Posted in Going Green

Living in SW Florida I try to come up with some creative ideas to mimic different seasons. One thing our family loves is to build all types of forts, secret hiding places, reading nooks, castles, etc. So I decided I wanted to find away to incorporate the two AND do it GREEN. Well, my brain came up empty, sad to say. I was so over thinking on the subject when I had a brainstorm! Oh my little noggins was working over time, I tell ya. You are going to be so surprised when I tell you that I decided to use the Internet for my research. Am I smart or what? (I know. I know. Or what. tee hee!)

I don't want to post the pictures of this project here, because I didn't have time to ask for permission, BUT I will give you the link to this MOST FANTABULOUS project!

http://www.littlegiraffes.com/igloo.html

The project is an igloo built from gallon milk jugs! Oh, I can't tell you how excited I am to get started on this project. Now, the website states that their class used 155 milk jugs. We go through about 4 milk jugs per week. So, with my caluclations it would take us about 48 weeks to collect enough of those jugs to make an igloo. Not only do I not want to wait that long, but where in blue blazes would I store an igloo for 48 weeks!

Then I had another brainstorm. I could make this project with my children for FREE because we have hot glue and yardsticks. Not only that, but I can reduce our waste AND the waste of friends and family if I ask them to save their milk jugs as well. In no time I will have enough jugs to make our igloo!

Are you thinking ahead of me yet? What do you do when you are finished with the igloo? There has been no trash savings if you dismantle the igloo and discard the jugs when you are finished with the igloo, right? NO WAY! I wouldn't leave you hanging like that!

Here is a list of ideas that we have used milk jugs for in the past and will implement using when we are done with our igloo.

• Watering can
• Change Bank
• Seed Sprouter
• Sandbox Toy
• Drinking Hole for small animals
• Megaphone
• Berry or Veggie picking bucket
• Automatic Plant Irrigation
• Plant Row Markers (cut into strips)
• Pool/Beach Toy
• Bird Bath
• Dustpan
• Funnel
• Clothespin Holder
• Luminaries (this is especially fun when there is NO holiday)
• Freezer Blocks (to keep your freezer running efficiently when it is runnin glow on food)
• Juice and Tea Containers
• Bird Feeder

There are so many ideas to use these plastic jugs for, that I am inclined to think up new ones! A FREE and FUN project for the family, saving LOTS of trash from landfills; this is a project that can't be beat!

These are my thoughts.

Leslie Valeska

~Contributing Writer~

Leslie Valeska is the lucky wife of Thomas.  With children ranging in ages from 4-16, she has had a lot of time to learn and experience much of the fine art of homemaking. She established Simple Journey Ministries to encourage, support, and inspire women, from all walks of life, to engage and continue on a path of Godly Womanhood. For FREE daily tips on simple and frugal living visit her blogJourney to Simplicity. Want to get to know her up close and personal and be notified of all the NEW releases, updates, SALES, events, and GOODIES from other authors, as well as find a good dose of support and encouragement, then visit Simple Journey Ministries. Of course, don’t forget to visit the Simple Journey Bookstore!