If you read my other blog, Once A Little Girl, you know I hate weeds, but I like to garden. I love flowers. I even love wild flowers. With that kind of love-hate relationship, things can get out of hand pretty easily.
With my love of nature, of course I recycle. I got involved in “being green” back on the very first Earth Day. Yes, eco-nuts predicted global warming way back in 1970. I remember a passionate environmentalist exclaiming, no one will listen for another 30 years, and then it will be too late to reverse the effects of green-house gasses. I tore soup can labels off at the check-out counter exclaiming: “Save the environment. End needless packaging.”
Most of us recycle these days. It’s easy. Just put newspapers, cans, bottles and plastic in the recycle bin. My village makes it easy; we don’t even need to sort anything. Still, I came across an idea that fits with my green thumb (and mind) and it saves me money.
I hired my grand-daughter, Emma to help me out. She’s happy to work for free, still, it’s fun to reward a hard worker like Emma. Sure, it’s not enough to stimulate the economy toward recovery, but I might help Emma buy her Adele songs from iTunes. Besides, doesn’t every bit help.
I found a way to have weed free flowerbeds, and recycle my newspapers. Best of all, it’s easy as 1, 2, 3, 4.
Step 1: Lay thick layers of newspaper over the area.
Step 2: Soak the newspaper with water.
Step 3: Cover with mulch. I got the mulch for the local municipal wood and brush recycling center. We re-used kitty-litter pails to carry the mulch. Cheap and in keeping with my green attitude. Also just the right weight of mulch for smaller people to carry.
Step 4: Soak again with water.
Voila, a weed free flowerbed.
Here’s a picture of the space I did last spring (2011) as my first-time-I-don’t-want-to-do-this-if-it-doesn’t-work, experiment. Still no weeds.
The best part: the newspaper eventually turns into mulch. Sooo much better than the fabric I used in the past. Better for the environment and better for my pocketbook. Okay, that might mean it’s not so good for the economy, but two out of three ain’t bad.
Here’s another idea I found on Pinterest. I need new throw rugs. I can make some easy-peasy from old t-shirts or towels. I have lots of those. This looks like something I can do while watching TV on a cold winter evening. I wonder if anyone on my Christmas list needs new throw rugs.
httpv://youtu.be/KVhBfiy4XrM
Related articles
Weasling out of Weedwork (OnceALittleGirl.com)
Absent a Miracle Worker (OnceALittleGirl.com)
