3/3/14

Even though incandescent lightbulbs are being phased out in favor of energy efficient CFL and LED bulbs, many of us still use the old fashioned bulbs until they burn out. When they do finally burn out, don't toss them in the trash; donate them. The nonprofit artist group CLOUD makes interactive sculptures out of steel and used incandescent lightbulbs. The sculptures are suspended clouds made entirely out of bulbs and are set in major cities all over the world. Their work uses incandescent bulbs -- not CFL bulbs -- and each installation recycles about 5,000 old bulbs. To learn how to donate your old incandescent bulbs, go to incandescentcloud.com.

3/2/14

With spring around the corner, it's a good time to start collecting eggshells for your flowering bushes and gardens. After you've cracked eggs to make frittatas or scrambled eggs, rinse the shells out and place them on a microwave-safe plate. Zap them on high for about three minutes to sterilize and dry them out. The shells will become very dry and will be safe to store. In the spring, crush the shells into a powder and mix them into the soil near flowering bushes like rhododendrons and hydrangea. These plants thrive from the calcium boost from eggshells and will give you stronger and more vibrant blooms all spring and summer long.

3/1/14

If you have a collection of used postage stamps, new ones or even stamps from foreign countries and you are unsure what to do with them, you can donate them to the American Philatelic Society. The group will take any types of stamps, covers and stamp albums to use for its youth and educational program. A variety of programs like the Young Stamp Collectors of America and All-Star Stamp Clubs benefit from the donations, and it need hundreds of pounds of donated materials annually for its programs. To learn more, visit stamps.org.