I've found the recycling threads below on Ziplocs, 5-gallon buckets soda bottles etc to be very helpful-I have excess gallon milk jugs- I use some for clocheing, and watering, any other ideas?

-- Kelly (markelly@scrtc.com), September 18, 2001

Answers

1. Cut the bottoms out and use to cover tender plants in your garden in early spring. 2. Put fish fillets in and fill with water and freeze. 3. Store leftover stew/chili and freeze. 4. Freeze drinking water in for campouts.

-- r.h. in okla. (rhays@sstelco.com), September 18, 2001.

Cut out the bottom, keep the lid on, and use as a feed scooper. Use as "pitchers" for koolaid, iced tea, gatorade, etc.

-- Cheryl in KS (cherylmccoy@rocketmail.com), September 18, 2001.

However you use milk jugs, make sure they are washed extra carefully especially around the top because even a small amount of milk left in the rim can spoil whatever is stored inside.

Wishing you enough.

-- Trevilians (aka Dianne in Mass) (Trevilians@mediaone.net), September 18, 2001.

Cut away the top half of the side opposite the handle and use as a clothespin holder.

-- Cindy in NY (cjpopeck@worldnet.att.net), September 18, 2001.

Do the same thing as cindy, but put it next to the sink as a compost bin, to carry out to the big bin out back.

-- Joan Murray (alandjoan@juno.com), September 18, 2001.

Make plant Labels by cutting strips out of sides.

-- kathy h (ckhart55@earthlink.net), September 18, 2001.

I cut a couple of holes in the top half on the sides not occupied by the handle and hang it from the roof of the chicken coop for a chicken feeder. They can't scoop the feed out, or sit in it (banties), or sit on the rim and poop in it like they can with regular feeders. Also, mice seem to have a harder time with it if you keep the lid on.

-- Laura Jensen (lauraj@seedlaw.com), September 18, 2001.

CUT THE CLEAN MILK JUG IN HALF LENGTHWISE. PLACE THE HALF WITHOUT THE HANDLE UNDER YOUR CANTELOPES, HONEYDEW MELONS ECT.... MAKE SURE YOU PUNCH A FEW HOLES IN THE BOTTOM FOR WATER TO DRAIN. KEEPS THE MELONS OFF THE GROUND AND SEEMS TO SLOW PEST. LISA B.

-- LISA B. (J5DIECAST@AOL.COM), September 18, 2001.

i used them as mini greenhouses. i didn't have one, was trying to keep the seeds more moist, and cut mostly around the bottom about 3 inches up, tipped the top back with the handle, planted my seedlings, and put the lid back on. when they got going i had to take the "lid" off of them. it seemed to keep them drying out so fast, and gave them some protection. i notched them to keep the "top" attached on the opposite side of where the "hinge" was.

-- marcee king (thathope@mwt.net), September 18, 2001.