I used to get bulk leaf mold using my Subaru stationwagon and a blue tarp. Lay down the back seat and crack the rear windows about an inch. Lay in the tarp from the back of the front seats and out the back of the hatch. pull one corner of the tarp through the open rear window then close it on the tarp from the driver's controls assuming you have power windows. Do the same with the other rear window pulling the tarp tight before you close the window on the tarp. With the tarp anchored in place, extend it up the inside side windows and start shoveling the compost on it. When full, flip the back of the tarp over the pile, close the sides on theflap and secure with bungies.

Ya'll are funny! I will need to find out more specifics from him about how he wants to use it without letting on that I'm thinking about getting him a tool box for his truck. I really do think it will be used mostly for camping though. He keeps the jack under the seat in the back of the extended cab, so it doesn't take much room. His parents decided to give us this truck - which has turned into more of a liability in my opinion, but comes in handy for hauling compost. We already had three ignition coils replaced (at about $140 each including labor) in the engine and will probably get the other three replaced eventually. It had over 100K miles on it when they gave it to us, but did have new tires. It is extra insurance we pay monthly too plus the annual registration fee and then there's the inspection. See how this gift keeps adding up to more $$$ for us? And, now he wants a toolbox. You can see why I want to go with the plastic bins, right?

Great ideas do not necessarily mean billion dollar budgets or a large corporation to be behind it. World over, in clean tech and renewable energy, small entrepreneurs and many amateurs are excited enough to try small, little efforts that could together make a big difference to the future of the world. For instance, here's one such interesting small idea for awareness creation, the Zero Energy Truck: "Zero Energy Truck all across India. The idea behind the ZET is to showcase how the importance of green buildings � essentially the inside of the truck tries to simulate a net zero energy building, through the use of renewable and green energy sources. Most parts of the ZET already has sponsors. Isabelle is looking for sponsors for the solar PV system to be installed for the truck. If your company is interested in being a sponsor and getting some green mileage, here�s how you contact Isabelle � isabelle@inspiredgreen.in Some more details of ZET: The concept - A Net Zero building which is energy efficient as well as generates all it�s power needs with PV panels on the rooftop � A Green Building par excellence. The growth of Green Building materials and products has been very encouraging, but awareness needs to improve within the design & construction community. Since most of the green building materials and strategies are different from conventional construction practices it needs efforts to educate people and make them realize that green practices can be incorporated in every building. Oh well, you might say that this is a cute but trivial idea and most times, I would be inclined to agree with you. But somewhere down, I feel that the awareness about clean technology and sustainability might be better created through such cute and somewhat "naive" ideas than through than by sophisticated looking gentlemen who present complex charts and data. What do you think? Here is a link that might be useful: Looking for Solar Cell Sponsors

Gosh you guys, I'd really like to save the tr*ucks. My son would love to play w/them, and I prefer not to add to the landfills (which is why I use cloth diapers, but that's neither here nor there), but I am not really into sanding off rust. I have several other projects on my plate, and two kids (5 and 10 months). My DH doesn't want to save the tr*ucks so if they get saved it's b/c I do the work. How much work am I looking at to sand the rust? The paint is coming off in sheets so I don't think getting the paint off will be an issue, but the rust... Can anyone estimate how many hours of sanding I might be doing? I think the bedz are almost 100% corroded under the paint, and the cab of one is also very rusty. Does anyone know the name of the product that concretenprimroses is talking about? DH and I talked it over, if I do the work then he thinks it's worth buying paint/primer etc to salvage the tr*ucks, but I really don't want to get started, then find it's waaaay over my head, and have the tr*ucks PLUS restoration products to deal with. I do that a lot: I get super-excited about a project, I get the stuff I need to accomplish said project, I start the project, then I have a problem and I drop the project and I totally drag my feet finishing -- IF I finish. Are these tr*ucks a 5-hour project that I can finish quickly and will give me the immediate satisfaction I need to keep up my momentum? Thanks for listening and for your feedback :-)