Makesumption

This morning, I was in the shower having a solo brainstorming session. What can I create from my garbage instead of putting it in a landfill? What can I make with all the newspapers I recycle every day? How can I use my old clothes in the giveaway bag? And how can I do all of this to create something fun, stylish, or useful? I like to call it, Makesumption. It's consumption and creation all wrapped up in one. While I didn't solve the economic crisis, or world hunger, I did come up with a few fun ideas to share with you, using basic, household items.

1) Set up a Red-worm composting bin. Some people sell the vermicompost and the worms for a little profit on the side. I have a red-worm compost bin that we just started a week ago. One bin doesn't quite keep up with how much organic waste two people generate, it handles most of it, including coffee grounds and pulverized eggshells. And it can be expanded into multiple bins over time. The best feature of this project, in my opinion, is that it can be done in an apartment or in a garden. Check out this 10 minute how-to YouTube video by Barb Finnin. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbjX2tt-oQw&feature=related.

2) Make your own chalk. A fun and easy project made from pulverized eggshells, which are composed of 94% calcium carbonate. Puppet maker Markie Scholz tells us how to make chalk and other creative crafts for props and art on her website at: http://www.dragonsaretooseldom.com/craft_recipes.html.

Eggshell Chalk
6 eggshells (washed thoroughly)
1 teaspoon very hot water
1 teaspoon flour

Put eggshells in a electric blender and reduce to fine powder. You can also use a mortar and pestle or a rock on a board. Pick out any remaining big shell pieces and discard. Put water and flour in a bowl and mix until a paste is formed. Add 1 teaspoon of shell powder and mix until well combined. You can also add food coloring or tempera for colored chalk. Roll into a chalk-like stick. Wrap tightly in a paper towel. Let dry for 3 days until hard. Remove paper towel and draw a driveway mural.

3) Recycle your junk mail. If even after calling to remove yourself from mailing lists, you are still receiving pesky junk mail, reuse it. Cut your junk mail into 3x5 rectangles to use as scratch paper for grocery lists and other notes and save money on notepads. Or tear newspapers lengthwise in strips to use as packing material and save on costly bubble wrap.

What kind of Makesumer ideas do you have?