Our operation actually depends on recycling of materials for its operation. We pick up composted vegetables to feed our animals. Whole Foods in River Forest and Sugar Beet Food Coop and Happy Apple Pie Shop in Oak Park have all contributed to our animal 'furniture' of old tables and pallets. We obtain activated charcoal from Petco's aquariums to deodorize our side pen, mixing it with sand to eliminate urine smells. Petco in River Forest also provides us with very nice collapsible boxes to line the cement floors in the garage.
A new money saver for us has come through a Goat Guardian Guild member, Damian Casten, has retrieved burlap bags from a coffee importer. Thank you to Metric Coffee and Sparrow Coffee importers. We distribute these bags to community gardens to kill weeds. It just so happens that the burlap bags are sealed in recyclable green plastic bags, which we are now utilizing to bag manure.
In 2019, we evaluated our plastic purchases. One of our ideas to make inroads on our consumption of sterile gloves is to purchase biodegradable gloves from Showa Corporation. We are composting these gloves along with our daily use of paper towels in our weekly compost schedule. In addition we now purchase Scotch Brite cellulose scrub sponges knowing that they will disintegrate within a year in a land fill.
We are always looking for ideas. Please complete the contact form with any suggestions for us.