View Full Version : Old newspapers . Uses?
bencelest
11-25-2008, 10:12 AM
I've been wanting to use my old newspapers for my garden as a mulch or something other than dump them to recycle cart to be pick up once a week.
If only I have a newspaper cutter but it is too expensive to buy a good heavy duty kind. .I bought a $35 kind at Costco but did not last a week. Maybe I could use them to insulate my banana p-stem this winter?
What do you do with yours?
momoese
11-25-2008, 10:30 AM
They can be used as bedding for worms, but I just use them for the charcoal starter.
lorax
11-25-2008, 11:17 AM
Lasagna beds! (http://ourgardengang.tripod.com/lasagna_gardening.htm)
Lagniappe
11-25-2008, 12:03 PM
I agree with Lorax, they're a great component for layered gardening and,as Mitchel said, the worms will appreciate them in the garden as well. In fact, between the worms,bacteria,and fungi, they 'll be turned to soil in a matter of weeks.
MediaHound
11-25-2008, 03:10 PM
Compost... but I wonder what the ink would do, if it would break down, be safe to use as fert for plants destined to be consumed, etc..
The concern about the ink breaking down was addressed on Jeff Cox's "Your Organic Garden show years ago. Apparently the ink used now as long as it's not the shiny paper breaks down in such a way that it will not harm the garden , can be used as bedding for Vermicomposting which I used to do a lot of when I had more time( I can Highly reccomend Miller McKenzies' product now.....thanks John) so its fine as a weed suppresor, lasagne gardening etc..................starting a backyard fire in the pit is still my favorite though.
turtile
11-25-2008, 04:22 PM
Newspaper takes a very long time to break down. I wouldn't use it unless you've had it in compost for a very long time. It will hurt more than help becuase of the high amount of carbon and low amount of nitrogen.
john_ny
11-25-2008, 04:29 PM
Benny - I use newspapers to insulate p-stems on in ground basjoo and lasiocarpa. I wrap each stem with several layers of paper, and then wrap with plastic ,or bubble wrap, and a plastic bag over the top. I tape, or staple everything in place. I then surround, and cover, with leaves, either in a wire cage around the mat, or in bags, up against the stems. Finally, I put a tarp over everything, to keep it dry.
Last year, I had 100% survival, and I just cut the leaves off, did not cut the stems back. In the spring they just started up from where they had left off.
Jarred - I also had heard that newspaper can be used as weed control, etc, but only the black and white sheets. I don't know if it's the colored ink, or the coated paper that's bad, so I don't use the magazines, or the colred comics, just to be sure.
Lagniappe
11-25-2008, 06:40 PM
My newspaper trash composts very fast. I like to turn the stuff to see whats going on and the edges that are poking out are the only bits left after a month or so. I do have a very healthy crawler population and the termites proly get some of it too :P When I put it on the heap, I only place it one layer (page ) thick though. It may take a long time if the whole paper is thrown in ...idk. On a similar note, I buried a big Ventricosum two years ago under leaf,sawdust,manure and grass clippings. Fungi popped up all over the area and now I dig all around and can't find a sign of it (The Ventricosum). That's serious composting !
jason
11-25-2008, 10:27 PM
Making your own bio-degradable pots from old newspapers is good for your garden, your plants, your pocket and the environment. Make your own newspaper seedling or jiffy pots, by using this nifty little wooden tool.or using a round glass will acheive the same thing!!
bencelest
11-26-2008, 09:02 AM
Wow!
You guys are all awesome!
I am digesting every posts you made.
Now I know what to do with my old newspapers other than dump them to my recyclable bin. I even put it at the bottom of the cage with my African gray and save everything to dump it to my compost bin or bury the newspaper and poos of the bird in my pergola plat.
momoese
11-26-2008, 12:04 PM
You don't need to worry about the ink they use nowadays, it's all biodegradable and most is soy based.
Btw, newspaper works awesome for cleaning windows. Just scrunch up a piece and use it like you would a paper towel.
Patty in Wisc
11-26-2008, 05:08 PM
Mitchel, I was going to say the same thing. I've been using newspaper to clean windows for years! It doesn't streak so much & no lint left behind.
Also, for starting fires & charcoal.
If shipping a potted plant, I stuff them on top of soil & tape them down ...keeps soil from falling out.
lorax
11-26-2008, 05:46 PM
You can also use it, in place of a banana peel, to polish or buff suede shoes, and on black non-patent leather the inks impart a bit of a shine.
Rmplmnz
11-26-2008, 10:41 PM
My newspaper trash composts very fast. I like to turn the stuff to see whats going on and the edges that are poking out are the only bits left after a month or so. I do have a very healthy crawler population and the termites proly get some of it too :P When I put it on the heap, I only place it one layer (page ) thick though. It may take a long time if the whole paper is thrown in ...idk. On a similar note, I buried a big Ventricosum two years ago under leaf,sawdust,manure and grass clippings. Fungi popped up all over the area and now I dig all around and can't find a sign of it (The Ventricosum). That's serious composting !
This is consistent with my experience as well.
damaclese
12-02-2008, 06:32 PM
much of the pigments used in news papers are made from clay its harmless to humans as well as plants its abrasive but dose work well on glass the paper being wood pulp is as good for the garden as any topdressing of wood chip is and we all know that doesn't hurt a thing in the final processing of paper it is rinsed in clean water so much of the bleaches and alkali used for braking down the wood fibers are washed away however the process for making paper is horribly toxic and is one of the meager pollutions to are water supply
i saw that jiffy paper pot tool on burpe and thought its was cool i was going to try making one on my wood lath this winter looked like a cute Christmas gift for my gardening friends
Chironex
12-02-2008, 07:10 PM
much of the pigments used in news papers are made from clay its harmless to humans as well as plants its abrasive but dose work well on glass the paper being wood pulp is as good for the garden as any topdressing of wood chip is and we all know that doesn't hurt a thing in the final processing of paper it is rinsed in clean water so much of the bleaches and alkali used for braking down the wood fibers are washed away however the process for making paper is horribly toxic and is one of the meager pollutions to are water supply
i saw that jiffy paper pot tool on burpe and thought its was cool i was going to try making one on my wood lath this winter looked like a cute Christmas gift for my gardening friends
I saw those on ebay and nearly bought one, so put me on your Christmas list for one or two, a smaller one and one that is about the size of a quart pot, too.
Thanks Santa!
Patty in Wisc
12-02-2008, 07:16 PM
Hey Santa Pauly, I want some too!
I saw those in a catologue & figured then that I could make them without the kit, but now I forgot how to. They'd make great pots for starting seeds.
I s'pose just wet the paper & wrap around a pot & wait to dry?
momoese
12-02-2008, 07:31 PM
Hey Santa Pauly, I want some too!
I saw those in a catologue & figured then that I could make them without the kit, but now I forgot how to. They'd make great pots for starting seeds.
I s'pose just wet the paper & wrap around a pot & wait to dry?
How about wrapping it around the outside of one pot, then insert that one into another of the same size to form it?
Patty in Wisc
12-02-2008, 07:37 PM
You got'er hot rodder!
momoese
12-02-2008, 07:38 PM
Or you can do this.
Gardening Tips Jiffy peat pots alternative (http://www.flowerpotheaven.com/gardeningtips/2006/05/31/jiffy-peat-pots-alternative/)
Patty in Wisc
12-02-2008, 07:50 PM
Na, more fun to make my own.
momoese
12-02-2008, 07:55 PM
Na, more fun to make my own.
Huh? The link shows you how to make your own using a paper towel center as the tool to form them.
Patty in Wisc
12-02-2008, 08:56 PM
Whoopsie, I missed it. All I saw was where to buy pots.
I'll go back.
momoese
12-02-2008, 09:11 PM
I was thinking that maybe you thought the center of the roll was the pot. Looks very easy to do and cheap!
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