Great idea MikeyJoe :) I have the commercial product and I do get lots of debris in my bottles...I like your idea of only cutting out one lug. Necessity is the mother of invention! Krystine :)

Nope, you don't need a bin at all. Just make sure you turn it often because so much greens in the compost pile and no browns can cause odor. Actually, a better idea is let the grass clippings turn brown first to prevent them from becoming anerbic and smelling. If it does begin to smell, give it a sprinkle with the water hose. You need to keep it moist anyway. To help add some browns, wood shavings is a good addition. If there's a saw mill, a hay barn, or a construction site near you, ask if you can sweep the floor for them LOL. Hey, it's funny but free. If you have some wood but no shavings, make a small bonfire now and then to burn it and then add the ashes. You want unpainted wood though. Is there an ocean near you? Ground up some seashells. You'll be surprised how much you find around you that aren't in your own backyard. There are also lots of things from inside the house you can add to the pile like used tea bags, brewed coffee grounds w/ the filter, egg shells (crush them), almost anything you would put down the garbage disposal can go into the compost pile. Most people I talked to don't put meats in it but some do. Do you eat corn off the cob? Throw the cob when you're done. Hair, dryer lint, and even an old ragged cotton tshirt. believe it or not. My only concern is that the grass disease. You'll want to make the compost heats up really good to take care of that. There is much, much more to learn on composting on the Soil, Mulch, & Compost Forum. Really great folks over there just like here. I mentioned never using Scott's fertilizer without regard for whether you necessarily have that brand product. I only meant any store-bought fertilizer by whatever name. Instead use grains to fertilize the lawn. Alfalf meal, soybean meal, etc. or processed sewer waste. Apply grains at 10-20 lbs per 1000 square feet. You likely need to find a feed store near you. Wish I lived in France, South of France to be exact.

Omg Lou! LOL Annie, that's funny. I like black tea and Earl Grey. Hate any kind of mint or that spiced tea blend, shudder. I do like some flower/herb teas occasionally like raspberry leaf, or chamomile and I like rose hip, especially when it's my own dried hips. Smiles. Never tried the baking soda. I do hate, hate any kind of bitterness in tea. I make mine different than any mentioned so far, I think. I use 8 or 9 bags for a half gallon. Nowdays I use the hot water from the water dispenser. It really amazes me that it really is hot enough to make tea. Anyway. I put my tea bags in the container, add about 3 cups of water and start vigorously stirring and smashing the tea bags, dunking them up and down and such. I don't do this for any longer than about 30 seconds, yup, seconds. I can generally see that the tea has gotten fully dark. I quickly pick up the bags in a big slotted spoon and smash all the liquid out of them. I want to be done with all of it before a minute is up. Then I add my sugar. I like it sweet. Stir till sugar is dissolved then add water. Never the least bit bitter and not cloudy. I have a big 2 gallon crock that I got years ago from Williams and Sonoma and used to keep that full but I drink mostly just seltzer these days so when I make iced tea it's generally the half gallon or a full gallon container I have also. I use lemon in my tea too so I slice several lemons and keep them in a container next to the tea to add to each glass when served. Works for me.

Ammonia was what I used on DS's clothes. He worked in a tire store/garage. For the greasy clothes and the smell. OR use Borax. 20 Mule Team Borax is wonderful stuff. DD used it when Steve and his son were out camping, slept on a air mattress. His son had a bed wetting problem. The top of the air mattress was that flocked stuff. She thought she'd have to toss it in the garbage. She sprinkled it on while the mattress was wet. Let it dry and the smell was almost gone. Did it a second time and it was gone. I've also used Borax in my laundry and had good luck with it. Its an additive, not a laundry soap so you will need soap also.