Monday, June 2, 2008

Creative Recycling



It is always exciting to find new uses for your trash. In this case, I am referring to cardboard boxes. Cardboard boxes make great mulch. We went to the local market and picked up all their cardboard and newspapers which were waiting to be recycled and used them to cover between rows in our tomato field.


According to Garden Organic:


Mulching is an excellent way of controlling weeds and clearing ground. It works because mulches stop light from reaching weeds. Without light they cannot grow because they cannot photosynthesize (the process by which a plant makes food).


(http://www.organicgarden.org) (As an aside, I also think mulching is excellent because it cuts down on the time you have to spend hoeing). It is interesting to note that though corroguated cardboard is the cardboard of choice, according to Garden Organic it is alright to mulch and compost with all types of cardboard:


The inks used these days are no longer contain the harmful heavy metals which used to be a problem. Due to economic reasons the industry has converted to vegetable based inks.

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