Going Green: How To Recycle and Reuse Like the Shakers
The Shaker community was not just famed for furniture but for their thriftiness and respect for resources. The Shakers were going green and recycling long before it was recognized as environmentally sound. The Shakers believed that if they respected what God gave them He would provide them with enough to share their abundance with the needy. Not even the smallest slivers of wood were ignored in their recycle and reuse philosophy. Their functional furniture and buildings would often be reconstructed for use by another member or for another purpose.
Today we can honor the Shaker’s beliefs not only by decorating our homes in their high quality and well formed designs but by following some effortless recycle and reuse plans ourselves.
Here are some very simple and practical ways for us to recycle, reuse and reassign materials like the Shakers did:
Backpacks: Cleaning out the kid’s closet from last year? If the backpack cannot be handed down to another student or redecorated for another year of use the American Birding Association accepts donated backpacks. Scientists use the backpacks while tracking neo-tropical birds.
Makeup cases: How many free makeup cases are in your closet or drawers? Convert them to a stylish art kit or pencil holder.
Business Card Holder: Display more photos in your purse or desk by reusing a discarded business card organizer.
Cell phones: Less than twenty percent of cell phones are recycled each year. Most people don’t even know they are recyclable. Not only can they be refurbished for abuse victims and soldiers but many can continue to be reused as a personal organizer that allows you to have an electronic calendar, phone book and clock. Remember a working cell phone even with no service provider can still call 911.
Empty metal food cans: By cutting off both ends they make holiday cookie cutters and biscuit cutters.
Milk cartons: Fill a milk jug with varying levels of water to create free and recycled home weights for exercising. One gallon of fresh water is about 8.36 pounds.
Yogurt cups: Yogurt cups make great measuring cups and they are great for taking camping or backpacking.
Cardboard 6-pack: These containers are great for picnic supplies, art supplies and even transporting hair supplies like sprays, mousses, brushes and curling irons.
Dish Rack: Rather than tossing out that old dish rack why not use it to organize your child’s coloring center? Crayons and markers stack nicely in the attached silverware dryer and the books stack nicely inside the dividers.
Wire Clothes Hangers: Some dry cleaners or laundromats can reuse these hangers. Just ask in your area.
Tags: american birding association, backpack recycling, biscuit cutters, business card holder, business card organizer, Going Green, holiday cookie cutters, makeup cases, milk carton reuse, Shaker, shaker community
