Paperback Swap

A few posts ago, I mentioned ways to to donate books and tips to recycle them. I came across another website that allows you to swap paperback books.

It's free to be a member. You post books you are willing to giveaway. If someone requests it, you print out a couple of sheets of paper, wrap the book, and pay the postage which they say runs between $2-$2.50. The book is theirs to keep. Vice versa, if you find a book you want, you submit your request.

It's certainly cheaper than Amazon or bookstores, which in my area are dwindling. Borders just closed their doors in my town. I still get books from library book sales but this is a nice option if you don't have access to book sales.

For more information, you can go to http://www.paperbackswap.com/index.php

P.S. I included a photo of My Antonia because I just finished this book the other day. Very good read by the way.

Happy Reading!!!

Recycling Floppy Disks

Today, I cleaned out our home office to get ready for an upcoming garage sale that I am participating in my parent's neighborhood in a couple of weeks. The whole neighborhood holds an annual garage sale and it's well attended. I live in farm country so it's not worth having one at home.

Anyway, I found a pile of floppy disks from back in the day. Okay, ha, ha. I can honestly say that it's been a while since I cleaned the home office. I came across a company that recycles these disks. Although they say that they erase the info on them, I would take this advice with a grain of salt. I took the liberty of erasing the info on these disks and some were blank anyway.

So if it's been a while since you cleaned out your home office and are looking to recycle these babies, here's the info.

http://www.floppydisk.com/recycle.htm

Just a note, if you have 500 disks or more, they are willing to pay for them. This is good news for companies who want to unload a ton of them.

Household items can make a difference

St. Joseph's Indian School helps Lakota (Sioux) children escape poverty through education. They have a list of things they need on their website and they update it regularly. So whenever you are getting rid of stuff, you can check the website to see if there is a need for it. Most of the time, it's everyday things you use at home.

Of course, they accept monetary donations and I personally have made a modest donation last year.

There are many things you might have lying around the house not being used like shampoo, pillows, scrapbooking supplies, kitchen utensils, etc. I have duplicates of scrapbook paper that I got in a book which I won't use so I think the kids could benefit from making projects with it. I just have to find a mailer that can hold 12x12 paper.

Here is the link to the list of supplies that St. Joseph's needs in case you are interested... http://http://www.stjo.org/site/PageServer?pagename=help_non_monetary_needs

Terracycle

Terracycle is a company that was started by two guys in college who created the company for one of their classes. Terracycle partners with other companies to collect specific items and reuse them in new ways.

Now they have a new program just in time for summer. If you have lots of old flip flops lying around collecting dust or you can collect lots of them. Please go to http://www.terracycle.net/ to sign up for the program.

These programs are usually not ongoing and are often capped with the number of items they will take. Not shipping costs and proceeds can be donated to a favorite charity. I've participated in the soda bottle brigade in the past and now I am collecting highlighters, sharpies, pens and tape dispensers. I prefer sandals over flip flops but I know lots of people love them so here is an opportunity to put them to a new use.

BTW, there is a new post on composting natural fibers. Please view the March folder to find out more.

Barley Ball Experiment

Hi Everyone,

I'm working on a small experiment with my pond. Besides the fact that I need more landscaping in the backyard, I've been having a big issue with algae. The pond in my previous home was in full sun but algae wasn't an issue. And I lived there for six years. But at this house, you can't see anything. I've tried different chemical treatments for ponds but it didn't even put a dent in it.

My interest in recycling and repurposing brought me to another solution. I found on http://www.gardeners.com/ a barley ball. It seemed to have good ratings and although a bit expensive, I thought I would give it a shot. It's been in there for a week and this is the first time I can see the bottom of the pond. I can't actually count the number of fish we have instead of guessing.

You can see the algae stuck to the bottom of the ball. Basically it's loose barley grass in a netting with a styrofoam ball to keep it afloat.

Since it's made so much progress in a week's time, I expect it to work well throughout the summer.

I wonder if I can grow some barley myself to use in the future. I have the room to grow it. Does anyone have suggestions where I can buy seeds?

120 ways to reuse a t-shirt

Megan Nicolay revolutionized the T-shirt. She repurposed it, reinterpreted it, reinvented it. What's great about this book is that everyone has t-shirts they haven't worn for a long time or don't fit anymore. What a great way to take a t-shirt and see what you can create.

Doing these projects together with your older kids will reinforce the value of not throwing anything away and being wasteful. Etsy sellers might pick up some new ideas for adding fresh products to your store. I just saw this book on sale on Amazon.com for $9.96, normally priced $15.95.

If you do pick up the book and make a project, please email me so I can post it on this blog with a photo of you. We would love to see your creativity at play.

Earthday Poster Contest

RAINFOREST ACTION NETWORK - EARTH DAY - POSTER CONTEST - Nationwide - Restrictions - Ends 4/18/11POSTED ON 3/25/11 (Enter also by mail. See rules online for details.)

(3) One-per-grade-category. Grade appropriate books to the classrooms of one winner and one runner-up in each of the three grade categories. Value $125. LIMIT ONE ENTRY PER PERSON OR CLASS. (students gradEs K-6 with a teacher sponsor)

VOID in: PR. Five finalists in each of three grade categories will be determined by judging and their entrieswill be posted online for public voting from 4/21 to 4/27/11.Most votes wins. Winners notified approx. 5/2/11.

http://rainforestheroes.com/earth-day-poster-contest/earth-day-poster-contest-entry-form/