Broken Doesn't Mean Unusable

In this society, we consider everything disposable. This was not the way it was meant to be and Mother Nature is screaming for us to stop. How do we stop? We start to think of new uses for items we considered unfixable or unusable. You say you don't want junk around my house. I don't either. I am not recommending using a computer as a paperweight. I am suggesting finding another use for something that may in the end improve something.

For example:

• old laundry basket. . . . garden harvest basket
  
  
• picnic basket with a broken handle. . .toy holder or planter
  
  
• stained sheet. . . . . . .paint tarp or kids tent
  
  
• clothes. . . . . . . . . . scavenge for usable pieces (i.e. buttons and material)
  
  
• old sponges. . . . . . . .art sponges
  
  
• mens' old shirts. . . . . smocks
  
  
• crayons. . . . . . . . . . crayon chips (see Tightwad Gazette) or color for paraffin candles
  
  
• coffee grounds. . . . . . .for organic rose mulch
  
  
• kitchen matter. . .mulch -- eggshells have been doing wonders keeping the slugs away
  
  
• old newspapers. . . . . . .mulch / weedblock, wrapping paper (i.e. comics, business, travel, etc.)
  
  
• toilet paper cores. . . . wire or rope holder, silent wind chimes (Jan. 1998, A Personal Touch issue see below for ordering.)
  
  
• Panty hose. . . . . . . . . Christmas ornaments or tomato plant, ties, sachets for drawers
  
  
• Broken garbage can. . . . . . End table--cover with round piece of plywood, weight down and cover with material
  
  
• Burnt out cookie sheet. . . . . Art tray for children
  
  
• Broken Terra Cotta Planters. . . Drainage hole covers
  
  
• Brown Paper Bags. . . . . .cover books or wrapping presents or draining bacon
  
  
• Old book or magazine pictures. . . . Decoupage
  
  
• Phone . . . . . . . . . . .children's toy
  
  
• ends of 2 x 4 's etc. . . .children's blocks after sanding
  
  
• cereal boxes. . . . . . . .magazine holders, toy car garage and ramps
  
  
• milk/OJ cartons. . . . . kid cities or candle molds
  
  
• carpet . . . . . . . . . . cat scratch posts

Just look twice before you throw something away. Could it have a second life? Even Martha Stewart reuses her empty wine bottles with an alcohol server tip as a kitchen soap dispenser. It was prettier than the alternative dishwashing soap bottle. So before you toss anything out, brainstorm--you may find that the item has another use and another life.

Dawn Adams is the editor of A Personal Touch, a newsletter that will improve your marriage, family, home, and entertaining on a budget. To request a free copy send a SASE to: A Personal Touch, 24 Flintlock Dr., Durham, CT 06422 or check out our web site at http://members.tripod.com/~apersonaltouch/index.html

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