Tire Mulch - recycled tires turned into softy, squishy padding

Mr. LH and I had dinner over at a friend’s house the other night and their 3-year-old had just received a jungle gym as a birthday present from the grandparents. As he was jumping on and off the swing, he picked up what looked like a wood chip and said, “There’s an E.” His mom was surprised he recognized the letter, and I was baffled by why he was saying there was any print on the “wood chips” at all. Turns out the brown chips weren’t wood chips but recycled, shredded tires instead! What an ingenious idea!

Of course, once she told me this, my own curiosity led me to pick through the tire chips to find words or letters, which completely intrigued her 3-year old. (It’s always funny how kids are interested in the extraneous elements of a gift. ). Apparently companies that are re-purposing old tires into tire mulch offers the mulch in different colors. The tires have been washed in some fashion, removed of any metals and shredded to form a soft cushion. I read up on this a little and there are some environmentalists who think this may not be the safest alternative for children. However, I don’t see anything wrong with it as long as the kid’s not eating it or rolling around in it. (Perhaps he just needs to stop picking it up and reading it!)

It definitely beats old tires ending up in landfills taking up space.

Have you seen shredded tires in common or play areas? Would you use this as an alternative to a playground padding?

This week’s Tuesday Tip is something I’m borrowing from Tightwad: repurpose clipboards for photo and illustration frames and holders. I don’t use clipboards very often, but I seem to have a few laying around my house. I wouldn’t necessarily say they are an archaic office supply quite yet, but they are probably heading in that direction for many industries. So, what should you do with your old clipboards? 

Tip # 29:  Display beautiful works of art!

Save money on framing supplies!

• Don’t purchase frames if it’s a photo or illustration that will eventually be put in an album. Save money and reuse clipboards!

Reuse, repurpose, reduce…

• Instead of throwing those clipboards away, display your kid’s artwork. Less trash is less trash!
• Clip up vacation photos around your desk or kitchen. You may have further plans for your current photos, like putting them in an album or scrapbook, but displaying them for a short while is a great way to share your experience.
  
• Use clipboards to get motivated! Have a looming goal you want to complete? A drawing of something you want to build or create? Clip it up and display it where you will be sitting most often.

I got this great tip from Tightwad, who got this creative idea from Back Garage. Have you ever thought of a clever way to reuse office supplies?

This week’s Tuesday Tip is wash your laundry in cold water. My job doesn’t require me to get very dirty, at least not normally (unless you want to count dirty little hands touching me!) So my clothes usually are lightly worn and don’t require much more than a cold wash using my home-made laundry detergent.

Tip # 28: Wash your laundry in cold water.

Cold Water Costs Less

• Though I still must pay for the water and electricity, I don’t have the added expense of gas to heat the water. I save a few bucks by washing most of my laundry items in cold water.
• Cold water plus detergent, even home-made, washes lightly used clothing just fine. It also is less harsh on fabric, meaning your clothes should last longer than washing them in scolding hot water.

Cold Water Washes are better on the Environment

• Using less hot water means using less gas. Conserving gas means there’s more for future generations.
• Less wear and tear on your clothing means a longer life-span; again conservation is an important factor for helping our planet retain its resources.
  

Do you wash your clothing in cold water? If not, what keeps you from trying cold water washes?

Tuesday Tips, Just Another Great Post from Little House. I'm so humble.

This is a blast from the past Tuesday Tip. While I’m still struggling to keep up these past two weeks with a new and busier schedule, I’ve found myself floundering for Tuesday Tip ideas. Have no fear, though. I’m sure I’ll begin concocting some soon! Until then, share my passion for the love of my bike….

This week’s Tuesday Tip is bicycling as an inexpensive mode of transport. Have I mentioned that I love my green, Raleigh Comfort bike? Probably, right?

Tip # 3: Bicycle your way to the grocery store, save money and lose inches!

Why Cycling is Frugal

• When gas prices were hovering around $5.00 per gallon here in sunny Los Angeles, I bought myself a bicycle. My trips to Starbucks, the grocery store, and even the bank were all under 2 miles. I saved money on filling up my Honda with gas less often -and smiled to myself as I rode past the gas stations. (I love my Honda, but it’s not very fuel efficient ).
• Pedaling my way around town, I realized I didn’t have to spend the extra time working out. I was never a gym-goer, I like being outside more often than not. However, I saved time in the evenings by getting in my exercise while completing an errand. Save time, save money – bike!
• Fit people cost our health care system less money. Cycling not only strengthens your legs, but your heart as well. And, heart disease is the number one killer among humans.
• You don’t have to pay for parking. Biking to school saves me over $300 on parking permits. Whoo-hoo!

Cycling is Good for the Environment

• When you pedal, there’s no petroleum based byproduct to worry about. You are conserving petroleum, reducing your emissions, and getting fit all at the same time.
• If you worry about the amount of energy that went into making your bike, you can always purchase a used one. That’s one of the great things about bicycles, their simple, but effective, design. A good tune-up and some new tires on a used bike and you’re ready to go.

Don't believe me? Check out this cool image. Image from BikeNow.org

Do you ride your bike? Does your city make it easy for you to do so? Do you ride offensively or defensively? How many of you ride weekly?

Tuesday Tips, Just Another Great Post from Little House. I'm so humble.

This week’s Tuesday Tip, save your tin cans and donate them to teachers. Can’t recycle your tin cans? Hate throwing away excess trash? Instead, rinse them out and donate them to a local school or your kid’s teacher. It’s pretty amazing how many uses a tin can has inside a classroom.

Tip #27: Reuse your tin cans by donating them to schools.

• Pencil holders. Teacher’s either purchase pencil boxes for their students or make them out of cardboard that usually gets torn up by the end of the first semester. Instead, using tin cans that are a more durable and inexpensive alternative.
• Inexpensive art projects. Tin cans can also be used for art projects; gift containers, parts of animal murals, book report canisters, you name it I can probably think of a way to use them.
• Holders of all kinds. Push pins, paper clips, magnets, band-aids, erasers, crayons…I can go on and on. The bottom line is that tin cans make great containers, especially if you have plastic snap tops that fit the opening.

Less waste is less waste.

• Repurposing items means less trash is filling up our landfills. Tin cans last for practically ever! Teacher’s can use them year after year (unless, of course they went home in an art project!).
• I’m pretty sure tin can’t be recycled. So just reuse it! Just be sure you’ve rinsed out the can, cut away any sharp parts, and pulled off the label.