reuse coffee grounds

•  Organic fertilizer: Sprinkle used coffee grounds in the soil of plants that love acidic soil, examples: rose bushes, rhododendrons, camellias, evergreens, carrots, and radishes.

•  Organic pest and ant repellent: Sprinkle used coffee grounds in areas where ants, slugs, and snails hang out and destroy your garden.

•  Organic cat repellent: To keep them out of your plants and garden, used coffee grounds will do the trick.

•   Mushroom growing soil: Inoculated mushroom plugs nestled into moist used coffee grounds can mean a great mushroom crop for you. Put grounds in a glass container and press a mushroom plug into them, repeating with more grounds and mushroom plugs until you run out of room.

•  Abrasive cleaner: For stubborn grease and stains on pots and pans, used coffee grounds really get in there and do the job.

•  Dust deflector: We’re talking about the fireplace here; sprinkle coffee grounds on ashes before you start collecting them to minimize the dust.

•  Furniture scratch touch up: Use a Q-tip and used coffee grounds to fill in scratches on wooden furniture–remember the coffee will stain the wood a bit, so don’t use it on something that won’t match.

•  Hand soap: Rub used grounds on your hands to get rid of stubborn odors like onion and garlic.

•   Cellulite rub: Mix one tablespoon of olive oil with 1/4 cup moist, warm used coffee grounds and spread on cellulite hot spots. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap, leave on for a few minutes, and then remove wrap and shower as normal.

•  Add some old coffee grounds to your houseplants; most will love the boost of acidity

buy used

Buy used products whenever possible. Some sources:

• local thrift stores
• Ebay
• Craigslist
• Freecycle (free!)
• local newspaper listings
• local material exchange sites (search in your area)
• garage sales (search in your area in the 'for sale' > 'garage sales' section
• used refurbished computers 
• local used furniture stores (search in your area)
• local consignment shops (search in your area)

cream cheese polenta

• 4 cups water
• Salt to taste
• 1 cup medium-grain yellow polenta
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup cream cheese

1 Heat water lightly seasoned with salt to a boil over high heat, about 5 minutes.  Stir in the polenta until fully incorporated.

2 Lower the heat to a low simmer, add the butter and allow the polenta to cook, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes.

3 Finish by stirring in the cream cheese and salt to taste.

baked potato chips

• 4  baking potatoes, peeled and sliced
• 1 1/2 tbsp. olive oil
•  salt to taste (and any other seasonings you like)

Place the potato slices in a bowl. Add the olive oil, and salt (and seasonings) to taste.  Mix well. Spread the potatoes out on a baking pan in a single layer. Bake at 450℉ about 12 minutes on each side.

felted wool plant pots

Materials needed:

• leftover pieces or sleeves from Felted Sweater Bag project
• empty, clean tin can
• optional: fabric glue

Remove the labels and wash cans thoroughly.

Measure the length of the can.  Add 1/2 inch to this measurement. 

Cover the outside of the can with the felted wool.

Secure the wool with fabric glue.

recycled wool sweater (felted wool) bag

Wash the sweater in a hot sudsy wash and run through the hot dryer until completely dry (also known as felted wool).

Supplies:

• wool sweater that is shrunk
• scissors
• sewing machine or needle and thread
• coordinating embroidery thread and tapestry needle 

Instructions:

1. Cut sweater into two layers, halter-shaped by cutting through two layers of sweater at once.
2. Cut a line along each side of the body, close to the side seams.
3. Following the sleeve line, continue to cut the sleeves off as well. You'll have two pieces of sweater. I used a large dinner plate to cut the curves.
4. If desired, cut the bottom band of the sweater completely off (set aside to create flower later).
5. Lay pieces with right sides facing, and starting at one armpit stitch down the side, across the bottom, and up to the other armpit.
6. With right sides still together, sew the "collar" (top of handle) front and back together, stitching across twice or more to create a firm handle.
7. Turn the sweater right side out. You now have a basic bag with two large side openings.
8. Turn under the raw edges along each handle opening and top stitch.
9. Turn them under again and hand stitch with a coordinating embroidery thread and large tapestry needle. This completes the bag.

Flower Instructions:

1. Using the bottom band from the front or back of the sweater (or part of a sleeve), thread a large tapestry needle and knot the thread.
2. Lay the sweater band out horizontally and starting with one short side, make a z-fold and run the needle through it. Pull tight. This is your flower center.
3. Now begin wrapping the band around that center, keeping it tight and running the thread through every few wraps. Once you have rolled up the entire band, finish it by pulling the thread through one last time and knotting it.
4. Knot tightly several times.
5. Attach to the bag and fold down the last outer wrap to make a stylish petal.
6. Wool that is tightly felted will not fray, so you can simply cut some leaves from the sleeves to add alongside the flower.

dishes vs. paper/plastic

Don't use paper plates or plastic flatware that will end up in the landfill. It can take up to 1000 years for a plastic fork to biodegrade.