Repurpose, Recycle TT#9

Some have called it White Trash Ways. When we lived in the city we called it "neighborhood ingenuity." Now, we just call it smart. Reusing, Repurposing, Recycling, call it what you want. Finding ways to use things longer, or in a different way is good for the pocketbook and for the environment. Here are the first 13 things I found on a short walk around my house.

1. An old dish tub. This is supposed to be for fresh drinking water for the animals, but the ducks like to use it as a mini pond. That is why it is dirty.








2. Our back decks. The steps are new. Everything else was taken from decks on another house. They were moving the house and didn't need the decks anymore. Someday we will stain them so they are all the same color.






3. Garden Frame. One of the decks had gates that we didn't use. I turned one of them into a frame for a small garden spot with herbs, zinnias, and three large volunteer tomatoes.







4. The roof of our rabbit hutch. The decks in #2 also had a roof that we did not put back on. The metal was reused for our rabbit hutch.







5. Play ground equipment. An old tractor tire becomes a place to hide in and something to climb on.











6. Storage. This is not the prettiest of your repurposed items, but it is very functional for a low cost. Can you guess what this storage building was in its former life?







7. Water bucket for the goats. Previously starring as a laundry detergent container.











8. Feed scoops. Old sour cream or cottage cheese containers are the perfect size to scoop feed out of the bags. They also are easily replaceable.







9. Flower pots. Rotted logs become something pretty and functional. To see how I made these; Not your average flower pot.











10. Rain water collectors. With our extremely dry spring, we have seen the necessity of collecting rain water. There are more permanent plans in the works, but for now, two old barrels positioned under the spouting are doing the trick.









11. Chicken feeders. I saw this in a magazine I think. Take an old milk jug and cut the sides out enough for the chickens to get their head in. Tie to the wall. The chickens can get to the feed to eat, but can't dump it all over the ground. It is working well.









12. Flower vase. Old jars make lovely containers for flowers, especially jars that are colored glass.











13. Plant waterer. Do you know what this is? It is our favorite tool to water the plants in the garden, well at least when are we watering by hand. We fill a large bucket (of the laundry detergent variety) with rain water and carry it into the garden. Then we scoop it out with this. It is a perfect size. The kids actually were the ones that came up with this idea. Still don't know what it is? It is the cup from our potty seat. Good thing Vivian (1) isn't potty training yet.


Thanks Phelan for the idea for this post. After starting this I thought of many other items that we use that are repurposed or recycled. Perhaps a second list will appear in the future.

Thursday Thirteen

recycling, reusing, homestead