putting it in the closet next to the trash. But I also like the idea of putting it in the laundry bin. And then I would just need a recycling bucket in the laundry room (basement) which we need anyhow. Interesting idea. Thanks!