Thursday, August 26, 2010

I Am Afraid to Look in My Compost Bin!

I had good intentions.  I recycle everything I can and try to reduce my use of plastics and excess packaging.  Composting seemed like a good idea.  Then I forgot all about it...

I got the idea for my compost bin from this link:
 http://dinnergarden.blogspot.com/2009/05/dinner-garden-learns-to-compost.html

Mine didn't look exactly like that, but I did use a plastic tote with a lid and I had my husband drill air holes on the side.  I had visions of an earthworm farm, and I did add a few.  I am sure they are quite dead now.  This picture is from June.


This is a blurry picture, but you get the idea.  I put down a layer of potting soil (since it was handy in my garage) and then layered kitchen scraps and strips of torn newspaper.  I did wait a week or so and put the results on my garden as "fertilizer".  I discovered that kitchen scraps, especially bigger peelings, really need to be small in order to compost well.  Also, bigger pieces of bread did not do well, they just turned blue and looked like rocks.  Guess that means that there was not enough moisture and I definitely did not stir it often.  Later I added more scraps, a bit more soil and a little bit of newspaper.  I think the last time I opened the lid was in July?  It is August now and the bin is buried under the rubble in the garage somewhere...

My kitchen scraps since then have gone in the garbage or down the disposal and edible scraps, like bread crusts, were once again given to the dog.  The garage seemed too away to walk with my coffee can of scraps.  And I was too lazy to cut all the bits up into manageable, compostable pieces.  And I got discouraged when the fruit flies and gnats would come out, so those are my excuses.

Hubby doesn't know it yet but I think I will have him dump the bin on my garden when I am sure I am done harvesting it and then we can start over.  Or maybe the bin gets hosed out and put away until Spring?  Yeah, that's it.  I am sure I will do better next year.

Monday, August 9, 2010

Clickin' For Cash: My Tried and True Sources

In a previous post I shared some websites that I go to frequently for free samples.  I love getting those freebies in the mail but it is also nice to be able to earn a little cash and/or bigger prizes from the comfort of your desk chair.

I have signed up with scores of those websites that promise cash for doing surveys or for reading their ads, and most of them did not make the cut with me.  After a while I stop even looking at them and the emails go away.  Rather than listing those that were a waste of my time, I am going to tell you about the few that I thought were worth my time.  These are ones whose emails I look for daily and spend a few minutes each day completing them so that I can then delete them.  If I can't get them done right away I try to flag them so that they don't get buried in my mail.

http://www.mypoints.com/  My Points sends me several emails a day with ads, deals and occasional surveys.  What I like about this program is that I can do a block of them at once, just click on each ad to earn 5 points.  If I qualify for a survey I might get 50 points, otherwise I get 10.  If I go through their website to shop I earn points per dollar spent and they have a wide variety of retailers to choose from.  If I ever want to participate in any of their offers (such as join Netflix or a book club for bonus points) I can but I still get 5 points just for reading the email.  Then I delete them.  They also have links for coupons (coupons.com and smartsource.com) so that I can get points for printing off grocery coupons.  Even without actually completing their offers and rarely shopping online, I am able to get a couple of gift cards a year.  Over the years I have gotten gift cards for CVS, Olive Garden/Red Lobster and Target.  Never any ads for embarassing pharmaceuticals or anything like that.  If you have any interest in joining, send me your name and email so that I can "refer" you--I get points for that!

http://www.e-rewards.com/  This survey site rewards you with a few cents when you don't qualify or a few dollars if you do qualify for the survey, but it is easy to work through.  Your "money" actually accumulates in an account that you can put towards your U-Promise account, if you have one of those.  Otherwise, don't bother.

http://www.surveysavvy.com/  These surveys are hard to qualify for, but I have earned a little from them.  They also have a referral program, so you can earn more that way.  They are typical of most of these survey sites where the qualifying questions are so extensive you get annoyed when they tell you "sorry" but you don't qualify for the actual survey!

http://www.ncponline.com/  This is the National Consumer Panel, formerly known as the Nielsen Panel.  I have been doing this for several years and, after accumulating enough points, I have ordered prizes from their online catalog, mainly toys for my children, but they also have small electrics, electronics, things like that.  They send you a scanner to record all of your household purchases.  I mainly scan my groceries each week, although you are supposed to record all your purchases from all retailers, even online shopping or buying gas for your car.  I transmit my purchases each week and answer whatever surveys are waiting for me.  This one does take a little more time, but I have made it a habit to at least scan my weekly groceries and to transmit each Saturday morning so that I don't forget.  It is not difficult.  I also have been on "select" panels, I am currently on one where I record any prescriptions that I fill each week, and I get extra points for that.

http://www.pineconeresearch.com/  My husband did this a few years ago, when they paid $5 per survey.  They currently only pay $3 per survey, but now they offer to send you your money via paypal, so that makes it a little more convenient.  I have been doing this for a few months, probably one survey per week, and I also tested a food product that they sent me, which is kind of fun.

http://www.bzzagent.com/  I became a bzz agent last year and have gotten several products to try and share with friends.  After trying a product, you are then expected to "buzz" about it-- writing a review, posting on facebook, blogging, sharing with friends, etc.  I have gotten Aveeno baby shampoo, diaper cream, Claritin chewable tablets, Covergirl makeup and L'Oreal eye cream from them.  Unfortunately, I have missed a few campaigns because you have to very regularly visit their site to complete surveys to qualify, but I am glad to have participated in those few campaigns. Very easy!

http://www.houseparty.com/  This has been the most fun way I have heard of to get free stuff!  I signed up  to participate last year but never got chosen to host a house party until this spring.  You really have to act quickly when they start taking applications and then you have to jump on it when you are chosen or your spot will get taken.  What they do is send you free products and gifts to host a party for your friends in which you share a new product.  Many of the parties have a theme or else you can create your own.  I have done a Sandwich Thins party (free bread, grocery bags, recipe cards and magnetic grocery lists that I used in during a baby shower that I hosted), a ConAgra "Child Hunger Ends Here" party where the guests participate in a food drive and (my favorite) a Red Baron Pan Pizza and Pan Pasta Party, complete with red checkered table cloth, candle and cheese shaker.  For that last one the Schwan guy delivered frozen pizza and pasta to my door, usually they send you free coupons.  After the party you and your guests fill out surveys.  On the website guests upload pictures and share their party experiences.  There have also been many parties that my family would have liked but I missed out on, like the Shrek/McDonald's one and several toy manufacturers.  This fall there is one for Hasbro/Clone Wars that I have applied for--fingers crossed!

Coming soon:  Mystery Shopping and Market Research