Free portable gardening table

This is a great idea if you want a standing gardening table. Buy a used ironing board and it stays folded up in your shed or garage when you don't need it and up in seconds when you do! I paid $2 for mine. Just double check before buying that it assembles and collapses easily.

Reuse birdseed bags into hiking or biking bag

You know those birdseed bags that are like woven plastic cloth (called woven polypropylene)? I wanted a bag to carry my phone, keys and water bottle when I go hiking or biking and so I came up with this. Is it particularly attractive??? No. But super useful for carrying and waterproof if I get caught in the rain! I first cut out enough of the bag to easily fit around the water bottle. I sewed this wrong sides together into a tube shape. I folded up the bottom and hand-sewed it shut with a curved tapestry needle. Next I made the straps by using a zigzag stitch on strips that I folded in half. I measured it so the water bottle would be at hip level. I hand sewed some hair elastics to either side of the bag and then looped the straps through and sewed them this allows the bottle to pivot easily in the straps as I walk or bike. Next I made a simple pouch for my phone with a flap that comes down and over. I cut a rectangle out of the middle top of the pouch so that when I open the flap I can easily get the phone out. I sewed velcro to either side of the triangle and the soft velcro part to the flap. This will protect it from getting wet. I then sewed this pouch onto the water bottle holder down the middle of the back of the pouch using the curved needle again by hand. Almost done! Next I sewed the sides of a triangle together to make a cone with another flap on top to close. This is to hold my keys. I sewed velcro onto the outside of the cone and the inside of the flap so my keys will also stay dry. I sewed this cone onto the other side of the water bottle holder. Done!! My only suggestion is to use perhaps metal rings or multiple elastics for the loops that the straps go through. One hair elastic doesn't look like it will be strong enough. Happy sustainable hiking and biking!!

homemade watering can

Now that you have almost unlimited free water thanks to your roof and ingenuity, how about a free watering can. I've seen people use gallon milk jugs for watering cans but I recommend using kitty litter containers because they hold much more water and the large lid and opening means they pour more quickly and fill more quickly. If you don't have a cat I bet you know someone that does and would be delighted to give you an empty container. Simply take the container and drill or punch a small hole in the top back part of the handle. This allows air to go in and out as you water so your watering can pours smoothly. Next get a piece of scrap wood and put the lid from the kitty litter container on top of it with the flat part resting on the wood. Use a drill or nail and hammer to makes holes approximately equidistant throughout the top of the lid. Fill with water from your homemade rain barrel, screw on the lid and water to your heart's and your plants' content. If you want to be super fancy you can even decorate the outside of your new watering can with a waterproof marker. This prevents family members from mistaking your fancy watering can with trash;)

New Candles from Old Candles or Let there be (cheap) Light

We use a lot of candles around here. No, we aren't Amish or living off the grid. We just enjoy candles. We use them when eating dinner and have them throughout the house for when we want a nice warm light. Candles are however expensive to purchase new. This is how I get around that. I buy all my candles at either Salvation Army or our annual Humane Society Garage sale (unscented only, I do not want chemical perfumes in my home). Through these two cheap methods I have a stockpile of both taper and large candles that would make a survivalist proud. But my savings doesn't end there. That only gets a silver medal in the green/frugal Olympics and I'm going for the GOLD. Often you cannot burn the last part of a candle but still have wax left and in the case of a large candle it can equal a good chunk of perfectly fine wax. I toss these ends into an old pan that I use exclusively for candles. When I have a good amount I round up some candle jars in need of candles and cut wicks for them from wick I buy at the craft store (the most expensive part of the process - I've also used embroidery floss but that tends to flop over and be hard to light). I put the bottom of this wick through an old wick holder from an already burned candle. I then wrap the top of the wick around an old disposable chop stick and hang it over the jar so it is centered and hanging down the middle to the bottom of the container. I now heat up my old wax either on the stove or in the microwave and once it is liquid I pour it into the waiting jars (be careful it is hot and I'm going out on a limb to guess it is also flammable). Once your newly made candle dries there is a rather deep indentation in the middle which, if it bothers you, you can fill by reheating the wax left in the pan. My last batch was birthed from the remnants of a big red candle and several white candles giving me several lovely new rose colored candles (as seen in photo above). These also make good gifts and you could layer different colors if you have lots of time on your hands and a craft streak in you that is roaring to get out.