I've made the mistake, of washing the squash seeds straight out of the plant. Instead, I should have soaked the whole batch for 2 days before separating and drying. Without soaking, the seeds will not germinate properly.

I used to save like you but since I have been in this house its fallen by the way side. When I was a "good girl" I also would save buttons. For the most part, none of the "disposable" stuff even comes into my home.

Never thought about the carrot seeds before. I will have to try that.

cookie trays( wash out gently can be use to start baby seedlings)

cookie bags( plastic lined and can be used for holding certain items)

empty bread and buns bags

empty kleenex boxs( to hold bread and buns or collected bags in)

newspapers

egg containers

milk bags Canada

foil from cigerette packages( use for making indoor greenhouse,once enough saved)

cig packages

2 litre pop bottles

small plastic water bottles( these bottles plastic is to thin for re-storing water,I am going to use them to make the reflective side of my indoor green house...by cutting them in half (will show pics when done)

empty laundry detergent bottles(can fill with water and mark with and x with permenant black majic marker) for SHTF

empty bleach bottles( same as above)

Cardboard..nice and thick can be used in a pinch to insulate windows or drafty spots or put between canning jars so you can do a double layer

twist ties/zip ties ( and those plastic ties off of the bread and buns bags)

toilet rolls( cut in half fold bottoms and can be used to start seedlings,saving dryer lint and wax ends fire starters)

scott towel rolls

empty frozen food bags(saving mine to scoop doggie poop) veggie,french fries etc

What you don't collect the large potato chip bags for the Mylar? 😮

I save the big stuff, i dont worry about bags and elastics. i have every dirtbike atv and snowmobile i have ever owned. once they die i park them behind my storage building and use them for parts for my other ones. I have my old cars up there to. i save styrofoam sheets from work to insulate my fish huts and i get free wood to build form pallets. i save old shoes and boots and cloths because that stuff will be hard to find if something goes bad. I need to try to save the small stuff but i find it hard to because im not home much any more due to work.

Was just pulling your leg. The reason I mentioned the potato chip bag Mylar, is that is what I used to make my first solar oven with. It has a higher reflective factor than aluminum foil. 😉

"Pulling people's leg" and then feeling guilty Ranger? 😈

The only guilt I feel, is if the leg comes off in my hand. 😯 😳

😆 nearly pmsl!

Prescription bottles (can be used for a thousand things... we have various sizes)
Elastics (that eventually end up being snipped by my youngest)
Egg cartons (for eggs of course)
Plastic pop bottles (use for storing rice and beans, making into mini greenhouses, fill with water and freeze to help the fridge and freezer keep cool JIC)
Right now my son is building an elaborate rain catcher thingy (it's "art" lol) so we are saving large tomato tins and bean tins.
Anything fabric or fibre that I can reuse.
I scoop neighbours laundry bottles out of their recycle bins so I can make my own laundry soap.
Wine bottles for wine.
Gift bags.... I reuse them.
Dryer lint for fires

I know I save more stuff but this is all I can think of right now lol

Little brown pill bottles (I get them from my mum) are excellent for starting cuttings.
Egg cartons can also be used to start off seeds, then cut or tear the individual "pots" apart and plant the whole thing.
Elastic bands come in handy for all sorts of things!
Newspapers & used computer paper is recycled into kitty litter (when we have enough)
Laundry soap containers (make my own laundry liquid and refill the bottles)
Soap ends (pop into a jar until I have enough to make laundry liquid)
10 litre water bottles are cut down to make mini gardens for seedlings.
4 litre water bottles are cut down to make pots for larger plants or seedlings, storage bins for nails & screws.
Glass jars for homemade jam
Larger glass jars for dehydrated "goodies"
Vegetable scraps for the home composter (guinea pig)
Heritage seeds from crops.
Prunings for my pile of BBQ fuel.
Weeds for my "compost tea" for the garden
Fallen leaves for mulch for the garden.
Soy milk & juice cartons for windbreaks for small tree's
Most disposable items don't get purchased in the first place - so not much gets thrown away here...we can usually find another use for most things!

If I were seen/noticed collecting all that stuff someone would call me a hoarder. I've already been clasified as a pack rat. I need a small farm to go any further, or I'll get clousterphobic, or most likely thrown out of the house. 🙄

If I were seen/noticed collecting all that stuff someone would call me a hoarder. I've already been clasified as a pack rat. I need a small farm to go any further, or I'll get clousterphobic, or most likely thrown out of the house. 🙄

Reduce the amount of stuff going to landfill my friend - (get a shed to hide it in and she won't know 😉 )

This has been a interesting thread for me to read and think about..

Because I have gotten to a certian point on the farm, I don't have many of the things you are folks are talking about anymore.. There was one list given and I read it and though HUH, the only things on it that I buy and bring into the house is the bleach and I do keep and reuse my bleach bottles. Because I can all my own juices, grow and harvest almost all my own herbs, all my own veggies, sauces etc etc.. Milk, eggs, meat, fruits and veggies come from the farm..hmm, the things that do get brought in are things I choose to bring in, not things I am able to recyle..

I do buy tinfoil and stock it, but I don't use it often, for jars, the only two that are regular is peanut butter jars and instant coffee jars, because we use family cloth in the bathroom and teatowels in the kitchen and hankies for the rest, don't have any paper products leftovers either.

I do buy buckets of different sizes to have them in the house but everything else is done into glass jars mainly, and even for hubby to take to work, he takes them in reusable and washable dishes, even in the garden I try and stay away for things that will wear out easily, example, I don't buy the plastic for heating the ground that they sell, I use sheet metal, we have been using the same sheet metal for eight years and its going strong!

I have to say, that honestly in regard to recyling, I am a bit shocked to say, I don't save much because I don't buy much that could be saved at this time.. I wonder if this as good of thing reading your lists as I think it is.. I don't have egg cartons to use to start seedlings, I have a large collection of pots that I clean and reuse year after year and if I want fiber pots, I make my own with the cow poo or plant fibers or I have been known to make them out of wool that has been felted into planting shapes..