#3 gallon compostable bags

[biodegradablerestaurantpackaging]

The Top 6 Eco Friendly Packaging for Food to Try in Your Business | Eco-Pliant 

Eco-friendly packaging is crucial for businesses looking to reduce their environmental impact. Here are six popular eco friendly packaging for food that you might consider incorporating into your business:

Biodegradable Plastics:

Traditional plastics can take hundreds of years to break down, but biodegradable  clamshell are designed to decompose more quickly. They are made from plant-based materials like cornstarch or sugarcane and can be a suitable alternative to conventional plastics.

Compostable Packaging:

Compostable packaging is made from organic materials like cornstarch, sugarcane, or bamboo. These materials break down into nutri  

ent-rich compost when subjected to the right conditions. Make sure to check for certification standards like ASTM D6400 or EN 13432 to ensure the compostability of the packaging.

Recycled Cardboard:

Using recycled paper bags with handles is an effective way to reduce the demand for new raw materials. Look for packaging made from post-consumer recycled content. Additionally, cardboard is widely recyclable, making it a sustainable option.

Mushroom Packaging (Mycelium):

Mycelium, the root system of mushrooms, can be used to create a sustainable and biodegradable packaging material. It is grown in molds to create a lightweight, durable, and compostable packaging option.

Edible Packaging:

Edible packaging involves creating packaging materials that are safe for consumption or can be easily broken down in the environment. Examples include edible films made from seaweed or starch, providing a unique and sustainable solution.

Reusable Packaging:

Encouraging customers to return and reuse packaging is an excellent way to reduce waste. Consider using durable materials such as glass or metal containers that can be easily cleaned and reused. This approach aligns with the zero-waste movement and promotes a circular economy.

Before implementing any eco-friendly packaging solution, it's important to consider factors such as the specific needs of your products, local recycling or composting infrastructure, and any relevant regulations. Additionally, educating your customers about the eco-friendly choices you've made and how they can responsibly dispose of the packaging can further enhance the positive impact of your efforts.

Choose Eco-Pliant for all your eco-friendly packaging needs. Our commitment to providing sustainable, biodegradable restaurant packaging aligns with your values and contributes to a greener, healthier planet.

[thinkeco-friendly]

The 3 R's of Waste Management

Reduce, reuse, and recycle.

The 3 R's are the necessary foundations of conservation and waste management techniques for a more sustainable lifestyle.

Sustainability, in its environmental definition, is the ability to maintain conditions supporting biological life on Earth by preserving natural resources. The continued prevalence of diminished natural resources due to the rise in greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide and methane, from human activity over the past decades has impacted our course of sustainability on planet Earth. However, reducing, reusing, and recycling materials will lessen energy consumption instead of mining, extracting, and producing new goods with raw materials. These forms of waste management will allow trees to be planted in areas to lessen the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that would otherwise be used as landfills for trash.

Reduce

Overconsumption of products that yield mass amounts of trash can contribute to the problem that waste management is trying to fix. Being aware of the issue at its roots and diminishing the need to throw away items can better sustain and handle the waste output that one is producing. Reducing the amount of discarded waste can also lessen the need to reuse or recycle items constantly.

Some ways to reduce and use preventative measures are to:

use reusable forms of everyday daily items such as reusable beeswax food wraps, washable utensils, electric lighters, metal razors, and recycled grocery bags

compost compostable foods at compost centers in your state

shop at zero-waste grocery stores in your state

avoid throwaway items such as single-use cutlery and dishes

replace paper items with fabric or cloth options such as fabric napkins, dishcloths, and cotton paper towels

buy products in bulk as opposed to small, single-use containers

Reuse

Often, it can be easy to discard packaging or items that no longer work or have a use for them. Instead, one should put creativity into practice when thinking of ways to reuse an object instead of throwing it out entirely and increasing waste output.

Some ways to reuse common thrown-away items are to:

turn used milk, coffee, juice, and water cartons into birdhouses

grow seedlings in empty egg cartons

use empty plastic milk jugs for your garden in creative ways

clean out glass jars or containers and repurpose them as a storage component

sell or donate old clothes, furniture, appliances, etc., to those who can use it

reuse grocery bags to cover small trashcans or on your next trip to the store

utilize newspaper as a way to cushion fragile items for storage

use leftover wood as fuel for bonfires

donate old notebooks and books for children who are in need of them

Recycle ♻️

At times, it can be easier to throw away used goods rather than recycle them and allow them to redirect potential waste from landfills, conserve energy, and reduce the need to extract new materials for new products. According to the EPA, "recycling one ton of paper would save enough energy to power the average American home for six months, save 7,000 gallons of water, save 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by one metric ton of carbon equivalent (MTCE)."

Some ways to get started with recycling items can be to:

buy items that are made with recycled materials so that once it is used up, you can recycle them and restart the process

educate yourself on the plastic recycling symbols and learn what they mean and if they can be recycled

be aware of the fact that not all plastics can be recycled at certain facilities

clean out hazardous/unrecyclable contents before recycling items

choose to buy things that are made with water-soluble solutions instead of chemical-based solvents

look out for materials that local recycling facilities are accepting, and start collecting recyclable items

use public blue bins that indicate if they accept paper, glass, or plastic for an easy-access recycling system

Efforts to start being sustainable might seem to make a slight difference amongst the tons of trash thrown away daily, but having one person reuse, reduce, and recycle, can make a big difference in a healthier Earth.

Sources

“3rs - Reduce, Reuse & Recycle.” SustainableSA.Com, 2 Aug. 2016, www.sustainablesanantonio.com/practices-technology/reduce-reuse-recycle/. 

“Basic Information Details | Paper Recycling.” United States Environmental Protection Agency, 21 Feb. 2016, archive.epa.gov/wastes/conserve/materials/paper/web/html/index-2.html. 

“Climate Change Indicators.” United States Environmental Protection Agency, 1 Aug. 2022, www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/greenhouse-gases. 

“Climate Change, Recycling, and Waste Prevention.” Climate Change, Recycling and Waste Prevention from King County’s Solid Waste Division - King County, kingcounty.gov/depts/dnrp/solid-waste/programs/climate/climate-change-recycling.aspx. Accessed 1 July 2023. 

Fahad. “3 R’s of Environment - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.” Earth Reminder, 4 Jan. 2020, www.earthreminder.com/3rs-of-environment-reduce-reuse-recycle/. 

[garden-with-squid]

9/15/23

The fall garden has begun!!! Here’s what’s in bed 2:

Danvers 126 carrot/French Breakfast radish

Garden onion starts from last month (we’ll see if they’re strong enough to survive)

More carrot/radish

3 broccoli starts

Everything’s planted VERY close, just to see if it works. The row cover is to protect the seeds and keep cabbage moths off the broccoli; they already ravaged the kale. I’ll sow again in 2-4 weeks.

I bought a mini raised bed to put on the concrete and 10 grow bags, so there are 3 more broccoli starts in 7 gallon bags. I mixed in some homemade compost to the soil hehe.

In bed 1, I took out the dying Italian paste tomato (RIP) and sprayed a fuck ton of red mites off the San Marzano; maybe it’ll make a comeback? The peppers are in full swing, especially the bell pepper. It has an umbrella shape and setting lots of fruit, not sure how many to pinch off.

My beautiful, beautiful eggplant! I roasted three small ones tonight and made baba ganoush; still a little bitter, but definitely edible. I think they’ll taste must better the more I cook with them.

[eacombslcc]

How to create a vermi-composter!

While we all know that the majority of climate change is caused by large companies such as the oil industry, it never hurts to begin living a more sustainable lifestyle to help in your own way. Composting is a great way to reduce you and/or your family's carbon footprint.

Unfortunately, large store-bought composters tend to be too pricey for most people. So, in just a few simple steps I'll teach you how to make a household composting bin for ~$5-$20.

What you'll need: -2 five gallon buckets, one with a lid. -A drill, or some means to poke holes through one of the buckets. -Newspaper and food scraps. -Worms, specifically red wigglers.

Step 1

Get your buckets! They're often available at bakeries for free or low cost. All else fails your local hardware stores should have them. Darker colors are better as the worms will want to hide from the light, but if white is the only color available, be sure to cover it with a tarp or towel when storing.

You're going to drill several holes in one of the bucket. These will act as a drainage system for any liquid while still holding in enough moisture to keep your worms comfortable. Once the holes are drilled, you can place that bucket inside the unholy one.

Step 2

Add a few handfuls of kitchen waste to the composter.

Step 3

Add your worms! You can usually get them by asking around your local farming community, or if your city has a classifieds website you can source them there. Don't worry about getting a ton, they'll reproduce with time!

Step 4

Shred some newspaper and wet it. Drain the excess water, then place it on top of your worms. Cover it and place it somewhere that stays consistently between 55-77 degrees F.

Don't overdo it on food scraps while the worms are getting established. Add 2-3 cups or so every couple of weeks.

What to feed your worms: -Leftover kitchen scraps such as fruit or veggie peels and egg shells. Go easy on the citrus, and bury any meat to avoid odors. -Coffee grounds, tea/tea bags, coffee filters. -Human hair or fur from animal grooming. No cat or dog poop, but bedding and manure from chickens, rabbits, and other farm animals are fine.

These castings are nutrient rich and great fertilizer for any house plants or gardens. If you yourself don't have any use for them, any local farmers or neighbors with gardens would make great use of them. All else fails, make an online post and sell them!

Happy composting :)

[prep4tomoro]

Off-Grid: Living Without Running Water

The other day, a friend of mine and I were discussing my emergency planning activities and supplies. When it came to plumbing, my friend said “I couldn’t live without running water”. To that I responded, “If you think you can’t, you haven’t tried or you haven’t looked at alternatives”. I then began to explain the methods I have used in place of conventional plumbing. It all boils down to this; if you seek alternatives, you will find them but you may need to give up some of the creature comforts like taking long showers and automatic dish washers. Reaching for the faucet and expecting water to flow out of it is so ingrained in us that, for many, it seems impossible to imagine a life without that luxury. It is possible. A mindset change is always needed when dealing with an emergency or making a lifestyle change to "go against the norm". Try it. Plan one day to live without turning on the faucet, taking a shower/bath, using the dishwasher or flushing the toilet [as usual]. The items below are but a few of the alternatives available. You are limited only by your imagination and research. As a homesteader, Jaimie gets questions about water. "It seems that everyone marvels at my fortitude of living so long without running water. They want to know how I do it. I often find myself answering their questions by explaining the logistics of life without working faucets. I tell them how we heat water on our wood stove in the winter and in our solar oven in the summer. I explain how we have a bucket shower on a rope and pulley attached to the ceiling above our bathtub. But what I've come to realize is that their questions aren't even remotely related to logistics. What they really wonder about is my commitment. They are really asking HOW could I find it in myself to spend three years carrying water?!" Read more . . . This Is What it Looks Like to Live Without Running Water in America Tips for Surviving Without Running Water How to Survive a Week Without Running Water WATER SOURCES: Produce Drinking Water from the Air, Ground and Undrinkable Water Long-Term Water Storage: Containers - Treatments - Quantity Per Person Hand-Made Water Well and Hand Pump DRINK: If you don't have a water storage plan and public water is not available or contaminated, there are several ways to "create" clean drinking (potable) water from nearly any kind of water or ground moisture. Distilling is the best method and can be done for free or very little cost. Click here for other options. SINK: My cabin’s "rustic" version of a sink is a small stainless steel sink built into the kitchen counter with a 5-gallon water container on a shelf above the sink, to dispense into the sink, and a 5-gallon bucket under the sink, to catch the used water. But, again, there are many alternatives, including RV sink systems and those used by snowball stands and lunch wagons. SHOWER: There are many portable showering solutions (usually for camping) that do not require conventional plumbing. Some produce heated water and others do not. For those that don’t produce their own heat, pre-heated water can be used. For years, I have enjoyed using coleman hot water on demand. It uses the 16.4-oz. propane cylinders or optional bulk propane tank adapter. With practice, I have been able to acquire a warm, cleaning shower with less than 3 gallons of water and even less when the water is cold. A clean, fresh-water stream or lake is also an alternative. A Shower Bag or [clean] Lawn Sprayer are good for camping or as alternatives when running water is not available. Like anything else, there are choices of quality, capacity and options. Suggested Reading: Bathe Without Showering OFF-GRID HOT WATER: Rocket Stove Hot Water Heater Coiling Copper Pipe for Thermo-Siphoning [Video 1 of 2] Endless Hot Water Without Electricity or Gas [Video 2 of 2] Portable Off-Grid Hot Water Products on Amazon.com TOILET: My most recent off-the-grid toilet is a compost toilet. It requires no electric or water. An electric, incinerating toilet does require a good amount of electric but requires no water or plumbing. The unit vents its "odor" outside and all that’s left are ashes. I have used both types for years and have found them to be extremely efficient and comforting that I can stay in a nice warm cabin instead of going to an outhouse. I found them to be the closest thing to a "regular" residential toilet, without the need for plumbing. There are many other, less expensive alternatives that can be utilized but are a bit less maintenance-free, uncomfortable and can be more expensive over time. I have also used a simple bucket with a heavy-duty trash bag liner, a toilet seat, made especially for 5-6 gallon buckets, with kitty litter and a product called "Poo Powder" to help control odor and solidify the waste. Your selection will depend on your circumstances, availability and budget. LAUNDRY: Doing Laundry in an Emergency Situation or Living Off-The-Grid GRAY WATER: Water should never be wasted. A graywater system is used to take water that has already been used from places like laundry, shower and sink and divert it to use for another purpose like watering gardens or landscaping instead of flushing it down into the sewer or running it into a field. Using a Solar Still, graywater can be converted to drinking water. Here are some resources for installing and using a graywater system. Depending on where it is to be installed, a government permit may be required. [Article 1]     [Article 2]     [Video 1]     [Video 1] POWER WASHING: With a 12-volt water pump (from a marine supply store) connected to my 12-volt batteries (to push the water to my Power Washer), and the pump placed between my water-collection barrel and my Power Washer (connected to my generator), I can power wash my ATV, cabin deck and anything else that needs an extra-powerful stream of water. A [clean] Lawn Sprayer may work as a less powerful alternative. SEE ALSO: Replenishable Water and Food Sources Toilet Paper Alternatives [Author's Reference Link]

[11-Cs Basic Emergency Kit] [14-Point Emergency Preps Checklist] [Immediate Steps to Take When Disaster Strikes] [Learn to be More Self-Sufficient] [The Ultimate Preparation] [P4T Main Menu]

This blog is partially funded by Affiliate Program Links and Private Donations. Thank you for your support.

[bagez-trash-holder]

BagEZ Your Diy Trash can Cleaning service

Are you tired of your trash cans getting dirty, stinking up, and reverting to their unhygienic conditions? Despite washing or having them professionally sanitized and deodorized despite numerous times? BagEZ acts as your personal trash can cleaning service. Bid farewell to the unpleasant cleaning methods. Discover a revolutionary approach to maintaining a clean, fresh-smelling trash can that redefines convenience and cleanliness.

Visit us at- https://youtu.be/X7ztv7ouRVI

Odor Bug and Mess Prevention 

Trash cans quickly become a germ pit for bacteria, viruses, and foul odors, especially in hot weather. The lingering stench and the sight of flies and maggots can make maintaining your bins daunting. This is where BagEZ steps in, offering you an effortless solution to tackle this issue and more.

Experience the BagEZ Difference

BagEZ eliminates the need for trash can cleaning. With less than a minute of effortless care per week, you can stop filth, grime, and odors from sticking to your bin. BagEZ allows you to use any type or size of trash bag that fits your requirements.

How to use BagEZ

➡️You can set it up in three simple steps.

✅ All you do is pull your bag through and over the BagEZ frame. 

✅ When done, Press the four clips to lock the bag to BagEZ.

✅ Use the arms and the raised edges of your trash can to hang BagEZ in your container. And that’s it, the bag is ready to use.

How BagEZ works?

Throw everything nasty that can mess up your bin, like dirty diapers, pet waste, and food waste, into the bag held open by BagEZ.  Using this unique method, BagEZ prevents yucky waste from messing up and stinking up your bin. Where and how do I throw regular garbage? Clean trash, like product packaging, empty containers, broken tools, toys, and items classified as garbage, directly into the bin through the free space between BagEZ and your bin.

✅ Put your trash can out for the garbage truck when it’s time.

✅ Pull off the clips to release the bag, and seal the bag to keep everything nasty inside. Put BagEZ away, and place your bin curbside.

✅ When your waste is collected, you are left with a clean can sitting on your driveaway

How to Sanitize a Trash Can?

We recommend sanitizing and deodorizing your bin with your favorite over-the-counter anti-bacterial spray to kill germs and eliminate odors. Spray the insides and lid, and follow the instructions before clipping on a new bag and putting BagEZ back to work protecting your bin. Or pay a trash can cleaning service to do it. Say goodbye to the hassle of traditional cleaning methods and embrace a more eco-friendly, cost-effective solution.

A Simple & Efficient Trash Can Cleaning Service 

Maintaining a trash can is essential for a healthy living environment. BagEZ offers a Diy trash can cleaning service, an effortless and efficient approach. Imagine no more messy cleanups or dealing with dirty, odorous bins.

➡️BagEZ Specs

BagEZ is made of solid Steel. It can securely hold heavy bags up to 55 lbs (25kg). It is available in 3 sizes. They fit in bins with 24- 96 gallons capacity, making them a versatile choice for any household or business. It’s compatible with various bag types, from compostable to biodegradable to plastic trash bags. But you get a whole lot more, too.

Embracing Eco-Friendly Practices

As we strive to be more environmentally conscious, using BagEZ aligns with sustainable practices. Using BagEZ saves water by not needing it to clean your bin. You don’t need chemicals to remove filth and odors. When I used a trash can cleaning service near me, I realized that heavy garbage can sanitizing machines also carry hundreds of liters of water, and moving around all this weight produces a lot of emissions, along with having to use water, a valuable resource, and ensure its safe disposal after cleaning. When using BagEZ, you have no emissions, water use, or pollution concerns.

Pests and Trash Cans: The Connection

Pests are led by their noses, and a clean bin is not enticing. Keeping pests away naturally without any deterrent that can trouble or harm pets, wildlife, and neighbors is another benefit of using BagEZ. This eco-friendly approach helps divert organic matter and recyclables from landfills, contributing to a greener planet.

BagEZ vs Traditional Bin Cleaning Services

 A Comparison Cleaning a nasty bin is only for some. Google is full of local searches for residential trash can cleaning services near me. You may have searched yourself. And after they are done, the most common question is, how do I keep them clean? They prefer to avoid talking about BagEZ because their business model works when your bins get dirty. And they want to keep you from knowing about a service that does what they do for about $12-$15 per year, as it will surely hurt their bottom line. So, let’s do a comparison.

Method of Waste Management:

➡️BagEZ:

It uses a frame and bags to prevent waste from directly touching the bin. Allows homeowners to use any size or type of bag for containment & anti-bacterial sanitizer & deodorizer. Traditional Trash Can Cleaning: Involves high-pressure cleaning with water and sometimes chemicals to clean and sanitize bins.

✅Pricing:

➡️BagEZ:

Offers a cost-effective reusable solution with a one-time investment in the BagEZ frame. ($19.99-$29.99) Homeowners can use standard trash bags, which are inexpensive. (10-15 cents per bag) The yearly cost to maintain trash cans-$10-$15 per bin 

➡️Traditional Trash Can Cleaning service:

Typically, a one-time cleaning costs between $50 to $65. Monthly subscriptions range from $10 to $25 for a single monthly wash, with additional fees for extra bins. Yearly cost $280-$500 plus Environmental Impact:

✅ convenience:

➡️BagEZ

BagEZ significantly reduces water consumption compared to traditional bin cleaning methods. It promotes an eco-friendly, no-chemical approach. Commercial garbage Can Cleaning Service: Water and chemicals can contribute to water pollution. BagEZ offers a hassle-free way to maintain a clean bin with minimal effort. It allows homeowners to use any readily available trash bags.

➡️Traditional Trash Can Cleaning services: Time Schedule

Requires scheduling and regular visits from a cleaning service. Odor and Pest Control:

➡️BagEZ:

Controls & prevents filth odors and deters pests by keeping bins clean and waste contained 24/7.

➡️Traditional Trash Can Cleaning Service:

The results were short-lived, as containers got dirty when used. No solution to prevent or control mess and odors is provided.

✅Collection Efficiency:

➡️BagEZ:

Enables efficient organic waste separation into appropriate bags, aiding organics collection and diversion. Commercial Trash Can Cleaning Service: Focuses on cleaning the bin. Does not improve collection efficiency.

Questions about BagEZ & a residential trash can cleaning service

✅Are there any other cleaning products to keep my trash cans clean?

BagEZ simplifies bin cleaning, so You don’t need to fill up your garage cupboard with bin-cleaning products & and items. A reliable quality trash bag is all you need, no scrubs, brushes, or power washers. BagEZ is an all-in-one solution, saving you time, money,

and cupboard space.”The only product we recommend that helps keep pests away is an anti-bacterial spray to kill lingering germs & odors in your bin before putting BagEZ back to work, keeping it clean and protecting it from filth. Mint-scented bags, as raccoons and critters don’t like mint and a flycatcher.

✅Are trash can cleaning companies insured and licensed for damage to property or vehicles?

Yes, most large businesses do. When using any service, it’s wise to be concerned about your and the neighborhood’s safety. Trash-cleaning trucks are big, heavy, and dangerous when rolling through your community. Large trucks with limited visibility can always be hazardous, especially to kids, pedestrians, and parked cars. Plus, those mechanical arms? They’re only sometimes gentle with the bins. Prioritize safety and convenience with BagEZ. With BagEZ’s simple system that stays in the container, your surroundings cannot be dangerous.

✅What’s the recommended frequency for scheduling trash can cleaning service?

If you use a trash can cleaning service, figuring out a maintenance schedule depends on a few factors. The most important factor is your city waste collection pickup. If there are any delays, It throws off your bin cleaning schedule as he depends on the city to empty your bin. With BagEZ, you have a clean container on your driveway whenever the garbage is collected. With BagEZ, you don’t have to consider recommended monthly cleanups, holidays, dirty diapers, pets & food waste. Your city garbage truck cleans out the filth while BagEZ protects your bins. Simple, easy, efficient.

✅Does a trash can cleaning service promise quality or guarantees?’

Some cleaning services offer only the assurance of covering any damage to your container and guaranteeing a thoroughly cleaned bin free from dirt. However, the extent of these assurances Stops there. As soon as you reuse your bin, it will get dirty. But if by guarantee you mean to extend the time your trash can stays Clean,

Then BagEZ alone provides you with a clean bin continuously. BagEZ ensures your trash stays within a bag, preventing the mess from touching the container. It’s a simple, effective solution to keep your bin clean and fresh, promising a clean bin whenever needed. No more wondering about the quality of cleaning services, just peace of mind with BagEZ.

✅Does a trash can cleaning service offer discounts or loyalty promotions for regular users?

“Indeed, some services offer loyalty programs, but why settle for a few dollars off or a free wash when your cleaning subscription costs you at least 200 dollars annually? Using BagEZ, you keep your bin clean 24/7 for less than a small cup of coffee for the entire month. If you heard me correctly, yes, with BagEZ, you can maintain your bins with prices from the 50s. Let’s do some quick maths. Garbage bags cost 10 to 25 cents. If you use one bag a week, you spend 13 dollars a year with BagEZ, vs. 200 at a minimum, using a bin cleaning service. No bin cleaning service in North America can offer you a loyalty discount to beat that price. So, Come on, join the BagEZ family, make the smart choice, and keep those bins sparkling.

✅What is the policy for cancellations or rescheduling with the trash can cleaning service?

BagEZ is durable and made to last for years, with a 30-day no-questions-asked return policy. Navigating a trash can cleaning service policy can be a hassle. Many benefits have stringent cancellation and rescheduling policies, making adapting to changing needs challenging. Some companies do not offer a ‘trial’ of their trash can cleaning service.

We may charge you the difference between the monthly and one-time clean price if you cancel during a contract. Most homeowners opt for a one-time clean, as they do not see the need to invest 200 dollars plus annually for a bin they have not considered for years. And with BagEZ providing the same service between $10 to $15 annually, it’s a clear winner. If a company is unable or misses your monthly trash can cleaning service due to a fault, you will be credited for the next month’s service.

✅Will the Cleaner knock on my door if my bins are not out?

Some cleaners on request may collect your bin in your backyard, but not all, so it’s best to ask. It’s common to get hit with a rescheduling charge if you need to remember to keep your bin out and they cannot access your property to collect your waste containers.

✅How do you maintain the cleanliness and hygiene of the trash cans after cleaning them?

Ensuring ongoing cleanliness and hygiene for your trash cans post-cleaning is fundamental. With BagEZ, we’ve made it effortless. BagEZ keeps your bin pristine by providing a barrier between the waste and your can. Place any regular trash bag inside the BagEZ frame, ensuring the can remains untouched. At waste collection, the bag containing all the unwanted waste is whisked away, leaving your bin fresh and clean, ready for whatever comes next.”. It’s that simple. BagEZ: where cleanliness meets convenience

✅How does BagEZ help to prevent maggots in your trash cans?

BagEZ provides a convenient and hygienic way to secure a trash bag that contributes to preventing maggots in the following ways:

Efficient Bag Closure:

BagEZ helps reduce maggots from breeding in your trash can by securely isolating messy waste and preventing it and foul liquids from stinking up your trash can. A closed bin lid and a clean bin minimize odors and potential attractants that fly, which cause maggots.

Prompt Disposal:

The BagEZ quick bag release feature lets you free a whole bag in seconds when needed. Clean Trash Bin Walls: The bag is held securely and does not sag or tear, so it helps keep the bin walls clean. Clean bin walls deter maggots from finding a suitable breeding ground.

Efficient Cleaning Process:

BagEZ allows easy removal and cleaning of the bag, preventing any residue accumulation. This, in turn, reduces the likelihood of attracting maggots.

[whiskeynovember]

I decided to go all in today. I moved the rest of the herbs out to the front of the patio. the honey melon sage is looking very sad and the soil is still fairly damp from yesterday even though the rest of the seedlings have dried out. I want to give him a chance before I try to rehab it completely by putting it directly in water.

Korean mint doesn't seem to be getting much better or whatever else. I think these may be two that will benefit from drying out periods.

found a few more 🐛 on the basil.

I do believe I've come up with the winter garden idea. I'll need just a little more research, but I think I've got it.

I pulled out the old cucumbers and moved the Asian cucumbers over. moved the beefsteak tomato back to it's original area and moved one of the things Indian eggplants back further.

I now have an area behind the Thai eggplants for 4 bok choi and in front of the Indian eggplants for 5. I have area besides the tomatoes for 6 and cucumbers on opposing ends for 6 more of the Chinese cabbage.

I'm gonna do 3 in each space in between the peppers which should give me about 21 for 7 areas if I've spaced it correctly.

I will put the collard greens in grow bags.

I... may leave the peppers and eggplants to overwinter in their original spot and just keep them covered in hay. reason being, if I even put them in grow bags, what am I going to do with them? put them in the garage? on the patio? what was the endgame with that, honestly? 😂

nah... I will have (1) 10 gallon bag for what looks like 2 cucamelons, and (1) 10 gallon bag for 2 Poha berries and i may just say fuck it and use all (12) 7 gallon bags for the collards...

dad will LOVE that.

it also just makes more sense. also means I'll probably need another bag of soil, but I may be able to bulk them up with leaves, compost, and the Sphagnum moss.

I've already got everything mapped out, gonna do some more research today and do some planting tomorrow.

[earaercircular]

Mandatory Composting Is Coming to New York City: What You Need to Know

Brown compost bins for curb side collection are available free from the city

The program, which has already rolled out in Queens, requires residents to separate food scraps and yard waste from their trash. Brooklyn is next.

Universal curb side composting came to Queens. Now it’s Brooklyn’s turn.

The program, which is expanding across the city over the next year, requires residents to separate food scraps and yard waste from their trash. Soon, it will be mandatory for all New Yorkers.[1] Composting is crucial for fighting climate change, explained Councilwoman Sandy Nurse, a sponsor of the Zero Waste Act,[2] a legislative package that passed this summer and includes the curbside bill. When food waste goes into landfills, it produces methane, “which is the worst of the greenhouse gang,” she said.

Domingo Morales, the founder of the grass-roots organization Compost Power,[3] added that composting makes soil healthier, which improves food growing capabilities and can also capture more carbon dioxide.

Here’s what New Yorkers should expect when it arrives in their areas.

When will curb side composting come to my neighbourhood?

It will start in Brooklyn on Oct. 2. (Currently, officials are “knocking on every door” to alert residents, according to a Department of Sanitation spokesman.)

The Bronx and Staten Island will be next in March, followed by Manhattan in October 2024.

Do I need a brown bin from the city?

Compost can be stored in a freezer at home between pickups

No. Any bin, with a capacity of 55 gallons or less and a tight lid, will work. But if you want something official looking (and free), you can order one[4] (or even just a decal[5] for your chosen receptacle) through the Department of Sanitation, depending on when your borough is starting the program.

Brooklyn residents may order them through Oct. 13. To be ready for the Oct. 2 start date, they should order by Sept. 1.

Those who live in the Bronx, Staten Island and Manhattan should check back with the department in early 2024.

What will curb side composting accept?

Basically, all food, anything that grows in the dirt and a few other items. These can include fruits and vegetables, eggshells, coffee grounds, bread, pasta, cereal, rice, meat, bones, dairy, prepared foods, greasy uncoated paper plates, pizza boxes, leaf and yard waste.

“New Yorkers should not overthink this,” Councilwoman Nurse said. “Is this something I can eat? Or Grow? Cool, it goes in the bin.”

Yard waste can be mixed in with food scraps (as long as all of it is placed in a receptacle with a tightfitting lid). But residents can also keep yard waste separate by placing it in a bag or in a different container.

What does not go in the compost bin?

Anything that should go into recycling, like metal, glass, plastic, cartons, clean paper and cardboard, and other trash items like wrappers, pet waste, medical waste, diapers, foam, or hygiene products.

How will pick up work?

The city has trucks that hold compost on one side and regular trash on the other

Yard waste and food scraps will be picked up on recycling day. Check for the recycling schedule here[6].

The Sanitation Department now has dual-bin trucks with two chambers that can pick up different materials at the same time. On one side might be recycling, on the other side, compost.

Pickup times, as well as the design and number of trucks, will depend on the density of the district.

For those in high-rises or larger buildings, each property’s management is expected to develop a plan for collecting and setting out compost for pickup.

Expect some kinks in the beginning. Linna Quigley, 37, who lives in a Jackson Heights coop, was delighted when curb side came to Queens, emailing an F.A.Q. sheet about composting to her neighbours, she said. But, she says, sometimes she sees regular trash in her 79-unit building’s one communal, brown bin.

“This is going to be a long process,” Councilwoman Nurse said. “Just like with anything that’s new, you have to constantly reinforce it.”

New Yorkers who want to get ahead of their building’s curb side composting plans can request a visit[7] from someone at Sanitation to go over options.

How do I store food scraps at home?

“You don’t need a fancy $100 countertop bin from Amazon,” said Mr. Morales, who suggested empty jumbo mayonnaise or peanut butter jars, even a zip-lock bag, for storing waste. “Usually a zip-lock bag will last me a good four to five months,” he said. Once you empty the bag in the communal bin, he added, it’s easy to wash and reuse.

For lining a small bin or bucket, there are biodegradable bags (look for the ASTM D6400 specification), but they still take a while to break down. And they do not compost, Mr. Morales said. For transporting waste, he suggested using a brown paper bag, like one from Trader Joe’s. It can get tossed into the compost bin, and it’s carbon rich, he said.

For the large bin that Sanitation workers pick up, you can line it with a garbage bag, which can also be reused. But it’s not necessary. Basically, whoever controls putting the recycling and composting out should make this decision.

What happens if I don’t participate?

At first, nothing really. The law won’t go into effect until six months after the entire city has gotten curbside composting service. If the rollout stays on schedule, this should put us at Spring 2025.

In terms of fines, details are still being worked out, but they will be comparable to recycling fines and will depend on the size of the building — between $25 and $100 for a first offense.

Once the law is enacted, if sanitation workers are collecting the trash and they find food or yard waste mixed in with the garbage, they are supposed to call their supervisor, who will write a ticket.

What are the those orange bins on the streets?

New Yorkers need to download an app to use the smart compost bins

Those are smart compost bins, and there are about 400 of them across the city, available for anyone to use at any time. They accept the same items as curb side service.

They are called “smart bins” for a reason: You’ll need to download an app to use them. You can do that here.[8]

If I live where it’s not yet mandatory to separate food scraps, can I go ahead and start doing it?

Yes. There are community drop-off composting sites, run by various nonprofits, throughout the five boroughs. You can find the one closest to you here. Rules for what they accept tend to be more strict than curb side service or the orange smart bins. For example, most of them do not accept meat, bones and dairy.

What happens to the waste after it’s picked up?

A wastewater treatment plant in Newtown Creek

Some of it goes to compost facilities in New Jersey or to a site in Staten Island. At the latter, the material is set into 10-foot-tall[9] rows (called windrows), where it gets turned and aerated over time and broken down into soil. It is then either sold or given away.

New Yorkers interested in free compost can find a pickup point close to them here.

Some of the waste goes to anaerobic digesters, large sealed containers that store it while bacteria break it down. The largest hub for this process is in Newtown Creek in Greenpoint, Brooklyn,[10] where “eggs” convert the waste into biogas (a renewable fuel) that can go into the grid to power homes.

The city is looking to expand facilities to meet increasing demand and to diversify processing so as not to overburden any one neighbourhood, according to the Department of Sanitation.

Source

Hilary Howard, Mandatory Composting Is Coming to New York City: What You Need to Know, New York Times, 23-08-2023, https://www.nytimes.com/article/curbside-composting-brooklyn.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShar

[1] https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/08/nyregion/food-composting-nyc.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

[2] The New York City Council passed the “Zero Waste Act,” a legislative package of zero waste legislation that will advance our city’s efforts to divert organic waste from landfills, fight climate change, and create a greener, more sustainable future for all New Yorkers. The five-bill legislative package codifies a mandatory residential curbside organics collection program, sets zero waste targets for 2030, requires annual reporting on Zero Waste efforts, creates community food scrap drop-off sites, and establishes new community recycling centers in the five boroughs. Taken together, the Zero Waste Act positions New York City as a national leader on zero waste policies, advances the City’s efforts to fight the climate crisis, and addresses the over 11,000 tons of residential waste that New Yorkers produce daily. https://council.nyc.gov/press/2023/06/08/2421/

[3] https://compostpowernyc.org/

[4] https://www.nyc.gov/assets/dsny/site/contact/curbside-composting

[5] https://sanitation.my.site.com/recyclingmaterialsrequest/s/?language=en_US¶meter=JmF1ZElkPWEyQjZnMDAwMDAwcHN4d0VBQSZzdWJBdWRJZD1hMkI2ZzAwMDAwMHBzeThFQUEmb2xkQXVkSWQ9YTJCNmcwMDAwMDBwc3h3RUFBJm9sZFN1YkF1ZElkPWEyQjZnMDAwMDAwcHN5OEVBQSZzZWxlY3RlZENhdGVnb3J5SWQ9YTJDNHYwMDAwME1Dd1JwRUFMJnNlbGVjdGVkU3ViQ2F0ZWdvcnlJZD1hMkM2ZzAwMDAwMVVWMHdFQUcmcHJvZHVjdElkPTAxdDZnMDAwMDA0dzZOcEFBSSZvcmRlckluZm89e30mc2hpcHBpbmdJbmZvPXt9JnNrdUlkPTAxdDZnMDAwMDA0dzZRU0FBWSZwYWdlTmFtZT1wcm9kdWN0TGlzdENvbnRhaW5lcg%3D%3D

[6] https://www.nyc.gov/assets/dsny/site/collectionSchedule

[7] https://www.nyc.gov/assets/dsny/site/contact/event-participation-request

[8]  https://www.nyc.gov/assets/dsny/site/services/food-scraps-and-yard-waste-page/nyc-food-scrap-drop-off-locations

[9] Mayor Eric Adams op X: 'The Staten Island Compost Facility is a sight to see. Millions of pounds of NYC's waste goes here so it can be processed and distributed across our city. It's part of the reason our Queens composting program was so successful! https://twitter.com/NYCMayor/status/1610380337011650560

[10] https://www.nyc.gov/site/dep/whats-new/digester-egg-tours.page

[pintadachica]

Small 3 Gallon Food Scrap Bags, 48 bags/box

$16.95

The food scrap bags are certified both home & industrial compostable. These Small 3 Gallon Food Scrap Bags are great for collecting scraps and storing refrigerated food.

[biodegradablerestaurantpackaging]

3 Gallon Compostable Bags

Discover the 17x18 3 Gallon Compostable Bags by Ecopliant. This eco-friendly bag, with a 6 mil thickness, is perfect for efficient waste management. Ideal for homes, offices, and commercial establishments, it offers superior strength and durability. Buy the 500-case today for reliable and sustainable waste disposal.

[santhiplants]

Rose plant care

Most people's choice of gardening starts with growing rose plants care because it is the only plant that looks attractive with a sweet-smelling fragrance.

There are about 100+ species of rose plants in the Rosaceae family. Most of them are perennial shrubs with high-yielding flowers. In flowering plants, rose plants care occupy the most important place for their color and fragrance. So, rose plants are called the ‘king of flower

Different hybridization techniques in rose plants are carried out all around the World. And it started with Virginia rose, and Damask rose.

Rose signifies love, beauty, and passion. Petals of roses are loaded with Vitamin C, A, K & iron.

The Garden looks more beautiful with rose plants. But proper care and maintenance are required. Like other flowering plants, rose plant care require well-drained soil. But most importantly, give acceptable water & bright sunlight.

Remember some points before growing rose plants. Here is a list of easy-care rose plant tips! 

how is rose plant grow

Rose plants grow faster and healthier with a requirement of 6-8 hours of sunlight because these are sun-loving plants. They hate to live in tree-shady areas.

where do roses grow

Generally, rose plants can grow in pots, grow bags, unused vase, and climbing rose varieties such as Rosa ‘Constance spry’; those thin & soft stems can be trained to trellises or in suitable soil surfaces.

How to increase flowering in rose plants

 If there is ample supply of NPK & micronutrients to flowering plants, especially for rose plants it increases bud blooming & flowering. 

Animal Manure:

Cow manure or Goat manure application improves soil fertility, and aeration and supplies necessary nutriment to the flowering plants but it is slow-release fertilizer. Apply one handful of 3 months old compost 2 months once & for plants on the soil surface apply two or three small amount of old compost.

COMPOST:

1.Vermicompost:

It is an all-purpose fertilizer with the supply of npk organic fertilizer in equal proportions. But most importantly applies quality vermicompost. One or two spoons apply around the soil for pot plants and double it for ground plants. In 3 months once.

2. Leaf compost:

Nothing but dried leaves, bark, and wood chips of all your garden trees. It acts as mulching for the plants and it provides a good microclimate for the plants.

For rose plants, npk needs of about 20:20:20, and heavy feeding varieties require more.

ORGANIC CAKES:

1.  Neem cake powder: The application can be done either as foliar spray or top dressing. One handful of neem powder is enough for 10-12’’ pot rose plants. It will protect the plants from root diseases & pest attacks.

2.  Groundnut cake powder: This groundnut powder contains more ‘N’ content compared to Neem cake. It has an NPK in the ratio of 7.5:1.5:1.3. Monthly once smaller amount application is ample to grow Rose plants.

3.  Mustard cake powder: In addition, this organic powder consits of micronutrients such as Zn, S, Mn & others. This mustard cake powder is the most useful organic powder to enhance the good growth of plants.

These 3 organic cake powders can be applied only in smaller quantities to rose plants. And also you can apply these 3 at the same time or any 2 @ the same time.

BIO-FERTILIZER:

1. Steamed bone meal: This application is done especially for ‘Phosphorus & Calcium’. This bio-fertilizer steamed bone meal can be applied either as a top dressing or added along with your potting, in about 4 months once.

2. Blood meal, Hoof meal, and Horn meal: This bio-fertilizer can also be applied to rose plants. It supplies more ‘N’ content to plants compared to manure. But most importantly, not to forget these bio-fertilizers should be applied only in smaller quantities.

BIO-STIMULANT

Seaweed Extract: It boosts plant growth and protects from pests and diseases. Apply 4 to 5 scoops or spoon per gallon of water once in about 3 months once.

HOME-BASED FERTILIZER:

1.Onion skin peel & Eggshell waste: Don’t throw these peels and shells into the dustbin. Applying these two plants provides minerals potassium, calcium, proteins, and antioxidants.

Chart for organic fertilizer application

OptionsCycle 1Cycle2Cycle 31.Compost+Groundnut cake powder+Bone meal powderLiquid fertilizer(or)Sea weed extractCow manure+Compost2.Bone meal powderLiquid fertilizerHome based fertilizer3.Neem cake powder+Compost+ Bone meal-Goat manure +Vermicompost4.Mustard cake + compost-Animal manure+ groundnut cake5.Compost + organic manure(any)Sea weed extract Animal manure +Home based fertilizerTABLE 1.0

Watering:  Regularly water the rose plant in summer or even on alternate days. In winter, reduce water supplementation. Check pots drainage holes properly to protect from root rot.

Pruning: Trim the dead, dried, matured plant parts. Do not over prune the plants & its carried for twice in a year.

Soil refilling: Make a regular check on the soil condition in the pot or growbags. And plants get new growth by refilling.

Get Good rose flowers without using Chemical fertilizers 

Nowadays people need quicker results & faster plant growth so most of them use chemical fertilizers for higher-yielding in plants and pollute the environment unnecessarily.

Go green with organic fertilizers for good plant growth & save mother earth with greens.

rose plant online

Blog published by: https://www.santhionlineplants.com/

[turtlesandfrogs]

How to get soil for gardening without paying for it*, assuming you're doing container gardening or can't use your own for what ever reason and can't find a community garden near you (not all are through the city and some are free, so look around because they usually come with free resources like tools and compost).

1. Get on craigslist, facebook, nextdoor**, check your local flyer boards. Someone will be giving away stuff called "fill dirt", if you're lucky, someone will be giving away "top soil" or even "garden soil". Get some. Don't be afraid to bring buckets of soil on the bus- they've definitively seen weirder things.

If you don't have containers, you can often get free 5 gallon buckets from bakeries, deli counters, etc. If that doesn't work, a lot of people get their cat litter in plastic buckets, so connect with your local free groups and ask. Worst case scenario, get a free box (tell the grocery or liquor store you're moving and they usually give them to you) and line it with a garbage bag. You want a kinda small box, because dirt is heavy.

2. If it's fill dirt, you're going to have rocks and crap in there. Try to get fill dirt that's mostly dirt. Then, get one of those milk crates that just seem to materialize, and use that to shift your soil from your rocks. If there's a lot of gravel, you're going to want to figure out how to shift that out- half inch wire mesh works well if you line the milk crate with it, but if you can't scrounge that, cooling racks (for baking) are more often found in free piles and will also work with a little fussing.

3. If you got top soil or garden soil, that should do fine for crops that aren't heavy feeders- greens, peas, beans, herbs, etc. If you got fill dirt, or want to grow heavy feeders (like squash, broccoli, corn), you're going to need to add fertility. There's a few ways you can do this:

- get grass clippings, kitchen scraps (they don't have to be your own), coffee grounds, horse manure, rabbit manure, etc, and compost it. This takes time, so ideally start the fall before your growing season.

- read up on using manure tea, and see if it applies to your situation

- get free mulch from your municipality- or see if like Tacoma, your municipality makes humanure (seriously, Google "Tagro Tacoma"- it's pretty awesome)

- Ask your local gardening and mutual aid groups if anyone has some you could have

- college campuses, apartment complexes, and other places that have a lot of lawn & trees often have a large pile where they dump it all. Dig down until it looks like really dark, rich soil, and use that. You can ask first, they usually are fine with it. Honestly, you could probably skip all previous steps and just use this.

4. Connect with local gardeners, your extension office, etc to get free vegetable growing information.

My contact info:

Please feel free to contact me with any questions you might have about gardening and growing your own food. I’m on tumblr as turtlesandfrogs, on tiktok & instagram as trashpandagardening

https://tinyurl.com/freesoilhowto < link for easy sharing

If you’ve found this page through the wandering paths of the internet and would like to support me, my kofi is https://ko-fi.com/clarkgardening

Other informational shorts that might be interesting:

https://tinyurl.com/seedstarting2020 Seed Starting Basics

https://tinyurl.com/kitchenstarts Starting plants from the grocery store: tomatoes, basil, green onions, and more

*Assuming guerilla gardening won't work for your purposes

** yes, these are filled with republicans and others who aren't fun to hang around, but they're also filled with people enough resources that they give stuff away. Also try to find your local mutual aid groups & gardening groups, because those people are awesome.

[theramseyloft]

I was talking to my roommate about what’s happening in the loft right now, and it occurred to me: is there a possibility their feed is the problem? As in “somewhere down the manufacturing line something happened that shouldn’t have”? If it’s in the budget it may be worth swapping feeds ASAP…

I am looking into a different feed blend, but that's because they act like they aren't getting enough nutrition, despite their daily meal being almost 3/4 of a 5 gallon bucket of feed, of which I pick up about 1/3 as leftovers the next day.

I don't think Chewy or Versele-Laga have ever sent me anything spoiled.

Chewy has sent me the wrong blend all of twice, and customer service saw to it that I got replacement bags immediately.

Spoiled seed was involved, but that was entirely on me.

I didn't realize there was a leak in the seal of my storage shed door and water from a recent rain had pooled around the bottom of a bag, until it split at the loft door and spilled everywhere.

That stuff is SUPER fertile! Normally, it sprouts almost as soon as it touches water, and I pull up the greenery for my mother in law to compost.

I have mentioned in other asks and places being a pathological creature of habit.

I am an autistic woman with ADHD.

I have yet to find a medication that works for me without fucking me over, and have honestly given up.

Not an excuse, mind. Just a fact of my existence that I have to work around.

I do that largely by doing everything in a very specific order every day.

I depend on certain visual cues to remember to do something that is not part of the daily routine.

In this case, it would have been the presence of greenery to pull up.

But we had several weeks of overnight freezes, and it never sprouted.

It did finally begin to germinate during a hot, rainy week and a half, but the place I live is literally drained marsh land.

Water doesn't drain for shit after two days of rain.

The new growth drowned and spoiled, and during that time, my endometriosis symptoms very suddenly intensified to an extent that had me very scared.

Between that and the visual cue that I had come to depend on never happening, I just kept walking through that patch of ground in front of my loft door.

I didn't notice anything unusual about it until the day the flock started vomiting, and at the time, I was certain they had ODed on their salt and mineral brick (which is easier for them to get more from when it's absorbed moisture from the air).

Salt poisoning is pretty immediately fatal, so that was where my attention was.

When Cheeto and then Cotta got sick, it became clear that there was a pathogen, and I was the vector.

That the doves and the rescues in quarantine never got sick meant it wasn't being transmitted on my hands.

We narrowed it down to my sandals because Cheeto spends a lot of time in the laundry room, where I take them off.

The only birds that didn't get sick were the ones that didn't have access to them, so by process of elimination, it was most likely tracked in from that gross patch in my yard.

(This morning's screenshots go into more detail about what we did to clean that up.)

Storm was at the vet for her re-evaluation the day after symptoms started, and I told my vet what was going on at the loft, along with my suspicion at the time of salt poisoning.

I am not a vet.

Just a professional pigeon keeper with a microscope and a lot of experience with this specific species' most common parasites.

I am only set up to ID and treat worms, fungi, and protozoa in house, though.

I take video and screenshots of what I find under the microscope, so my vet is never just going on my word and can correct me if I have missed or misidentified something.

Because birds go all over the US from my home, I am extremely communicative with my vet, and she is extremely communicative with the state vet and a network of specialists when anything goes wrong with the flock, or if any new rescue needs intensive care.

And we work out a plan of action together.

If I decide to try anything off plan, she is the first person to know exactly what and with what reasoning, and the bird in question is always brought back to document results.

Because the conditions were ideal for contracting Giardia and the symptoms were alarmingly similar, we decided to start with a fecal to check for it, just in case.

When it wasn't found, she took a sample to double check and do gram staining.

I tried to get the most recent body at the time to UGA while I was waiting on those results, but I wasn't travel safe that week due to my own medical issues and they were so backed up that their answering service was saying for people to find literally any other vet.

So I was just stuck.

When nothing unusual was found in the gram stain, my vet called the state lab on my behalf and arranged for me to be the courrier of the bird that was just put down to be necropsied and tested.

She called to check on that yesterday, and the results are still pending, but they say they should have them in the next day or two.

[thestudentfarmer]

Seed starting

Hello hello everyone, I hope all are doing good and are as healthy as can be!

Today I wanna share about seed starting,

I'm a tad bit late for fall season for my area but it should mostly be okay cause it's still well in the hundreds of degrees farenheit and I suspect we're gonna have a late summer/fall :/

I'm getting off hand anyway~

Seed starting!

You want to have a good quality soil, either regular,potting or self made mix

Containers to put your soil and seeds in

Popsicle sticks or other items to mark your containers contents

Seeds of your choice

Watering system of some sort.

Vermiculite to top off

We make our seed soil, I'll share the recipe here 

1 part vermiculite 

1 part pearlite

2 part peat moss

1-2 part composted manure

A pinch of blood meal (or alfalfa)

A 1/4 cup of gardener lime pr 5 gallons (it's the bag with the hydrangeas on it. Claims to turn them pink!)  I usually dont mix too much at a time so I just do a sprinkle in the mix.

Mix the soil all up and get it so its damp enough it starts sticking together, you'll want to do this with whatever your using for seed starting.

(I didnt have a second set of hands to take pictures as I went after this, but when I do I'll update with more of them :) )

Fill your containers with soil, tap the container on a counter/shelf/table a few times to compress the dirt.

Top off empty space, tap on stable surface again.

Indent the middle of the soil in the container

Drop one seed in each hole and be sure to label what's in the container!

Cover with a light dusting of the vermiculite 

Place where they'll be staying during the growing process and give a gentle sprinkling of water to damp the top and wet the vermiculite.

Keep an eye on the starts~

This is always the longest part! I advise to keep a notebook with what you planted, varieties planted and the date to when they were planted :) and be patient! It's worth it as you see the new seedlings sprout up!!

We water 2-3 times a day since it's been so hot. It's best not to let the seeds/trays dry out while their germinating and growing either.

Uppot as needed and revel in how awesome it feels to see seeds become plants :D

Some broccolis already sprouting and it's been mayby almost a week here :)

As things sprout I'll be sharing more pictures :) I hope this lil quick n dirty tutorial helps anyone who isnt sure how to seed start have a better idea on how to and entices any new starters yo try it out! 😄

🌱 🌱Happy gardening and seed starting 🌱 🌱

8-5-2020

[darkfurypolice]

Are Woven Polypropylene Bags Waterproof?

Are pp woven bags waterproof? As far as the woven bag itself is concerned, because the woven bag is made of warp and weft tapes, there is only overlap between the tapes, which does not have sealing property. Therefore, the liquid will be left through the gap between the tapes, so the woven bag itself is not waterproof. However, due to the special requirements of chemical industry, cement, chemical fertilizer, sugar and other industries for packaging, a considerable number of plastic woven bags must have the function of waterproof and sealing. At present, there are mainly two types of waterproof and sealed woven bags produced and applied in the market: one is the ordinary separate combined packaging bag with outer woven bag and inside liner inserted or stitched bag. The other is the composite woven bag coated with a layer of plastic film on the PP woven cloth, which will include two types also, either polypropylene coated woven bag or pp woven laminated bag. The production equipment and process of the first kind of separated inner lining membrane woven bag are relatively simple, the equipment investment is low, and the application is very wide. The inner and outer bags are separated. The inner bag is blown film bag, which can be divided into LDPE and HDPE. The outer bag is ordinary PP woven bag, and the length and width of the inner bag are slightly larger than the outer bag. When loading materials, the inner and outer bags are uneven and easy to be damaged. In the early years, the inner and outer bags of the inner lining membrane bag and the outer bag need to be set together manually, and the inner and outer bags at the mouth of the bag need to be aligned and sewed, so the production efficiency is low, the waste of manpower is large, and the continuous and efficient production cannot be carried out. A skilled operator can only complete about 1000 bags by hand every day, and only about 300 bags can be sewn by hinge sewing machine every day. Nowadays, with the improvement of all-in-one machine, there are many machinery manufacturers in China that can produce all-in-one machines for bag cutting, sewing and lining. The technology has been widely used and tends to be mature, greatly improving the production efficiency.

Another kind of Coated plastic woven bag production must go through the coating process, using the extrusion coating machine to coat a layer of plastic film with a thickness of about 0.02 ~ 0.04mm on the outside of the woven pp cloth. Or at the same time, to use the coating material as the bonding medium, and then composite a layer of BOPP film on the surface, can achieve better waterproof effect, it was named BOPP pp woven laminated bag. When doing coating, the temperature of the extruded film is about 300 ℃, and the newly extruded film is combined with the braid by a pair of cooling rollers. However, such high temperature reduces the strength of the cloth surface, reduces the elasticity, increases the brittleness of the bag surface, and makes the bag easier to be damaged in the falling tests.

WHAT IS ARE VALVE BAGS?

Valve bags are packaging bags filled by machines. They come in plastic or paper. Here at Western Packaging, we are a wholesale manufacturer who offers the paper version, with many options. The three main things to consider are size, closure type, and coatings.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT SIZE

Paper valve bags come in a large range of sizes. We offer small to very large paper valve bags and multiple sizes in between. It is important to verify which sizes your valve bag machine handles.

DETERMINE WHICH TYPE OF CLOSURE YOU NEED

Once the size is determined, the type of closure is determined. All valve bags are automatically closed. The specific method of how this closing happens falls into three categories.

1. SELF- SEALING

The first and most common is self-sealing. These valve bags use the pressure of the contents to close and seal the bag.

2. HEAT SEALED

Alternatively, some bags can be sealed by heat. This may be a better option for the product and requires a machine and set up capable of this method.

3. ULTRASONIC SEALS

The third type of closure is much less common. Bags can be sealed ultrasonically. These valve bags are only used in very specific and limited industries. They require clean and sterile environments and very special machinery.

WHICH COATING IS BEST

Once the size and type of closure are decided, coatings in and on the bags is decided. The options are extensive. Western Packaging offers all the most common, and some uncommon, coatings available. The specific coating(s) depends on the product and the package’s method of storage, shipment, and display.

There is a large variety of coatings available. The coating options vary based on if the coating is going to be placed on the inside or outside of the bag. Some products may benefit from a coating on both.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INSIDE COATS

The inside coating is most important when the product contained in the bag is food or non-food products. In these situations, a food-safe coating must be applied to the inside of the bag. This coating helps ensure the contents remain safe for consumption, and also maintains the freshness. Interior coatings also help minimize moisture entering the product and/or keep the product from seeping out. These are very important features for many products.

Some outside coatings provide the same or similar benefits. Coatings can be applied to block moisture, block contamination of the interior from the outside, or make the bag easier to handle. While protection of the contents of the packaging is most important, ease of storage is also important. Outside coatings can be used to minimize friction when bags rub together and therefore help to minimize bag damage and loss of product. A simple coating can also help the filled bag maintain its shape.

THE BENEFITS OF VALVE BAGS

Valve bagging is when a bag is filled using a specialized machine. The machine uses a spout placed in or near the opening of the bag. A measured amount is placed in each bag. This can be done in a fully automated or semi-automated manner. This ensures consistency in quantity and minimizes lost product.

The benefits of these machines are numerous and span multiple industries. The biggest benefit is the volume of bags that can be filled and closed per hour. The output is significantly higher than if done by an employee. This increase in output translates to higher profit by filling orders more quickly. Businesses converting to this method often find the cost of the machine is quickly covered and a return on investment is recognized very soon.

Plastic, Paper or Cotton: Which Shopping Bag is Best?

Plastic bags

Plastic bags were invented in 1967, but only became widely used in stores in the 1970s. The most commonly found thin plastic shopping bag given out at cash registers are usually made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), but some are made of low-density polyethylene plastic (LDPE).

The energy embodied in plastic bags comes initially from the mining of the raw materials needed to make them��natural gas and petroleum—whose extraction requires a lot of energy. The raw materials must then be refined, which requires yet more energy. Once at a processing facility, the raw materials are treated and undergo polymerization to create the building blocks of plastic. These tiny granules of polyethylene resin can be mixed with recycled polyethylene chips. They are then transported by truck, train or ship to facilities where, under high heat, an extruder shapes the plastic into a thin film. The film is flattened, then cut into pieces. Next, it is sent to manufacturers to be made into bags. The plastic bags are then packaged and transported around the world to vendors. While polyethylene can be reprocessed and used to make new plastic bags, most plastic bags are only used once or twice before they end up being incinerated or discarded in landfills. The Wall Street Journal estimated that Americans use and dispose of 100 billion plastic bags each year; and the EPA found that less than five percent are recycled.

A 2014 study done for the Progressive Bag Alliance, which represents the U.S. plastic bag manufacturing and recycling industry, compared grocery bags made from polyethylene (HDPE), compostable plastic, and paper with 30 percent recycled fibers. It found that the HDPE bags ultimately used less fuel and water, and produced less greenhouse gas gases, acid rain emissions, and solid waste than the other two. The study, which did not consider litter, was peer-reviewed by Michael Overcash, then a professor of chemical engineering at North Carolina State University. Because the carrying capacity of a plastic and a paper bag are not the same, the study used the carrying capacity of 1,000 paper bags as its baseline and compared their impacts to the impacts of 1,500 plastic bags. The plastic bags used 14.9kg of fossil fuels for manufacturing compared to 23.2kg for paper bags. Plastic bags produced 7kg of municipal solid waste compared to 33.9kg for paper, and greenhouse gas emissions were equivalent to 0.04 tons of CO2 compared to paper’s 0.08 tons. Plastic bags used 58 gallons of fresh water, while paper used 1,004 gallons. Energy use totaled 763 megajoules for plastic, and 2,622 megajoules for paper.

Sulfur dioxide, a type of sulfur oxide, and nitrogen oxide emitted from coal-fired power plants that produce the energy for processing bags contribute to acid rain. The plastic bag produced 50.5 grams of sulfur oxides compared to 579 grams for the paper bag; and 45.4 grams of nitrogen oxides, compared to 264 grams for paper.

A 2011 U.K. study compared bags made of HDPE, LDPE, non-woven polypropylene, a biopolymer made from a starch polyester, paper and cotton. It assessed the impacts in nine categories: global warming potential, depletion of resources such as fossil fuels, acidification, eutrophication, human toxicity, fresh water toxicity, marine toxicity, terrestrial toxicity and smog creation. It found that HDPE bags had the lowest environmental impacts of the lightweight bags in eight of the nine categories because it was the lightest bag of the group.

Paper bags

Paper bags are made from a renewable resource and are biodegradable. In the U.S., over 10 billion paper bags are consumed each year, requiring the felling of 14 million trees.

Once the trees are cut down, the logs are moved to a mill where they can wait up to three years until they dry out. Once ready, bark is stripped off and the wood is chipped into one-inch cubes that are subjected to high heat and pressure. They are then mixed with limestone and sulfurous acid until the combination becomes pulp. The pulp is washed with fresh water and bleach then pressed into paper, which is cut, printed, packaged and shipped. As a result of the heavy use of toxic chemicals in the process, paper is responsible for 70 times more air pollution and 50 times more water pollution than plastic bag production according to a Washington Post analysis, resulting in more toxicity to humans and the environment than HDPE bags. And while 66 percent of paper and paperboard are recycled, the recycling process requires additional chemicals to remove the ink and return the paper to pulp, which can add to paper’s environmental impact.

Cotton totes

Cotton bags are made from a renewable resource and are biodegradable. They are also strong and durable so they can be reused multiple times.

Cotton first needs to be harvested, then cotton bolls go through the ginning process, which separates the cotton from stems and leaves. Only 33 percent of the harvested cotton is usable. The cotton is then baled and shipped to cotton mills to be fluffed up, cleaned, flattened and spun. The cotton threads are woven into fabric, which then undergoes a chemical washing process and bleaching, after which it can also be dyed and printed. Spinning, weaving and other manufacturing processes are energy intensive. Washing, bleaching, dyeing, printing and other processes use large amounts of water and electricity.