Low-cost/No-cost Upcycled Seed Starting Kits

It seems like spring is taking forever to get here, doesn't it? Not to worry though, there are some things you can do to get started on your garden early. The best part is that you can use common items found around the house or at the Reuse Centre. I use these techniques every year to get my tomatoes and flowers started indoors with no outlay of expenses other than the potting soil.

Cardboard Tube Seed Pot 

Photo Credit: Sarah J.

What you will need:

• Clean cardboard tubes (toilet paper, paper towel, or wrapping paper rolls)
• Scissors
• Shallow plastic tray
• Potting soil *sterilized through microwaving or store bought to reduce the risk of introducing molds that may harm your seedlings. Packaged potting soil is already sterilized.
• Yogurt container
• Water
• Seeds

Steps:

1. Find a clean cardboard tube (trim longer tubes to about 7-10cm) and cut four slits into the bottom of the roll a quarter of an inch long.
2. Press cut sections of toilet paper rolls inwards to create the bottom of the seed pot. Don't worry if it doesn't stay completely shut on its own, the soil will hold everything in place. 
3. Fill the cardboard seed pot with soil. I like to fill a yogurt container with soil first and then scoop the soil with the cardboard seed pot.
4. Once the seed pot is filled with soil, stand it up in a shallow plastic tray. The tray will collect any extra water.
5. Make as many as you need and follow the directions on the seed packet for planting.
6. Keep the seed pots damp and warm to sprout the seeds.
7. When the sprout gets large enough, replant it in the garden or a larger pot. 

Pastry Container Seed Starting

Photo Credit: Sarah J.

What you will need:

• Plastic pastry container
• Scissors
• Yogurt container, to scoop the soil
• Potting soil *sterilized through microwaving or store bought to reduce the risk of introducing molds that may harm your seedlings. Packaged potting soil is already sterilized. 
• Seeds 

Steps :

1. You will need to make some drainage holes; use one side of the scissors and poke some holes in the bottom of your pastry container. 
2. Cut the lid off. 
3. Fill the bottom portion of the container with damp potting soil. 
4. Plant the seeds according to seed package. 
5. Place the lid on the top of the bottom of the pastry container to keep the moisture in the soil while the seeds germinate. 
6. When the seeds sprout place the lid underneath as a tray to prevent water from leaking onto your table.
7. Water as needed, to keep the soil damp.

Starting seeds inside will give you a jump start on the summer gardening. Most of the supplies are easily found around the house and whatever you're missing can be found at the Reuse Centre. This will save you money on buying new supplies and starter plants from the garden centers. If you have little ones, let them get dirty, let them see something grow! 

- Sarah J. (Volunteer)

Keep your Garden Green: Reusing in your Backyard

It's Spring again (finally!) and that means that across the city, people are getting outside, waking up their yards after a long sleep, and getting ready for the gardening season.

We live in a rough climate, and chances are that your planters, pots, trellises and stakes are all a little worse for wear if you've left them outside over the winter. Garden centres do booming business this time of year, and not just on plants, as folks replace their old containers, tools, and garden decorations.  New items might make our backyards and flowerbeds look beautiful, but with a little creativity, you can have a gorgeous garden for less, AND reduce your environmental impact.

Whether you've got a sprawling backyard or a few manageable pots on your balcony, here are some of my favourite ideas for reuse in your planting spaces this summer:

Get creative with planters.

There is no rule that says you must grow your plants in pots. As a former florist, I can tell you that anything that holds dirt will do, as long as you make a few considerations for plant health. Don't use metals that will rust unless you have a liner in place, and make sure your plants have adequate drainage. This means that if your container doesn't have holes in the bottom, a) make some or b) fill the bottom inch or two with rocks and take care not to over water.

Check out this site for 30 great reuse and DIY planter ideas.

Use found or reused lumber for wood projects.

Want to know how to build this awesome walkway? Check out the tutorial at Funky Junk Interiors.

Pallets are a reuse gardener's best friend. You can make furniture, planters, or use the wood to make fences or square off garden beds. Here in Edmonton, Habitat for Humanity's ReStore is a great place to get re-use or cast-off construction materials.

Make your own garden markers.

From popsicle sticks to venetian blinds, juice can lids to painted stones, there are a ton of ways to make markers for your plants. These are a great way to get the whole family involved in taking care of a home garden.

Check out Housing a Forest's 27 DIY Garden Markers for a list of tutorials.


Don't forget the critters.

You can attract birds and other wildlife to your outdoor spaces with funky, functional feeders and houses. Not only will they make your outdoor spaces look pretty, but attracting wildlife can improve your garden experience by keeping your insect and pest levels down.

Check out these 23 upcycled bird feeder ideas and this list of 20 birdhouse tutorials.

You can also build an easy bee house out of reuse materials. These little houses attract solitary pollinators; these bees will improve your flowerbeds without the aggressive behaviour of hive-bees.

Compost!

This isn't reuse in the way we typically think of it, but composting your organic materials, from veggie peelings and rotten fruit, to kleenex and dryer lint, is one of the best ways that you can reduce your garden's environmental footprint.
Not only will you be returning valuable nutrients to the soil, but you'll eliminate the need to use chemical fertilizers on your plants and produce.

These are just a small number of reuse ideas for your outdoor spaces this summer; the possibilities really are endless. Get creative, and share your favourite ideas for reuse in the garden in the comments below!

-Sarah (Volunteer)

Redecorating the Reuse Way

Spring is here and you know what that means; a new season of fashion is upon us! New colours, new styles, and a brand new "it" item for everything from clothes to shoes, bags, and yes, even home decor.

Luckily redecorating doesn't have to break the bank. The style and feel of a room or space can change in an instant just by altering a few key details, and that doesn't necessarily mean purchasing brand new items! With some supplies and a few simple tweaks, it is easy to transform and reinvent your space, time and time again.

Just to get you started, here are a few of our favourite ideas for creative redecorating.

-Want to add a pop of colour or texture to an otherwise neutral space? Or maybe you've got an old-fashioned lamp that you just know could be a great piece if only it wasn't so outdated. Why not try re-covering your lampshades with fabric? Adding trim to the edges of a plain lampshade is an even easier alternative, if you're a fan of more subtle details. Here's a great tutorial if you aren't quite sure where to begin. This blogger takes a plain white shade and transforms it with a simple, printed cotton.

-This is an oldie but a goodie and one that a lot of people don't think of, but if you're rocking a hand me down couch of dubious style, why not try a slipcover to hide that floral velvet or pilling fabric? If your furniture is hard to fit, buy a length of upholstery fabric; with some clever draping and a few tucks, you've got a brand new look!

-Adding throw pillows are a classy (and comfortable!) way to change the look of a room. When yours become outdated, simply re-cover them! Sewing a pillow cover is a quick and easy project, even for beginners, and can be done by hand if you don't own a sewing machine! And here's an even simpler, no-sew tutorial.

Here's an insider tip from one of our customers that makes this project even easier: upholstery fabric samples make great pillow coverings! They are pre-cut and made of durable fabric that will stand up to a lot of abuse. Using a different, but coordinating, fabric for each side of the pillow gives you even more day-to-day decor options.

-Paint or stain your wooden furniture to make it modern! Or change the hardware on a beloved piece to update it. This is a great tip because hardware changes are completely reversible and there is little risk of damaging the furniture itself.

-Personalize just about anything with homemade tile mosaics! Here at the Reuse Centre we're always getting samples of different kinds of tile in various colours, patterns, and textures that are just perfect for small to medium projects. The Joy of Shards is an amazing resource for mosaic making, complete with ideas and tutorials.

 Tile mosaics aren't just for tables or flat surfaces either. Try covering plant pots, jewelry boxes, picture frames, or even make a large piece of art for the wall!

-Move those knick-knacks! This is the cheapest, easiest trick of all, but if you're anything like me, you get stuck in the habit of "where things go." Maybe that lamp would look better in the bedroom, and perhaps that vase complements your bathroom better than it does the kitchen. Pretend you're moving in all over again, and mix things up!

These are just a few of many ideas for incorporating reuse into your redecorating. What are some of your favourites? Please share in the comments section!

-Sarah (Volunteer)