Grow Your Own Magazine

Benacre · #1 (**permalink**) 11-01-2007, 10:06 PM

Suprising when you begin to have that scrounging eye for alltoments what you can actually find. I collected a pallet from the corner shop asking first of course and also found a skip full of MDF which will make my workshop at home more comfortable by adding a new work bench. I also found some old doors whilst walking to the Dole office today and they are my new fence on the plot. all plastic bottles I find on the road are used for cloches on the plot. I even pick up nails and nuts and bolts found outside buliding sites. More rain and high winds today so not much done since Monday.

What tips do you have for scrounging bits and bobs?

Digger-07 · #2 (**permalink**) 11-01-2007, 10:10 PM

Good to know that salvage rights exist outside Yorkshire.

Take care with the MDF the stuff is a know carcenogen. I wish the DIY programmes would make it clear when they use it for just about everything.

Benacre · #3 (**permalink**) 11-01-2007, 10:20 PM

Thanks It will balance nicely with the fags. Seriouusly though I did not know that, Thanks

pigletwillie · #4 (**permalink**) 11-01-2007, 10:29 PM

Wear a mask when cutting it especially with power tools as the dust is very fine and it packed with resinous glue. I woodbutcher to a reasonable level and always cut it or shape it outside the workshop for that reason.

dexterdoglancashire · #5 (**permalink**) 11-01-2007, 11:02 PM

Since getting my lottie (all of 3 weeks ago) - I haven't mentioned it already have I? LOL! But keeping my eye open when I drive around/taking Dexter out for walkies for anything I can use! recycle, recycle, recycle methinks!

Dexterdog
PS anyone in South Ribble who has any pallets they want to get rid of - just let me know, oh, and......paving slabs, garden fencing, bark chippings etc etc

Shortie · #6 (**permalink**) 11-01-2007, 11:15 PM

lol DDL, I like your style... anything London way going spare?

Benacre · #7 (**permalink**) 11-01-2007, 11:18 PM

Anything in Suffolk....... Come on lets have a national scrounging forum.

BayViewPlot · #8 (**permalink**) 11-01-2007, 11:27 PM

How is MDF a carcinogen?

Is it OK to use for a raised bed in the lottie or would it harm the soil?

Alice · #9 (**permalink**) 11-01-2007, 11:35 PM

Sometimes the big giant trays supermarkets have things delivered in are just dumped round about their buildings and car parks. They make great giant seed trays, or even for growing things in - carrots if your soil is not suitable.

BVF if it was possible to show the exact mechanism of cancer causing agents half the problem would be solved. Just believe there is a big link to MDF and cancer.

madderbat · #10 (**permalink**) 12-01-2007, 12:13 AM

Mr MB is beginning to lose his shame about skip watching!
We got a whole load of bricks when a house down the road had some building work done;
I got three window panels by asking a workman who was putting up an conservatory - was blissfully surprised when he gave them me 'just like that' thought I might have had to wait for a while.
Our local Magnet and Southern has just been refitted and there are loads of white pallets outside (apparently the blue ones are rented so you can get into trouble for having them). Mr MB has promised to go tomorrow and ask if we can have three or four of them.
Our neighbour drinks pop like it's going out of fashion, so there are always bottles we can use, but I'm a bit stuck for canes/wicker supports yet. have to figure out some way of getting some willow.

Earthbabe · #11 (**permalink**) 12-01-2007, 08:53 AM

A couple of houses here have had a lot of work done so I gathered a couple of bags that sand etc is delivered in for putting leaves in or similar. I was very tempted to pick up carpet and planks of wood from the house that has been gutted but was a bit concerned about what Mr E would say so chickened out. Keep looking to pick up an old window to make a cold frame. When we had out bathroom done suggested taking the bath down to the lottie and got overruled. The shower doors went for a cloche though

Dobby · #12 (**permalink**) 12-01-2007, 09:45 AM

Hi Dexter
For pallets you could try asking your local Tesco ask someone with a plane blue shirt on he/she will be a manager just ask if they have any broken paletts in the back yard. Its worth a try

or if you can see the back yard and you see some and theres some one in the yard ask they can only say yes of no

Digger-07 · #13 (**permalink**) 12-01-2007, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BayViewPlot

How is MDF a carcinogen?

Is it OK to use for a raised bed in the lottie or would it harm the soil?

I don't know the full story but I believe that it is something to do with the bonding agent (contains formaldehyde) and the fact that when it's cut it releases very tiny fibres. I think using it has the same sort of problems that asbestos used to have but not to the same extent.

Don't know about using it for a raised bed but I would thing that it would absobe the moisture and disintegrate. I know external MDF is available but you would need to treat it and then it would still absobe water when if was damaged.

I personally will not work with it at all.

dexterdoglancashire · #14 (**permalink**) 16-01-2007, 11:18 PM

Since posting my earlier comments, went to Wickes in Preston today, the very kind manager Tom, let me fill my car with pallets! Wonderful!
On my way home en route lottie to drop them off, the car was making an AWFUL noise! Carried on to lottie (big oops!) got out of the car, back wheel was as flat as a pancake!
I guess I must've run over a nail - oh well, free pallets £for a new tyre because mine is wrecked! LOL? DDL

madderbat · #15 (**permalink**) 17-01-2007, 09:46 PM

We had no luck with Magnet, apparently all pallets are accounted for and are returned, and they don't have any other bits that we could scrounge.

Will keep looking, but this week is the last time we will have the car so it's getting a bit traumatic, although we really have got quite enough to be getting on with.

dexterdoglancashire · #16 (**permalink**) 17-01-2007, 09:54 PM

Shame about the car MB! I'm very sad, when I'm driving around, keeping one eye on the road and the other for anything left lying around that I can use on the lottie!

DDL

madderbat · #17 (**permalink**) 17-01-2007, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dexterdoglancashire

Shame about the car MB! I'm very sad, when I'm driving around, keeping one eye on the road and the other for anything left lying around that I can use on the lottie!

DDL

Thanks DDL. We use it so little these days it seems as though I might as well put money in an envelope and leave it outside the door as keep paying to have the car parked out there. It will take a bit of getting used to though as I've been driving since 1980 and have always had a car. Fortunately I have two legs and live near the train station (& Mr MB comes into his bus pass in a couple of years!!)
It is the greener option and will be less stress, so it does make sense, but still a bit scary and a loss as I've had the car since new, it still runs fine. Never mind. Onwards and upwards as they say..

theothermarg · #18 (**permalink**) 20-01-2007, 04:22 PM

I prefer the word wombler to scrounger or am i showing my age. well i,v been recycling for the last 40 years long before it was fashionable
( I had cellelite when it was just fat as well)

dexterdoglancashire · #19 (**permalink**) 20-01-2007, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theothermarg

I prefer the word wombler to scrounger or am i showing my age. well i,v been recycling for the last 40 years long before it was fashionable
( I had cellelite when it was just fat as well)

Hello TOM and welcome to the Vine! As you can see we are all very friendly and helpful. Feel free to post any questions or queries you may have - (myself apart because I'm still learning!) the other grapes have a wealth of knowledge on all things fruit and veg growing! If you haven't already done so, do get a copy of Grow Your Own - lots of useful info in there which is easily understandable (which I need!). Looking forward to reading your posts and finding out what you are growing.

DDL

Nicos · #20 (**permalink**) 20-01-2007, 05:03 PM

We seem to have excelled in scrounging logs this weekend...crazy how popular you become when people realise you have a chainsaw!!

dexterdoglancashire · #21 (**permalink**) 20-01-2007, 09:57 PM

What a good idea Nicos! windy weather+fallen down trees=Nicos+chainsaw! Good enterprise methinks.

DDL

rustylady · #22 (**permalink**) 20-01-2007, 10:04 PM

As for scrounging, I prefer to call it recycling. After all, if you're going to make use of it, it saves it going to landfill. What did they use to say, one man's rubbish is another's treasure!

Have you all tried your local freecycle website? You can get rid of or obtain all sorts of useful things. No charge - bit like the old bartering system