Shredded paper mulch
What should you do with junk mail? I've minimized our junk mail
to the point that what remains is just right for starting fires during
the winter months. But by June, those credit card offers are
piling up, so I shred anything that's not glossy and use the paper as
mulch around the perennials. Sending junk mail through a shredder is slow, but the mulch is an excellent source of organic matter for the soil and is a good weed blocker if applied thick.
What innovative homestead use have you found for junk mail?
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About us: Anna Hess and Mark Hamilton spent over a decade living self-sufficiently in the mountains of Virginia before moving north to start over from scratch in the foothills of Ohio. They've experimented with permaculture, no-till gardening, trailersteading, home-based microbusinesses and much more, writing about their adventures in both blogs and books.
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I use shredded paper as bedding for my composting worms. I can also use cardboard and paper-based egg cartons. The paper balances out the food scraps that I also add and keeps the moisture levels in check.
I have tried using shredded paper in my compost bin as well, but in my area it gets windy. I have avoided using it too often unless it can quickly get covered by other material and avoid blowing around my backyard.