Conservation: Reuse/Reduce/Recycle

Someone mentioned disposing of cat litter -- we buy paper cat litter, and put it in a compost bin (special for that). I don't know what we'll do with it when it's all composted, maybe put it on an area that needs filled.

Kathleen

On kitty litter, I know people who go to auto parts stores and buy the stuff intended for a garage to soak up any leaked oil on the floor (50-lb bags I believe).

Ken - Could I just make a friendly suggestion? I noticed that you said that you recyle the plastic bags that the newpaper comes in. Would you consider giving them back to the paper boy/girl so they could reuse them? I don't know about where you live, but here, the delivery person has to pay for the plasic bags the newpaper comes in when it is raining, ect. And most would appreciate it if customers would save them and return them to the carrier to use again. Just a thought.

Compost Question:

I see that some of you put newspapers and shredded paper into the composter. I have just started composting and perhaps I'm being too careful. I read that the inks in newspapers and in shreddables (like bills, cc offers, etc) can have toxins that shouldn't be put in compost bins that will be used around food crops.

Thoughts on that? My compost bin is for both food and non-food uses once complete.

Christy

__________________
Christy
Growing Human
http://growinghuman.blogspot.com

When wearing narrow lenses of hate and ignorance, is it any wonder one finds it difficult to see clearly? - Me

Christy: Almost all of newspaper ink today is soybean based. If you are concerned about colored paper or junk mail, recycle those locally.

Ode, you are right about fabric in the worm bin. I put upside down egg cartons on the bottom of mine and cover that with an old tshirt, then the worm bedding.

At the end of three months the bedding is turned into castings and the tshirt is GONE!

But I have tons of worms for the chickens and lots of good castings for fertilizer and compost tea!

BTW: Ken S. is my hero. Ken, I remember a wonderful post you made several years ago about your visit to croatia and how the farmers did things there. I remember about hay storage above the animal shelters that was used for heat, food then fertilizer. Do you have a copy and can you post again? I always wished I'd saved it.

Mid TN Mama: I no longer have that particular issue and didn't save the file. I was there in May 2001, so three articles from trip likely appeared in the fall or winter issues. Three articles: How they build houses to be energy efficient, How they raise rabbits on NO commerical feeds and How they homestead on very little land and income. For example, it is common for people to scythe down roadside grasses, bring them home and then air dry them in small stacks. Some is fed straight also.