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I must admit that at first I didn't take it as a compliment.

Early in my newspaper career — when I was still pretty impressed with myself — I walked into a nursery school classroom and spotted a 3-year-old standing in front of an easel, dressed in her smock. A closer look revealed she was carefully splashing blobs of red paint on a page of the Dayton Daily News that contained my column and photograph.

It got worse. Over the years I've watched folks use my precious words to wrap their garbage and to pick up their doggie's droppings.

What's changed through the years is my attitude. Today, it's such a good thing to care about our environment that now I figure I'm not being discarded, I'm being recycled. That makes me kind of a eco-hero, wouldn't you say?

When we asked readers what they do with piles of plastic grocery bags we had so many responses that we decided to ask them about newspapers. Needless to say, we're hoping you read them from cover to cover before finding new and creative uses for them.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2440 or mmoss@DaytonDailyNews.com.

We used our old newspapers to build a small meadow this spring. It took us all of one Saturday morning.

First, we mapped out the area we wanted for the meadow with an old hose. Then we put down lots of wet newspapers right down on the grass, about six pages thick — overlapping so the grass was completely covered. We did not till at all!

Then on top of the wet newspapers we put regular garden dirt, a couple of inches deep. We did not buy special dirt at the store ... just used some regular dirt we had behind our shed. Then we scattered flower seeds everywhere and covered it all with a sprinkling of dirt.

My daughter carefully walked all over it to set the seeds in the dirt. Last, we watered it all in with a gentle sprinkler. After that we just let it go to see what would happen. I did water occasionally over the first few weeks until the seedlings got going. We did get some weeds but I only pulled the ones on the edges and left the rest alone.

Our new meadow is now covered in flowers and we enjoy watching the monarchs chase each other. And, to put the icing on the cake, we found our first monarch caterpillar on a milkweed I planted when I put in the seeds.

So, with little labor, we have a neat meadow — about 10 feet by 6 feet — and we did it with no cost and little labor. This winter, we're just going to leave it as is, mow it down in the spring and see what happens next summer!

— Jeff, Kathy and Sarah Potter, Beavercreek

In the early '70s, I worked weekends at a junkyard northeast of Oxford on Ohio 177: Roberts New and Used Farm Machinery Parts. I started saving my newspapers for them. They use them to pack parts to send all over the world. I've seen packages ready to go to Australia, Denmark and many other places.

Each day I stack my papers very neatly behind a chair. When the stack gets to be 10 to 12 inches high, I tie them up with ball twine and put them in the back of my car. When I get four or five bales in there, I drive about five miles over to (Roberts New and Used Farm Machinery Parts). My husband worked at — and retired from — Standard Register. At one time they had an old shredder they wanted to get rid of, so my husband got it for Roberts. As far as I know they are still using it, and I am always glad to see it when I back up to their door to unload. I'm still saving the papers for them after 30 some years. My newspapers are being sent all over the world.

— Zana Crowe, Camden

I collect the papers from my daughter and neighbors. About once a month I take them to Montgomery Paper Co. I then give the money to charity. I have collected $75 in the past year.

— Marjorie Schulte, Eastern Hills, Dayton

We take a lot of our newspapers to the recycling center. But, Roberta (my wife) started composting the rest through vermiculture. She set up "worm farms" in Styrofoam coolers, and mixes in vegetable scraps, coffee grounds and shredded newspaper for worm food. The worms quickly turn the mixture into a high-grade compost that she puts on our vegetable garden.

— Doug Loman, Eaton

I save the cardboard center from (toilet paper) rolls. Then I tightly roll newspapers and insert them into the cardboard rings. When winter comes I have a supply of newspaper logs for my fireplace. They're great for keeping a fire going.

— Fran Duell, Butler Twp.

Since we get the Dayton Daily News each day, we manage to accumulate lots of paper. My husband is a woodworker and uses them in his business. Our friends bring us newspapers when I play mah-jongg or my husband plays golf, and we then take them to the big green and yellow recycle Dumpster at SICSA (2600 Wilmington Pike, Kettering, in the back parking lot). A company picks up the bin when it is full and SICSA receives a check from the company. A great way to recycle and help the animals waiting for adoption.

— Sue Hanley, Forest Ridge

I use newspapers in two ways:

For the garden I layer them around plants — wet them, spread mulch on top. Then there are no weeds and moisture stays in.

For foster animals, I need them for all the hundreds of babies that I have fostered for the Humane Society of Greater Dayton. I am one of the few who can take mommas with newborn babies, and keep them until they are 8 weeks old. We go through a LOT of newspapers!

The Humane Society will gladly accept newspapers to help us.

— Monica Bolte, Beavercreek

Start putting in your plants, work the nutrients in your soil. Lay layers of newspaper around the plants overlapping and wet. Cover with mulch and forget the weeds — weeds will get through some gardening plastic (but) they will not get through wet newspapers. I tried this last fall and still no weeds! Love it!

— Beverly Vanderhorst, West Carrollton

MORE IDEAS FOR OLD NEWSPAPERS

Use as umbrella when caught in rain.

Protect car seats from muddy or wet clothing.

Spread over outdoor benches to protect clothing.

Put into loose shoes to tighten.

Stuff in leather shoes to preserve shape.

Stuff in wet shoes overnight to dry and deodorize.

Crumple and place in suitcase for couple of weeks to remove stale odors.

Use as mat when polishing shoes.

Stuff hats to keep their shape.

Stuff leather handbags in storage.

Use as padding under a tablecloth.

Cover store windows when remodeling.

Cover furniture when away on vacation.

Cover furniture when sanding or painting.

Spread on floor underneath rug when shampooing.

Dampen and spread over windowpanes before painting.

Use to dry and polish window after washing.

Make a hat when painting.

Fold to make a sheath for a knife.

Place in closed windows to eliminate wind rattle.

Stuff under doors and in cracks to stop cold wind from coming in.

Use as a bounce reflector when taking flash photographs or use to reflect sunlight into shadow areas.

Place a sheet in jar tops to tighten loose lids.

Make unusual lamp shades.

Make dress patterns.

Protect table when children are painting or gluing.

Use as wallpaper for a doll house.

Make paper chains and paper dolls.

Make paper mache handicrafts.

Make kites.

Make party hats.

Occupy children by letting them color and paint the cartoons.

Make a child's play tent.

Use to raise height of child at table.

Cut out articles and make a scrapbook on a specific subject of interest to you.

Use as an emergency dust pan.

Roll, secure in middle with elastic and fringe one end to use to get rid of cobwebs.

Start fires.

Sharpen pencils by rubbing the point on newspaper.

Muffle a loud alarm clock.

Use to wrap green tomatoes to ripen.

Cover plants during a frost.

Use as a knee pad when gardening or scrubbing floors.

Roll and use as a funnel.

Roll and use as a torch.

Roll and use as a megaphone outdoors.

Use folded sheets as a fan to keep cool.

Use as sun shade at spectator events.

Use as a mat for wet darkroom photographs.

Shred and stuff in vases to help support fresh flowers ... put under car wheels when stuck in snow, mud or sand.

Line storage boxes.

Line bottom of bird cage.

Line shelves.

Line waste baskets.

Swat flies with rolled up sheets.

Use to wipe paint brushes.

Use as mat for wet, muddy boots.

Shred and use for packing breakables.

Wrap and store Christmas tree ornaments.

Wrap around ice cream to keep frozen.

Roll around baby bottle to insulate.

Use as a blotter.

Put inside coat for emergency warmth.

Place on top of snow with bird feed on it.

Place on windshield to prevent icing.

Make a litter bag for your car.

Crumple (no colors) and place in plastic containers to eliminate odors.

Source: ContentMart.com

> Learn more ways to live green

Coxconserves.com

"We can all make a difference in our environment — people and companies together," said Jim Kennedy, chairman and chief executive officer of Cox Enterprises.

Earlier this year, Kennedy introduced a companywide program called Cox Conserves that aims to reduce the company's carbon footprint or greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2017.

Last week, a new Web site was launched that will detail the creative efforts that are under way and will provide great eco-friendly tips for our readers.

"If we all do our own little bit," Kennedy said, "we can make a difference."

To learn more, visit www.coxconserves.com.

 

What creative ways do you reuse old newspapers?