Weeding the Web

An easy way to clean your garden tools with recycled oil

“Lazy man always works hardest.” My father’s voice rings in my ears every time I guiltily slide my mud-smeared spade back into the shed.

But here's an idea for keeping tools clean, rust-free and well oiled. In the video below, American gardening expert Joe Lamp’l shows you how to clean your shovel by ramming it repeatedly into a bucket of oil-soaked sand. Keep the bucket just inside the shed door and you can clean it after every use. The abrasiveness of the sand should help keep your tools sharp, too.

A DIY Bird Feeder, recycled too.

Autumn’s advancing and if you don’t feed the birds you’re in the minority. According to the RSPB website, over half of adults in the UK feed birds in their garden. They recommend feeding all year round, but if you don’t want to do this, they do say that winter feeding benefits birds most. Bird feeders abound on the web, available in all shapes and sizes. But if you have an urge for DIY, then Dr Ivan Reid has provided straightforward instructions for a simple design using a Pringles tube and a sardine tin.

A slate-effect sundial for eco-conscious times

Using recycled plastic in the garden doesn’t sound appealing, does it? But there’s much to be said for it in these eco-conscious times. In fact, I wrote this page for Plants from Zion, giving reasons for using it.

And recycled plastic doesn’t have to be unattractive. It can be really hard to tell the difference between good quality recycled plastic and whatever material you might expect something to be made of.

Take this slate-effect sundial from ashortwalk, made of recycled vending machine coffee cups.