Don't know if anyone else does this, but I came up with these plant markers you make yourself & you're recycling, too. I use these to mark plants or bulbs that I set out. Cut the center section off of bleach bottles ( I buy the 96 oz. ones) & cut lengthwise so you have a wide,flat strip of white plastic. I cut out strips from this, about 3/4 inch wide & 5 or 6 inches long; cut a point on one end & then write plant name on strips with a Sharpie indelible marker. Works well, doesn't cost a thing & as I said, you're recycling, at the same time. Thought i'd pass my tip along.
hey, good tip. Haven't found a use for bleach bottles yet and that's a good one. I LOVE finding ways to reuse things. I got DH trained. He'll go to throw something away and if I'm in the room, he'll stop and say, "Wait. You saving this?" Half the time I say yes!
I was visiting my sister in Oregon & when I asked her if she was going to save an empty spray bottle, she replied "Noooo; i'm not a hoarder"....gee, I thought everyone saved at least a couple of empty spray bottles to put cleaning mixtures or whatever in. She also laughed at me because I tear cardboard containers (like from saltines,etc.) into small flat pieces before putting in trash...... garbage can doesn't fill up as fast!
LDH, I think your sister may be afraid she would turn into a hoarder if she saved something, but the reality of it is that it is a psychological issue. Maybe she was being flippant, but I think there is a fear that anyone can become this way. My husband and I were listening to a program on NPR the other day and it was about hoarding... it was eyeopening. Then he went somewhere to look at a job a few days later and there met him a real life hoarder, every room had a path through it, boxes stacked everywhere top to bottom, first floor and basement. One lady on the program saved every paper, every day from 3 different news papers for 5 years.... She had a tunnel to walk through. Then it went on to the animal hoarders...Shudder and horror!...that one was so disgusting I won't even begin. I don't save a lot of "stuff", but I do try to re use things or re purpose them if I can instead of throwing them away. Your bleach bottle tags are great. Although you may find the indelible marker will fade over time, you may want to try a grease pencil instead. try a hardware or the art section of a large store like Hobby Lobby, for one.
Hi carolyn keiper, Thanks for the tip about the grease pencil; i'll get one & when perm. marker begins to fade, i'll go over it with that. My neighbor across the street is a retired college professor who is so friendly & gracious & has issues walking. He asked our other neighbor to go down into his baseement to repair some small thing. Joelle (neighbor who did the repair) said he was shocked when he went in the house. Said there is literally just a narrow trail throughout the whole house & the man has books & newspapers piled floor to ceiling, in every room of the house. Said the basement was an utter firetrap, as he has books & papers stacked within a foot of the boiler! Guess it's a more common disorder than most people realize. I re-purpose & I admit i'm a bit of a pack-rat, but nowhere near "hoarder" status!
I use yoghurt cups. I cut them in stripes and works well for markers. I still have the problem to find something to write on. Haven't come across something that stays on long enough (till the plant grows big enough or I remember it by name)
Went to Walmarts. They had blinds on sale for $3.00. Bought 2. Now I have enough markers for years. And yes to the grease pencils, they work great.
Donna S, that's a fantastic idea for markers! Never would have thought of the plastic blinds. As a matter of fact, I see the on the curb on trash day, all the time. I'll have to pick up a couple.
I like the idea of using bleach bottles. What about saving and using the wooden sticks of Dilly Bars from the Dairy Queen?
