Recycle tip of the week:

Did you color eggs for Easter this year? Then you probably have one of those cardboard egg cartons headed for the trash can pretty soon--I have two 18 pack ones that are about empty. Well with gardening season just around the corner, for some of us, here is a way to re-use those cartons.

Start by removing the lid of the carton. You can use the lid for this project also, but my focus is the little egg cups. Fill each little egg cup with a few tablespoons of potting soil, put three or four of your flower, tomato, or whatever small seeds you will be planting into each cup. Carefully water each cup full of soil and seeds until completely wet. Place entire thing into a large plastic zip-lock back and seal. Set in a sunny window. Check it every day for tiny plants to be growing. Once they start you will need to take the "planter" out of the plastic bag. You will need to water them at least twice a day--depending on the humidity in your house. Once the tiny plants have grown to be an inch or two tall you will need to transplant them into a larger container, like the ones you find in the gardening section. **Don't forget to "thin out" the weaker plants and keep the heartiest one or two.** If you are really into recycling, you saved your containers from the plants you bought for last years garden and you can transplant into those. The nice thing about these little egg cups is that the plant roots will grow right though the wall of the cup so there is no need to remove the plant and soil from the cup. Soak the egg carton with water then cut the egg cups apart and plant the entire thing into the next container.

Not only will this recycle your egg cartons (and last years plant containers), but it will save you a lot of money on those "already-started-plants" and starter kits from the nurseries and gardening boutiques.

Yours Truly,
Mrs. Know-It