Reuse -- Using cans in the garden

This blog is not a gardening blog. Honest. It's spring and that's what's on my mind right now, so deal. ;) Cans! I don't use cans in the kitchen much, mostly because of the BPA levels found in the plastic linings. I do, however, buy coffee that comes in cans, and I've come up with numerous uses for them. One of them using them as a seedling protector in the garden.




Once you've emptied the can, put it upside down in a can opener and remove the bottom, and discard it in your recycling bin.

What you'll get is a metal tube, just perfect for protecting your tomato seedlings from nasties and weather. The main reason I need these, is slugs and cut worms. Sunday night we had a huge storm, hail and all come through. The tomato seedlings that were protected by cans were the only ones that survived. I had one that just disappeared, likely washed away with the heavy rain. Sucky..

I'll keep my seedlings in these until they look like they're about to outgrow them. They have to be pulled up over the plant, so I would imagine about two weeks with this. Then the cans go in storage until next time, or the recycling bin.

My grandfather inspired this technique. Snooping around his old barn one day, I found paint cans with their bottoms taken out. I asked my dad what they were used for, and he explained the gardening tip. Funny how reusing things isn't some new age hippie thing, but a practical practice revisited.

Reuse -- Updating Picture Frames on the Cheap

My mother in law loved pictures, and one of the things my husband lovingly remembers about her is the picture wall. When she passed away in 2005, we were given many of these pictures. I believe they were divided between my husband and his brother. Not really knowing what to do with these pictures, they had stayed in storage for quite some time. I had pulled a select few out, and the rest were not seen.

However when I cleaned out my computer nook the other day, I decided I would update the frames and put them on a blank wall in the dining room. So I started with a picture of my brother in law with his wife on their wedding day, back in I believe 1996? That picture has probably been in there for those 14 years, so the frame needs some updating.



I took the frame apart, including the glass, and set the photo and everything aside. Then I took it and my spray paint outside. I have never spray painted anything before that I can remember, however I have watched my dad do it as a kid, so I was hoping it was as easy as it looked.

It definitely is as easy as it looks. Spray it lightly and you won't get runs. Very simple. In the end, I plan on having all black frames for photos in the dining room. This project will only cost me the $6.27 for the textured black spray paint. One can of paint will be enough for this project, and probably another as well. Easy easy, and I'm not spending money on new frames, or filling a landfill with old or unwanted items. Win win!