If you enjoyed this video, please "Like" and share to help increase its reach! Thanks for watching 😊TIMESTAMPS for convenience: 0:00 Reusing Household Items Intro 0:54 Tip #1: Reusing Containers 2:58 Tip #2: Reusing Milk Jugs 4:12 Tip #3: Reusing Cardboard 6:42 Tip #4: Reusing Egg Cartons 7:59 Tip #5: Reusing Sheets 9:15 Tip #6: Reusing Fabrics 11:01 Adventures With Dale

@AlvinMcManus

Жыл бұрын

You were singing my song. I don't throw good stuff away. That's why I have 3 storage buildings on the lot!!! Love the fence too, but it looks like it could use a nice coat of stain.

@robynobrien3610

Жыл бұрын

My egg cartons got moldy last year when I tried to start seeds…

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

@@robynobrien3610 you may want to try less moisture or keep them in a sunnier location. The soil was probably too chronically wet and there wasn't enough sunlight to sterilize the surface. Allowing the top 1/4 inch to dry out will prevent that.

@lezaannnorman6780

Жыл бұрын

I’m in W-S and did you say you have a Meyer Lemon bush? Are you closer to the beach? I love lemons and would love to get a lemon plant. Any help/instructions welcomed🤗

@f_USAF-Lt.G

Жыл бұрын

1) The original plastic plant containers can be better accommodated with plastic food containers used to hold 1/4" water & as greenhouse cover for sprouting 2) the milk jugs & laundry detergent bottles are great scoops for soil materials 3) corrugated is two outer sheets that contain a "ripple sheet" that can be used as moisture retention in the garden shallows (and you want to pull the layers apart to shred, or... Jamming) 4) the egg cartons can be placed into the "lid" to help moisture retention with less watering for sprouting 5) fitted sheets are great for after night time watering for the evaporative misting from morning sun, but also to line around your "edging detail" for collection of usable soil for mixing with potting mix 6) "nothing beats a great pair of Leggs" for tying splices and even as sleeves for insect protection or break bindings All very re-usable and quite proper tools for the work_ just, be educated in the hazards those introductory common tools can cause that newer products for agriculture were designed to avoid...

Old tee shirts torn into 2" wide strips make good plant ties

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

My old t-shirts become my garden shirts. I wear them til they turn into dust 😂

@markoliver4194

Жыл бұрын

Never throw away wire. Never

@angelika77st

Жыл бұрын

@@markoliver4194 true. You guys are great

@denesestanley7011

Жыл бұрын

@@markoliver4194 I hear you

@helennelmes7560

Жыл бұрын

Brilliant!

No one throws anything away in my house without asking me first 🤣😂🤣

@mariap.894

Жыл бұрын

Zombiemom@Same here! And if they do...I'll get it back from the recycling 🤣🤣 nothing gets passed by me😉👍💜

Another good use for old hoisery: put the pantyhose over the nozzle of a vacuum cleaner. Brush this around the area where you've lost something (eg an earring down the back of a dresser) and you can pick up the item without it being swallowed up by the vacuum's stomach.

@terryhall2299

Жыл бұрын

Good tip!

@reneap9049

Жыл бұрын

Genius!! ❤

@draganarc0131

Жыл бұрын

I do that with the shop vac to harvest small seeds such as lettuce and carrot seeds. Works awesome.

@harborgirl8877

Жыл бұрын

Wow! good tip!!!

@RErnie-gv1hv

Жыл бұрын

Retired panty-hose are useful for holding aquarium charcoal. After changing the charcoal the used stuff goes to the plant shed for mixing into potting soil, compost, etc.

I agree that shredding cardboard is best, but my shredder gets jammed. Instead I get the cardboard soaking wet. This makes it easy to take off any packaging tape and to tear it in small pieces.

@patriciatinkey2677

Жыл бұрын

That's my method, too. 🌝

@KellyScott11

Жыл бұрын

Same! My neighbors think I'm crazy

@f_USAF-Lt.G

Жыл бұрын

3 layers: The corrugated layer is the "wrinkled" center in between two flat sheets (they can be peeled apart) A guy I know tears up corrugated to soak with shredded junk mail, ads, and newspaper circulars... He presses it into "logs" to Sun-dry for use in his wood burning stove🙂

@LLjean-qz7sb

3 ай бұрын

You might need a commercial shredder for your cardboard. Amazon has them for around $200.00.

In the winter we use the rectangular, salad greens containers from the grocery as mini greenhouses for our seedlings. Easily stackable when storing, taking up little space.

@LoveMusic-pd5iz

Жыл бұрын

I do the same thing. I'm no longer physically able to keep my winter greens going and don't have a greenhouse. I was angry at not finding loose greens for sale near my new home...just those darn plastic container. Well, using them repeatedly for mini greenhouses at least keeps them from being 'single use' plastic.

@HighLevelNinja

Жыл бұрын

I do the same thing with the domed take-out containers.

@cc83jc85

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for this….I’ve kept those containers for my patchwork…but at the moment I have long COVID and can’t sew…so for my new hobby gardening, I’m learning about so many ideas with you people…thanks again!😊

@teresaremaniak856

Жыл бұрын

@@cc83jc85 I’m sorry about the long covid. I hope you find a new joy in gardening and healing for your health.

@cathywhite1470

Жыл бұрын

I drive my husband crazy "hoarding" salad containers and old water jugs!!! Good to know Im not alone😂

I really LOVE a channel that gives me permission to not throw things away!

I just put my cardboard boxes out in the rain next to my compost pile. When they are wet it's easier to shred by hand and remove any tape.

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

If your goal is to compost them, yes. If you want to use them as weed barrier, I'd say they're easier to handle dry, though.

@i-dx2ow

Жыл бұрын

And i soak the cardboard in my rain barrel before composting

I absolutely love how you reuse and repurpose items! Good for the environment - good for the wallet! I like to keep toilet paper and paper towel cardboard rolls to start my carrots in them; then just put in a garden bed and fill with soil around them. Helps them grow really straight. Also, the milk jugs can be cut into plant markers for the starts. Plastic forks from take outs are reused as deterrents sticking upside down in freshly sown beds to keep cats out. Your garden is truly a work of passion and eye candy to all of us!

@michaelobrien4644

Жыл бұрын

Andrea Mortimer that is a great idea for carrots thanks .

@clynthia0510

Жыл бұрын

I saw the fork hack deterrent and suggested it to another garderner who stopped using his raised beds because of the stray cat litter box problem. I got the suggestion from this channel to use wooden paint stirs for labels. I knew that Wal-Mart had some in the crafts and toy section, my granddaughter likes to make slime. I bought the last two packs of 150 sticks for $3.97 each. They won't fade in the sun! Baton Rouge, LA

@rickytorres9089

Жыл бұрын

Great usages indeed and you don't need to worry too much if the TP rolls take some time to degrade either. Since carrots are meant to grow like that.

@learnjcbskidsterchickensga7594

Жыл бұрын

@@clynthia0510 or old blinds

@clynthia0510

Жыл бұрын

I misspoke about the craft sticks. It was 45 in each pack, not 75. Sorry everyone

I use a sheet when I weed and do garden clean up. You can drag it easily around the garden and when you’re done, it can be gathered at the top and carried like a bag to the compost pile.

@f_USAF-Lt.G

Жыл бұрын

Lay it around your garden "edging work" to collect the soil to mix with potting mix or other custom-soil materials (like fine crushed egg shells) and that's where milk jugs or laundry detergent bottles can be cut for scoops to mix materials (or clean the rain gutters to gather more soil materials)

@liz7369

Жыл бұрын

I agree with old sheets...I use them to collect leaves, tie up corners and leave at curb for trash pickup...trash guys like it and I don't have to buy any plastic bags.

@lotide3778

2 ай бұрын

@@liz7369do they take the sheets along with the leaves?

Old nylon stockings can also be put over ripening fruit to protect from birds, etc. Thanks for your great input!

@melodyclark4347

Жыл бұрын

They work great for figs 😊

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

I use organza bags for my figs. That trick works well.

@melodyclark4347

Жыл бұрын

@@TheMillennialGardener Thank you.

@TheRoadprincess

Жыл бұрын

@@TheMillennialGardener Thanks for that!

@coldhardtruth233

Жыл бұрын

Why not new ones 😊

FYI,,,, I also use nylons for Tom's and peppers,,,, BUT I also take all the soap chips when they get Way small, and put them in and tie them around my faucet for a quick soapy clean up !!!

After watching this, there is another item I will not throw away. Its an old shower scrubber. Its the kind that is a knotted bundle of plastic mesh (similar to your onion/potato bags from the grocery). After a while the knot gets loose and comes apart. You can tie it back up but after a while its a mess and comes apart again and I just want a new one for the shower. The shower scrubber mesh when you unpack it is a big TUBE (this last one was). Its like 12-15 feet (4m) long of onion bag! Use as a tube or split down the length and its 2' wide (this one was). It can be used for ties, supporting large fruit on trellis, like melon or other things when a small stretch of mesh can be used.

You should also mention, “just be careful to only save enough and not start hoarding containers.”

@Mantras-and-Mystics

3 ай бұрын

Agree 100%. However... whenever I end up throwing things away I find that I need them sometime down the track.. 😄

One more tip, save yogurt containers, vinegar, or any white or opaque plastic containers and cut them into custom sized plant labels. You can even use a paper hole punch to tie a tag at eye level so you don't have to bend down to see it.

Onion/citrus bags should go on this list, not only for winter storage, but for slings for melons and squash on trellises. Just moved to Virginia piedmont (7b) and loving your channel!

@jeas4980

Жыл бұрын

Welcome to the area! If you're in the swampy areas near Hampton Roads... we run pretty close to a Zone 8. You can increase 7b guidance by about 2 weeks.

@shavanerad9038

Жыл бұрын

@@jeas4980 Petersburg, actually, so more solidly piedmont than coastal. Thanks for the welcome!

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

Yes, they're good for storing the next season's onions, garlic, shallots, etc. I'm glad you enjoy the channel!

@karenmurphy7338

Жыл бұрын

Wow! What a great repurpose and reuse! I will never toss another away again.

@evecampbell7744

Жыл бұрын

Another great video!

I did an ISO on neighborhood site and got 200 plastic tree pots for free in a range of sizes.

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

Lots of landscaping businesses would love to dump them off instead of paying to throw them away.

@rickytorres9089

Жыл бұрын

@@TheMillennialGardener Not anymore, I asked them for a simple favor and they all are like "we don't wanna do a thing for free" attitude. EVEN if I goes out of my ways to go to fast food joints, chain stores, etc for asking if they have leftover USED food grade buckets that I could use. It's absurd...

Great video, I just want to add one more thing that pantyhose/nylons can be used for. I grow cantaloupe and squash vertically and a cut up piece of pantyhose tied to your trellis and spread open under the fruit supports the fruit and takes the weight off of the plant. With cantaloupe it's especially helpful because often when the fruit is ready it breaks off from the plant and you could have broken fruit on the ground.

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

I've heard of people doing that. I tried growing watermelons vertically one year, and they'd break off before they got ripe. Since then, I just let them sprawl. This year, I'm growing a special 2lb yellow watermelon, though! Time to bring back growing melons vertical.

Leaves! So many people rake em up and throw them away. 🤔 Great for composting, but also great for insulating dormant plants in the winter

Im in my 70s and I remember my grandmother always used old stockings to tye up plants and garden hoses ...

@susandickerson8863

3 ай бұрын

Ah! the good old days. Grandma always had the answer to anything you asked her. I’m 62 now and I still miss her wisdom. And she made the best Carrot Cake ever. ❤

Preaching to the choir here. This year I’ve been saving water and drink bottles. Actually started plants in them.

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

Excellent!

COVID era addition: The ear loops of face masks make perfect flexible plant ties. Easy to pull off a surgical face mask that's been worn too many times. Stretchy, great length for tomatoes, soft. I know many people use cloth masks but for those in the health care industry where at least a surgical mask is required, you can reuse that part and it works amazingly well.

@vivianp.4814

Жыл бұрын

Great tip!! Thank you ❤️

@carlahochwalt3186

Жыл бұрын

That is all the mask is good for 👍🏼

@vivianp.4814

Жыл бұрын

@@carlahochwalt3186 - I know what you mean. 💯. However, it's good for something else, protection from cleaning kitty litter for 23 cats daily. Lol!!! That's why I have a surplus. 🤢

@draganarc0131

Жыл бұрын

I use the entire mask to support vertically grown cantaloupe.

@adurant3353

Жыл бұрын

Or shouldn't have been worn at all 😂 way better use for masks imo

Ok here's my 2 cents donation to this video. Cottage cheese and the bigger yogurt containers make great starter pots for just about any plant. I'm going on 4 years for some of them.

Cardboard. I use a lot of it. You can run it through a chipper shredder if you have one and compost it. Or in containers and top it off with soil for planting. If you can soak it for a day you can rip it up by hand and add to the composter. Soaking also helps remove tape and labels. And of course you can use cardboard for No Dig gardens. Sheets are also useful for shade. Two years ago we had a really hot dry spring just as the transplants were being set out. I attached each sheet to 2 lawn chairs and spread them out forming a nice shade tent for the baby plants. Also good for tomatoes if you have hot summers. Good video!

Oh, and milk jugs. If you are expecting a cold snap you can fill the jugs with hot water before you cover the plant. As an experiment I kept tomato plants growing in an unheated greenhouse one year, Zone 6, with hot water in jugs and then covered the plants with bubble wrap (another Never Throw Away) and sheets.

I find that an old t shirt cut into strips, also work well as ties.

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

You can use anything stretchy. Shirts, socks, underwear, etc.

Love all the recycling ideas you gave! paper egg cartons can also be used in the compost too. nylons can also be used to cradle heavy vine veggies - like cantaloupe. I also use empty toilet paper rolls for fire starters - fill them with dryer lint and put them in the fire pit. Keep on gardening!

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

You're really only limited to your imagination. Any container can be a pot. There's no such thing as "single use!"

@terryhall2299

Жыл бұрын

I noticed that the paper egg cartons do not compost very quickly, and by the time I use the newly made compost I end up taking the pieces of a carton out, so they don’t disturb the roots of my new vegetables growing. It’s kind of disappointing. I’m sure they work great for long-term composting.

@Sconnie13

Жыл бұрын

@@terryhall2299 Yes, I agree. I had that same scenario. Now I shred the cartons by hand into smaller pieces. This seems to have helped with the decomposition time.

@f_USAF-Lt.G

Жыл бұрын

That "great pair of Leggs can be used to cover break-mending, and the base of saplings to protect from insects (like spotted lanternfly)

Your content is A+. Very clear, very thorough and no nonsense. Excellent stuff!

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for your support and generosity! I really appreciate it ❤

I get extra boxes from stores such as Dollar General. Already broken down for easy trunk stacking!

@rickytorres9089

Жыл бұрын

Nice I shall try that then. Didn't think those type of stores would provides but hey Dollar General is not that far of a walk (don't drive since I am legally deafblind).

I buy packages of knee high hose at the Dollar Tree just for my plants.

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

I bet they work pretty well.

… You have been Blessed with a beautiful garden. 🌳 🌱 Thank you for providing Dale with his own den to retreat to when he feels like it. 🐶 🐾🤎

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

Thank you! Dale deserves it. He had a tough start to life, so all the rest needs to be cushy.

@jackielambert7980

Жыл бұрын

🐕💖💖💖

Thanks for the advice, I already do all that, but the most wonderful part was seeing Dale to walk so sweetly inside his new home!!!😊🥰😍🥰😍. You are really blessed with that Dale! He's truly a good dog as you can tell. Bless you all and thanks again for all you do🙏💜🤗

I'm using torn up egg cartons, cardboard and brown paper for litter in my rabbit's cage and litter box. Amazon was selling shredded paper for $39. for this purpose. Can you believe it? When it's time to clean, put this paper and the droppings in the garden. Win win.

CARDBOARD - Previous owners of my home used sand as fill and top dressed with plastic sheeting and gravel on top😢 Finally removed as much of the gravel and sheeting as possible… To transform the sand into soil we’ve been doing a form of “lasagna gardening”: layers of stuff like bokashi compost, leaf mold, inoculated biochar, greens (especially comfrey), shredded leaves, topped with sheets of cardboard and aged mulch. It has been super successful! The soil fertility has improved significantly and we have more night crawlers than I have ever seen!

Thank You for this video, I have been saving old plant trays and containers for years and last year I got an earful of how trashy my backyard and garage looks because of how many things I saved to grow my own plants from seeds. My family members refused to listen to me about my logic on saving things and while I was gone threw away all of my recycling material. This video is proof of why I save stuff, thank you. Please make more recycling videos for the garden

I also use water bottle cuttings in a similar manner to how you use gallon cuttings. When I plant certain seeds or seedlings straight into my garden, I place them centered in a water bottle with the top and bottom cut off, and the edges buried in the ground a bit. I do this for a variety of reasons, mainly that I live on top of a hill; meaning my tender young plants can have issues with water running off before it can be absorbed well, and they have a tendency to get wind burn, even after I harden the transplant seedlings off in the front yard before planting.The seeds germinate way faster due to the heat and water being kept in, but it doesn't get over moist due to the tops being uncovered. The tender seedlings from seeds or transplants seem to get a real foothold into the garden by the time they start to grow and peek out of the bottle to be more exposed to the wind they will have to contend with for life. For sturdier plants, you can just pull up the water bottles at this point, but I tend to leave them, even though this means that I will have to cut the water bottle out later, to avoid damaging the plant when it is removed. My Indian corn and sunflowers grew super well last year, with none of them needing staked to grow straight or have support from wind gusts. I have a feeling it is because the bottles gave lower support while growing, but they still had sufficient wind stimulation for the sturdy growth hormone to kick in; as well as being forced to burrow roots a little deeper to spread out from the bottle (never had an issue with root bound plants with this yet, as the bottles are not pushed in the ground too far, just far enough.) I also had a few tomato bushes that I left the bottle in the ground for the whole season, as the growth made the bottle non visible, and none of the leaves or vines or stems were getting cut on the bottles. It made a difference in the beginning of the growing season, but didn't seem to affect much after that, and I tend to get cultivars that thrive in my region, so most of my tomatoes seem to say ”thanks for the great start, we got this from here” and then just take off like a rocket all on their own.

@f_USAF-Lt.G

Жыл бұрын

If you ever do want invasive decorative plants like, Bamboo... You will want a deep barrier like you use with the smaller plants - just to contain the spread of new growth, because they pop-up from the root-spread to take over the area.

@Mantras-and-Mystics

3 ай бұрын

Excellent idea, thank you! 🌹

Lol! In case someone wondered if you wore tights or pantyhose! Dale is such a good boy!

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

You never know 🥷

The black Amazon prime tape is actually biodegradable and can be composted.

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

Interesting. It always worries me. I know the shipping labels need to be removed at least.

Bras are great for squash, melons, etc! And when you’re hiving a tour to your buddies, it’s a good conversation starter!

I reuse boxes both as a weed blocker when I mulch my fruit trees and as shredded bedding for vermicomposting. Fantastic tips; I really like the milk-jug idea. I'll have to give it a try.

@rickytorres9089

Жыл бұрын

Agree worms love these things!

@aimeehartness9362

Жыл бұрын

I use 2 liter bottles, old hand soap refill containers, and even 20 ounce soda bottles also for mini greenhouses on my all my starts! They work really well to protect young starts from the colder weather. But they also keep slugs and snails and squirrels from eating the first set of leaves!! If the slugs get those first leaves, the plants can’t photosynthesize at all and they will not grow!! I cut the containers in half and use the top as is, the bottom halves I simply cut a few holes for air circulation and your free, environmentally sound plant protector’s are ready to use!

Jugs also keeps squirrels from digging up your plants when they are trying to plant the dreaded black walnuts...

I really enjoy your videos . They are helpful and especially love seeing Dale and how you treat him like family. Thanks for your knowledge and time! 🐶🏡🧑🏼‍🌾🏡🌱

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

Glad you like them! Dale sends his love!

As an environmental consultant I like the idea of reusing items. I compost pizza boxes since they aren't wanted in recycling.

@Blossomandbranch

Жыл бұрын

Pizza boxes are known for containing PFAS, use caution with those

@alfonsomunoz4424

Жыл бұрын

@@Blossomandbranch duly noted. Is it in the inks? Thanks for that. Luckily my current pile has only 2 boxes.

@alfonsomunoz4424

Жыл бұрын

@@Blossomandbranch , it seems like maybe the wax or plastic coating to reduce grease bleed-through is the source.

@rickytorres9089

Жыл бұрын

@@alfonsomunoz4424 Thank so much for this information, so the ones that come with a parchment like liner or carboard like liners are to reason to be "safe". Since we can simply discard that "part" and use the box itself.

@alfonsomunoz4424

Жыл бұрын

@@rickytorres9089 the boxes with a plastic looking, shiny liner are probably the ones with PFAS. I don't compost those. I have only used boxes that are plain brown cardboard. Minimal ink, no wax or plastic liner. The wax is probably paraffin, which is plant derived, but since it is refined it may make chemicals you shouldn't eat.

You had me at cardboard usage! Genius! I will steal that. There's no stopping me now. You are singing music. Notification set. I'm all ears.

You can also use the egg cartons as a brown in your compost. I’ve also started using old pizza boxes.

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

I’m always a little apprehensive to use anything dyed, but I cannot say there is any correctness to that.

@Gardeningchristine

Жыл бұрын

@@TheMillennialGardener most dyes are vegetable based now a days, and I figure if it’s touching my food it’s probably ok.

@idahogardengirl942

Жыл бұрын

@@Gardeningchristine We hope so. I do similar, and hope that it is food safe.

Great ideas!! I even use the plastic pots to start my bare root trees. My husband hates our cardboard collection but he’ll be happy when I don’t spend a bunch on weed tarp!

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching!

I reuse all my pot and seed trays. Why spend money on my trays and pots. I use them til they fall apart. I use milk and water jugs for winter sowing. I even use the cardboard boxes in my garden. They really do help keep weeds away. I also use newspaper. Great video! Thanks for sharing

Can you give us a walk about tour of your garden please? Showing what you’re using on the ground, bed layout etc.

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

I always do in the spring when things are alive again. Right now, everything looks ugly and dirty since the grass is brown and dormant, most of the beds are under tarps resting, etc.

I used old queen sheets as a sun protection for tomatoes during drought like conditions in KS. Shaded from over head direct and evening blaring hot sun. Also helped some with e moisture control. Just clotheslines them to fence

@cynnail395

Жыл бұрын

Clothespin to fence...auto correct got me again

@sunnyseacat6857

Жыл бұрын

Had extremely strong winds last summer. Even with very small metal clamps, the sheets blew off. This year, bigger clamps will be better. And anything attached to the chickenwire helped bend the 4 foot chickenwire down.

I get such violent winds that those plastic jugs would be blown miles away within 10 minutes.

Haha funny you should mention tree pots...i got 100 gallon ones. I filled my truck up!! I even made a short video.

@TheRainHarvester

Жыл бұрын

Oh you can get 100s of them for free too!

@TheRainHarvester

Жыл бұрын

I stopped doing milk jugs because they blow off at night. How do they stay put for you?! Otherwise they are ideal!

@TheRainHarvester

Жыл бұрын

Better than bricks is mulch. Free from tree trimmers and it gives free soil. But bricks are good too: they keep wet stuff off your shoes.

@TheRainHarvester

Жыл бұрын

I'll add another: if your neighbor is replacing a picket fence, get the pickets: A) Lettuce water boarding works! (i made a video). b) Holds down the sheets during windy cold nights. 3) Cover bare soil during summer (easy "mulch"). And yes sheets are really useful! Can be thrown on top of low trellises to extend lettuce season.

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

They must be huge! I really need to get a truck one of these days.

Excellent video! I just picked up another adorable heat treated wooden crate to use as a raised bed. This one is about 15 in tall and about 24 in long and wide. Some places have free pallets and sometimes they throw out the wooden crates. I’ve brought home 11 in the last 2 years of various sizes and have been working on filling them up. Flipped one over for a gardening table and another I’ve filled with leaves to make leaf mold. I know they won’t last forever, but I didn’t have to build them and they’re getting a second use instead of getting burned or thrown out.

@myurbangarden7695

Жыл бұрын

Good plan

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

I would be *very* careful using pallets. They are often contaminated with chemicals. It's not uncommon for them to be soaked in oil, gasoline, paint, and since they're often used to ship large quantities of chemicals, those chemicals can spill as well. I would be very wary to grab random pallets.

@Gardeningchristine

Жыл бұрын

@@TheMillennialGardener Yep! Great advice! I know what comes in these. They are heat treated so no chemicals to start with and most of them have carried large tractor parts, with no liquid, but some might leak oil, so if I see discoloration I leave them. Thanks for your concern.

@ancesthntr

11 ай бұрын

@@TheMillennialGardenerthe pallets are generally marked. If you see “HT” then you know it is heat treated. That is just plain wood, without any chemicals to make it less prone to rotting. Then all you have to worry about is what may have spilled on the pallet, but that is easy to see if there is some kind of discoloration.

@ancesthntr

11 ай бұрын

Another use for pallets is to create a compost bin with two or three or more sections. I have picked up a bunch of heat treated pallets, and will be constructing a three section bin this weekend. One or two of the pallets will be torn apart, so that I can use their wood to connect the other pallets to make it a solid structure. Someday, those pallets will rot, and they can thus contribute to my compost in the form of mulch. The best part is that you are re-purposing something for free, and saving a lot of labor.

I'm lining all my raised beds with cardboard. Great idea with milk/water jugs. All your tips are great! Thank you.

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

Keep ALL veggie scraps, Coffee grounds, Egg shells to compost early spring. If you have tomatoe Blossom end rott.... it's from not enough Calcium. Egg shells are all Calcium. Cush them after they dry by squishing them once or twice with your hands. Mix shells in the dirt when putting your tomatoes in. Never throw egg shells away either

Don't know if it still exists, but we used to buy apple cider in 1/2 and 1 gallon glass bottles. I bought a glass cutting kit. I cut the bottom off the bottles and sanded with wet sanding paper. Great greenhouses! Kept the lids on overnight and removed the lids in the morning. Wish I still had some of these as glass bottles are hard to find nowadays.

@PatlynnMccourtney-bq1kn

3 ай бұрын

Do you like pickles? In Maine we have ( at Walmart) we have 1 gallon glass jars of whole dill pickles.

I wondered when the "never" part of wearing panty hose was going to come out! Lol 😊 Thanks for the suggestions on recycling items! I do it all the time and it's fun once you start figuring it out! Thanks for all you do!

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

There was a homemade Halloween costume 25-30 years ago. That was my one experience with pantyhose.

@debk9984

Жыл бұрын

@@TheMillennialGardener Too funny! It obviously impacted you a lot! 🤭

Just found your channel today and I’m binge watching. Excellent content for this newbie looking to start composting. I was actually looking for tips in starting a garden. Very informative with just the right amount of detail. Also, Love the idea of using cardboard as weed barrier. Simple and easy.

@karenmurphy7338

Жыл бұрын

Me too! Still new but I did experiment the past 2 years where certain things grew much better in different spots. Because of a bad back I am always looking for shortcuts or ways to make things a little easier on my body. I’m enjoying the wealth of information and experience and the short and concise way he presents it.

@MB-co6qj

Жыл бұрын

Check out Ripe Tomato Farms for the most precise guides you'll ever need

I saved and plant in every container possible! Thanks for sharing this and putting it out there for others

For prize winning straight carrots dig a hole and get the leftover card tube from a used toilet or kitchen roll. bury it and plant your seed.

I repurpose plastic juice jars. I cut off the bottom, leave the cap on, and bury it in the soil. Kitchen scraps go in there by taking off the cap and pushing thru the opening.

Thank you for sharing this information with us

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

You’re welcome!

Aww... sweet doggie 😘 I just lost my rescue pup Charlie about 2weeks ago. He passed in his sleep. Super sad for me. 😿

I love your videos! You are easy to understand and you give tips quickly, but slow enough for people to take notes! I love that you are in NC because I am in the Triangle area of NC!! Yay! Also, you make funny comments along the way, which makes listening to you fun, and I learn a great deal. I learned so much from your video about why cucumbers don't produce!

@soarwithemc6560

Жыл бұрын

I subscribed! This is my third year connecting with nature and trying to grow fresh food ( taste so much better), and it is not easy. I know now that I need knowledge from more experienced people!!!

Yes, he's my kind of guy! Im glad to hear he never wears stocking leggings or pantyhose. Thanks for all the tips. I used the cardboard for weed barriers and compost. I never throw out my egg cartons i compost them too. When I get real desperate for browns. I'll buy a few brown paper bags for 5 cents a bag. I tear them up into little pieces and compost them too.

I do a lot of salvage and i have actually used old plastic dishwasher bodies as grow containers. I actually have three of them right now with garlic and assorted onions growing in them.

@emilyanders-uw7uk

Жыл бұрын

Awesome . I used the tub / basket insert from a giant commercial washing machine to plant a Japanese Maple . It was stainless steel about 4 feet in diameter. Sooo modern and cool 😎

@rickytorres9089

Жыл бұрын

These are great but unless they are STUPID cheap, you're just better off getting even sturdy grow bags. Even "thrifted" ones are likely waste of your time without "dual" benefiting (e.g. getting some usable second hand parts out of them to trade/resale/etc).

I also use plastic shopping bags (mostly use cloth bags) for tying up tomato plants, I cut them across into long strips. I seldom wear panty hose any more, I used to use that. Old socks would worK, though.

Thank you for showing the lettuce under the water jugs. It is a fantastic visual.

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

You're welcome! Lettuce grows fantastic under them in winter, at least in my climate.

@lolaseymour1532

Жыл бұрын

He did a whole video on this just a little while back. You might want to check it out. It was incredible!

One caution on using cardboard on the ground. I'm in Florida. I used cardboard for grass and weed control in my garden and under planters. Unfortunately, the moisture, the darkness and the cardboard itself created ideal habitat for termites. Just something to keep in mind.

I like this idea. Some municipalities are charging more for trash services, I think this could really help people.

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

Tell me about it. Mine stopped our curbside recycling program. So, I find other ways to recycle what I can.

@rickytorres9089

Жыл бұрын

Good luck saving there though. It's often a weekly/monthly service and I don't know if you could have them only comes on some weeks/months and not others.

I reuse the bulk holder trays nurseries give out to carry the individual seedling pots ( usually have 12 squares for seedlings).

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

I have lots of those carry trays. I love them! But I bought them specially fitted for my pots. They're fantastic.

I am making a container garden out of 2 liter pop bottles, my roommates drink an obscene amount of pop and were just throwing the bottles out 0-0. It was killing me to watch. I think they will be good with some smaller crops like lettuce, radishes and carrots (the tallness and skinniness seems good for the tap roots).

@pvp6077

Жыл бұрын

You can cut the tops off and stack them to make a plant tower, theres some really decent builds on here that look super easy and efficient to grow with

@elizabethpirie5050

Жыл бұрын

Cut a circle out and plant strawberry plants the bottle helps to keep strawberries clean and ripens beautifully

@PatlynnMccourtney-bq1kn

3 ай бұрын

Return them for deposit and put money towards garden supplies! You'd be surprised how quickly the deposit can add up

Love the Dale!!!!

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

He’s the best 🐕

@jackielambert7980

Жыл бұрын

Dale... Dale... Dale... Dale........ 🐕

I've been using those amazon boxes for compost, though sometimes have a really hard time with getting the tape off and have started just taking the time to cut out the sections with it. It might be a different tape used here in Australia though it looks the same, but if they could be convinced to change it to something compostable or easier to remove it would be a huge win.

@toysintheclosetshop5443

Жыл бұрын

That paper tape on the Amazon boxes IS compostable. The thick fibers that hold it together are biodegradable though it may take a long time to decompose. And you can dampen the tape and it will come right off as well as any labels.

@APrettyGoodChannel

Жыл бұрын

@@toysintheclosetshop5443 Thanks so much! I suspected it might be a few times, glad to have confirmation. It will make it much easier!

@rnupnorthbrrrsm6123

Жыл бұрын

Just leave it out in the weather for a little bit, rain or sun will make the tape come off easy ;)

@artisticagi

Жыл бұрын

Are those boxes not treated with chemicals?

@sunnyseacat6857

Жыл бұрын

@@artisticagi : wondered that myself regarding cardboard boxes. Wouldn't the Earth absorb chemicals though and transmute/decompost them naturally?

We still have 3 ft. Of snow so watching quilting and gardening videos are my survival. Love your videos. Hello from eastern Idaho. ...keep your videos coming.....

Tip for getting tape off boxes the lazy/easy way: leave them out in the rain. Peels right off!

My girls are trying to till the compost, but it's frozen at this time. I try to re-use everything if possible. Careful out there y'all. 🇺🇸⚔️🇬🇪

@brodyjfitness1863

Жыл бұрын

You can make the compost In a 75l black plastic bin all year round. Because it's black it gets very hot. So that make it the same as Usual but in a black plastic bin. Only about au $20 from any hardware store. Good luck 🤞😃

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

This recent video may interest you: kzread.info/dash/bejne/gnVhxJOrgZeYprg.html

We reuse big boxes to plant potatoes and we use the others as ground cover.

Use the rolls on paper towels and bath tissue... (Browns) Stuff green stuff into the rolls Compost in place

@peggyfiedler1556

Жыл бұрын

Works great. I even put deets in the and once germinated...plant in the ground.

Old sheets can also be used as shade cover. I learned that you can get the used coffee out of those K-cups for composting. Just slit the top and scrape the used coffee out of them.

@rafika816

Жыл бұрын

I do this when guest drink coffee. It's great fir azaleas, gardenias and tomatoes.

@laurelh1799

Жыл бұрын

Better to stop using K-cups altogether! Go back to using a paper filter and loose coffee. It really doesn't take much time and the coffee is fresher.

@rickytorres9089

Жыл бұрын

@@laurelh1799 The cups are fine, it's the dang machine getting DIRTLY pass the cups and needle. It's so DISGUSTING and absurdly hard to clean. And no, you can't just toss the parts in the dishwasher on it's most powerful and hottest settings. It'll still be VERY dirty within.

@laurelh1799

Жыл бұрын

@@rickytorres9089 You're forgetting that those K-cups are filling up the garbage dumps. They can't be recycled or composted so they're not environmentally friendly. Also, have you seen any of the articles about how stale the coffee is in those K-cups? And, on top of all that, they're more expensive to use. BAD IDEA all around IMO.

@rickytorres9089

Жыл бұрын

@@laurelh1799 Plastics in general are just flat out bad for the environment but we are getting better with certain PLAs and bioplastics that can actually break down within semi-reasonable time lines.

old white t shirts torn into strips make excellent ties for tomatoes.

i had the same type of dog cage and took it apart and use it as a cucumber trellis now.

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

That would work perfectly. I'm storing it in case we ever need to use it for some reason (like a trip), but if I knew I'd never use it again, it would be perfect for that.

@libertyandcheesesteaks8928

Жыл бұрын

@@TheMillennialGardener yep, zip tie the sections between two t-posts and it'll go 12 feet up easy. wall of cucumbers with 3 plants

As a massage therapist, tell your therapist you’re interested in their old sheets when they are done with them!

THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT TIPS. DALE WAS MADE FOR TV I LOVE YOU DALE. ❤

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

Dale sends his love ❤️

I’m all about recycle renew reuse! I’ve got my milk jugs ready to go and I’ve got what I call my window garden. I’ve drilled holes in carnation tubs because they are the perfect size to go between my windows so the cats can’t munch my greens. They also sit on top of the south facing windows when it gets really cold. I’m growing 3 kinds of lettuce and 4 kinds of Asian greens in a space that is perfect for it.

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

Since learning something like 90% of what's put in "recycle cans" winds up in landfalls anyway, it's nice to be able to witness *actual* recycling in action. Little things like this can go a long way. Imagine if everyone simply composted half their cardboard. I'm currently rooting figs inside plastic refrigerated pickle spear containers. They work fantastic!

@karenross1008

Жыл бұрын

Pictures?

@karenross1008

Жыл бұрын

Pictures plz

@Gardeningchristine

Жыл бұрын

@@karenross1008 what do you mean? I can’t post pictures.

@laurelh1799

Жыл бұрын

What are carnation tubs?

On the MI Gardner channel, they talk about using pantyhose and putting in around Vining melons to support them while they grow

Two suggestions : 1) If you save your toilet paper and paper towel rolls, you can cut them in half, or in three or four pieces, respectively, and use them as your own home made peat pellets. Of course, you need the peat - but it’s a lot cheaper to buy a big bag of peat moss than to buy a bunch of pellets that give you a whole lot less peat. As a bonus, when they are no longer usable, you simply throw them onto your compost pile to use as a brown. 2) you can similarly use the bottom 1/3 or 1/4 of your typical half liter plastic water bottle as a peat pellet or seed starter. If desired, it is also very easy to cut a couple of holes in the bottom for drainage with a knife stick or two. They will definitely last for years, and when done with them you simply recycle them. Ditto for the larger 2 liter soda bottles if you need more space.

I like saving plastic food containers. They're great for starting seeds in.

I'm using approx 4x4 raised beds with a removable fencing (cats, fresh dirt...yeah) and I have found on really hot days, a bed sheet makes for a cheap good shade cloth for the lettuce / radishes other things that are quick to bolt... typically get two or three weeks over the unshaded stuff - depending on just how hot it is... over 80 for several day, it's done for anyway...

@lolaseymour1532

Жыл бұрын

Did you read the suggestion regarding using plastic forks with the tines up as a cat deterrent?

@charliehiker2247

Жыл бұрын

@@lolaseymour1532 - no I missed that one, thank you, I'll go look for it and get the details

Yogurt cups are great for transplant pots

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

Pretty much any plastic container can be used for transplants. I’m rooting figs in plastic pickle jars.

I use all those items in my garden! I don't wear pantyhose anymore...I pick them up at the thrift store for $1. Dale looked cute in his blue jacket. Stylish crate...looks good mainly because of the handsome model. Hey to Dale!😃🐕

You have the desire never to waste a thing. Commendable!!

I love this video! Very helpful! Thank you 😊👍

@TheMillennialGardener

Жыл бұрын

You’re welcome! Glad you liked it.

My grandparents used coffee cans with the top and bottoms cut out to support the small seedling plants in the garden. It also gave water time to soak around the plant in the heavy clay soil they had.

Your videos are always good man. You and "Tough Citrus" hip me to the game the most. Went to see Stan a few weeks ago and told him i watch yall all the time. Told him he needs to upload more vids

Another use for old stockings is to use as support when pegging out delicate wash items. Put the body part thru the neck and legs thru the arms and just peg the stockings. And egg shells - just boil up for 20 mins, leave overnight and the water and shells are a great feed. Even birds will eat the crushed shells as a good source of calcium.

I am from the Netherlands, bike country. I go to a bikestore and ask for old rubber inner tires for free. Saves them costs for garbage collection. I cut them into strips , very handy as ties for plant or trees. It stays a bit flexibel so will not hurt during growing season.

Herbs usually just love to keep growing in those bigger nursery pots they'll happily grow all winter inside. I fill part of the pot with wood shavings so as plants grow and break down the shavings I can pull out the plant, refill the pot and put the plant back. It keeps the container lighter.

I also use pantyhose to support heavy fruits like melon and cucumbers. I pop they on when they’re small and tie to the trellis. They stretch as they grow and stop them dropping or pulling the plants over 😊

Egg cartons are great ‘brown’ material for composting - also - broken into small pieces the worms in my worm bin love them!

I've been running cardboard and paper through my chipper with garden waste and tree prunings it makes the perfect raised bed cover over winter then I till it under here in northeast Georgia