What is this.

[Mudman]

If that empty jar has been processed, then it is a-

[Mudman]

A small cloche? For a single seedling?

[Sun City Linda]

Its a gift waiting to be filled with spare change and left on the doorstep of a family in need.

[salix]

Dee, I think it also represents a connection to our past, self-sufficiency, planning, industry, thrift, and practicality. It is a multi-functional object which is useful, reliable and non-toxic, requiring a certain amount of care and thought in it's use. Depending on what it contains, could also represent gluttony, lol. In my case it also can represent lust and covetousness...

[sirtanon]

...half of next year's peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches

[ddsack]

Salix, I think between us we have covered it all!

Future, past, present -- it represents the universe in all it's incarnations.

[Worth1]

Ok folks you all have made me laugh out loud several times and also made me think which I am glad for.
We all need to think about other peoples thoughts sometimes if you know what i mean.

More so this has been real fun, it has in a way let me see what kind of people you guys are in a way I never new.
To that and to all of you I say Bravo.

Now that the sun has went down I will tell you all what it is to me.

It is what I am going to plant my tomato seedlings in this year.
The reason is because of the many threads and posts I have read here on the downfalls of the plastic containers.

I will cut holes in the bottom in a way that they wont break.
The ring can hold individual clear plastic so the seeds will sprout.
In this way unlike the other stuff you can remove clear plastic as you need.
They can easily be sterilized.

They will fit in a fancy frame that you will see later.
They can be used over and over without deterioration.
The frame will stop any sunlight from heating up the roots or soil.
You can see the roots.
They will look cool.
A stopper can be put in the bottom hole in case the soil dries out to much and you need to soak them for a while.
At the end of the season the frame and all will fit nicely in a corner some place.
The frame will have wheels so my wife can move it in and out of the garage.
The frame will swing to the side to look like stairs so all of the plants get sunlight.


Worth

[Mudman]

Cool idea, but how may I ask will you put holes in the bottom of glass jars without breaking them? Do you have a laser jet sitting around somewhere?

[salix]

Looking forward to seeing your new frame/plant and seedling unit. I am imagining it to look something like the Victorian primrose display shelves.

[clkeiper]

Worth, Are you planning on using recycles jars for this project? man, if you haven't checked the price on them lately there will be some sticker shock coming for you. Since this thread closed before i saw it I was going to say that the jar represented the reason why there is no profit in making jam and jelly to be sold at my farmers market next year. Ball has a monopoly in canning jars and there are none to be found at a reasonable price. Sad, plain sad!

[bcday]

Very nice.
I used plastic freezer containers one year. They don't break easily and they stack neatly for storage. Cutting drainage holes in the bottom was easy. They also are designed to be washed and re-used many times over and can be sterilized with bleach. And the square base made them less likely to tip over than a container with a round bottom. I got totally fed up with foam and/or plastic cups that kept tipping over. The only problem with the freezer containers was that for some reason it was hard to get the plant's root ball to let go of the container. Next time I use them I might line them with plastic or something that I can pull on to get the plant out.

I bought some new canning jars last year. The cashier at the checkout counter couldn't believe someone was actually paying almost $1 apiece for EMPTY JARS!

[sirtanon]

I suppose a practical and cheaper (essentially free if you think about it) alternative would be to save jars from various condiments, snacks, garnishes throughout the year and repurpose them.

Mayonnaise
Pickles
Mustard
Peanut Butter
etc...

All come in jars with screw-on lids..

[Skaggydog]

Originally Posted by Worth1

...They can easily be sterilized. ...


Worth

After cutting a hole in one, I would make sure that I could still sterilize it without braking, befor I did a bunch.

[Worth1]

Ok I'm going to answer some questions here.

I will cut the hole with a small diamond hole saw and kerosine.
You cut very slowly so you dont crack or chip the glass.
The price of the jar is of no consequence to me as I only need 3 dozen jars
As long as there are no stress fractures you can do with them as you wish.
To remove any small fractures I will have to more or less polish the hole I cut.
The jars have to be tapered with no shoulder so you dont get what they call a mechanical lock with the soil, just any jar cant be used.

Sounds like work but to me nothing good or beautiful comes easy.

Worth

[clkeiper]

Worth, 3 dozen isn't too may jars, but check around at the thrift stores for jars to see if you can find any. Sometimes i hit a treasure chest other times it's a lost cause looking for something specific this way. Good luck on your project what ever way you choose to do it.

I thought perhaps you were growing for your community garden project. (think...eyes bugging out of my head). smiles and have a blessed day. Carolyn K