Some of the big box stores like HD now have trash compactors, so there is no open dumpster that you can dive in. WalMart does also, but I've heard sometimes they have an open dumpster near the garden section where they pile everything at the end of the spring season. Here in the Midwest, that's about the end of June. I do pretty well at the Ace Hardware and the regional farm supply store. They are small enough that they don't have big compactors. Ace Hardware throws out literally hundreds of plastic flats of all types. I collect stacks of them and donate back to a local nursery where I buy my vegetable plants. Keep wishing they'd give me a discount but the point is to recycle, whether I get a reward or not. Couple years ago the farm supply threw out 20 potted flowering crab trees. I found one that was not broken off and rescued it. Guerilla-gardened it across the street in an empty spot in the tree line of a large school yard. Got to see it bloom this spring - nice!

I've found that going to the local markets and asking them for their rotten fruits and veggies can provide bushel-full loads after they've (no pun intended) warmed up to you. Same for horse manure from stables and molded/rotted straw from feed stores. --- And to think, several weeks ago I thought I was going to have to wait for new materials to start my next pile. ;-p

kitch...that is amazing...looks like a very close cousin to my chair..how far do you live from me ??? :) I will be right over. mamagoose..hope you can post a pic of the crib...that sounds so sweet and how creative of you . ded that tile is wonderful and I love the story behind it. The stories always make these more fun. lk...I got the idea of the Pam and 0000 steel wool from a friend that was in the Merchant Marine in the Vietnam era. He said they clean the ships with WD 40 and steel wool. Well I hate the WD 40 and it is bad for you to breath. So I looked around and Pam was the next best thing. You could just use cooking oil from the bottle as well. Just keep changing out the steel wool and wiping with paper towels till all the rust is gone. Then clean with a degreaser...I like Awesome from Walmart. Then rinse and dry well and voila..you have a treasure. I got the Mogul bulbs at Lowes. You can order them online but they carried them a couple years ago. They last so far I haven't had to change them and we use the lamps all the time. If there is old wiring make sure and leave it intact and use it to pull the new wiring through...a trick I read and it works great. Let me know if you need more details. arlosmom..that cabinet is wonderful !! And you are right is is so easy to do the lamps. annie...when would be a convenient time for us ALL to come shopping in your attic :) ( I am sorta serous ...) haha. WMA...that is a great story. As soon as you get that sofa back you post a pic. It is fantastic and I can hardly wait to see. c

Just want to say Hi Dilly! You saved me from spending too much money on a mirror that was all wrong for my decor! That was a good money saving tip! Thanks! As far as your post here, efforts like this are good for the environment, & maybe students will be more mindful of their things?