Alabama Sawyer’s Not So Secret Diary
4 Eco Friendly Weed Killing Methods
There are plenty of reasons not to use commercial weed killer. Maybe you have children and don’t want them to ingest any weed killer while playing in the garden. Perhaps you don’t like the idea of harsh chemicals leaching into a nearby water source. Maybe commercial weed killer is too expensive. Whatever the case may be, here are four eco friendly ways to get rid of weeds:
1) Pour boiling water on the weeds. This could take a few tries, but is probably the easiest method on here and doesn’t damage the surrounding soil.
2) Mix vodka and water to create a herbicide that dries the weeds out. Spray/ pour directly over the roots. Can be very damaging to any surrounding plants, so be careful with this one.
3) Cover smaller weeds in at least four layers of old newspapers to cut off their access to sunlight.
4) Lemon juice works great as a weed killer - and gets bonus points for not attracting ants. Simply pour some lemon juice in a spray bottle or a jar and you’re ready to go.
How to Oil a Wooden Cutting Board
Oiling your wooden cutting board can greatly extend its life. You’ll want to oil it every time it dries out, and the frequency that your board dries out will change depending on how often you use it. In terms of effort this takes the same amount as shoe tying, so get ready:
- First thing you’ll need is an appropriate oil (click to see Alabama Sawyer's Cutting Board Oil.) Many people use mineral oil because it’s relatively cheap and easy to find at kitchen hardware stores.
- Evenly apply the oil by rubbing it into the board using a small piece of paper towel or a soft cloth.
- Let the oil soak in at least a few hours.
- Then use a dry paper towel to wipe away any excess oil. It shouldn’t feel sticky at all once you’ve finished.
And that’s basically it. If you haven’t already, take a look at some of our own cutting boards.
How to Build a Pallet Compost Pile
So you want to start composting? The good news is that it’s super easy and rewarding to build a pallet composting bin from scratch. Follow these step by step instructions to get started:
- Find a place in your yard to build the pile. At the very least pick a level spot that’s 3’ x 3’. Keep in mind the placement of your bin, do you want it to be easily visible or do you want it tucked away behind a tree so it can’t be spotted?
- You’ll need four pallets of the same size. If you’re looking to spend as little money as possible, I’d suggest embracing your inner raccoon by digging around in an alleyway, or asking a local business for their discarded pallets. Maybe a nearby shopping center will be kind enough to give you some for free when you ask nicely. Consider what you’ll find in the dumpster of a small business.
Another approach is the internet. Keep an eye on Craigslist’s “free” category under the “On Sale” items.
- Now that you have your pallets, it’s time to build the bin itself. Stand up three of the pallets and screw the edges together, these will be the sides and back of the bin.
- Then, cut your fourth pallet in half and attach it to the bin so there’s a side that’s shorter than the walls and the back. This will be the door. If you want to be able to open and close it like a regular door then attach the door to one side using hinges and tie the other side to the wall to ensure it stays closed.
Another option would be using a latch to keep the door closed so you don’t have to untie & tie a rope every single time you want to open the door. If you did everything correctly, then you should end up with something similar to the bin in the image below:
Doesn’t really get much easier than that, huh? Once you’ve collected all your materials, it should only take ten to twenty minutes to build one of these things.
Keep in mind that you'll need to store the compost somewhere before moving it in your backyard pile, so feel free to check out our beautiful Noaway Counter Top Compost Bin. These expertly crafted bins come in magnolia, walnut, and sapwood made using timber sourced almost entirely from the urban forests of Alabama.
And what if you don't have a backyard? Luckily enough, you can still compost. Plenty of cities offer a municipal composting program. If you're itching to know whether or not your city offers one, a quick google search should tell you everything you need to know.
Good luck and happy composting!
