Yes, I heard a lot of municipalities don’t recycle the berry and tomato clamshells. I can’t imagine why – they seem to be Number 2 plastic – but I agree, they would make great drainage spacers. I’ve also heard that some farmers at farmers’ markets will take these containers for reuse, but it make sense to ask before you haul a collection into town.

A co-worker here at Homemakers had noted the newspaper trick as well – she has a little wood mould to make the paper pots with. I’m definitely going to try this. I hope the newspaper printers use vegetable-based inks!

Most greenhouses I’ve seen lately don’t use the peat pots any more, and have switched to plastics (sadly). If I purchase a plant that comes in a plastic pot, I reuse them the following year to start my seedlings in (or store things in, etc etc).

Also, you had been talking about what was and wasn’t recyclable. You know those plastic containers that berries are shipped in? They make great fillers in the bottoms of larger pots and planters, and encourage better drainage It may not be recycling, but it sure is reusing!

On top of the eco-sustainability concerns, I don’t think peat pots live up to the hype. I find they don’t break down fast enough if you plant seeds into them and plant the whole pot into the garden later as the advertising says. The roots won’t push through the peat so easily as it binds them making for weaker plants.

You can make seedling pots out of newspaper. You can use a coke can as a mold and wrap the newspaper around to form a little pot, tucking the edges in to keep its form. Cheap and easy!

Anna