I found a big problem with newpapers going online and not so much paper

[uppityperson]

Lack of newspapers to start woodstove with. I've taken to having some friends save their papers for me, but there isn't that much around and the glossy ads that are abundant just don't cut it.

[Little Star]

1. That really is a conundrum. Maybe your supermarket...

would save some of their unused, extra sales flyers once they are out of date.

When we were up in Maine this fall we bought live lobsters to bring home. We needed to have newspaper between the lobsters and the ice and we used those flyers.

[fishwax]

2. You might be able to find free "Penny Saver" type newspapers at many restaurants and grocery stores

I don't mean the weekly glossly advertising circulars, but rather the weekly magazines put out to advertise car sales or housing or just classified ads generally. I don't have a stove, so it isn't an issue for me, but I think these would work if you can find them.

[uppityperson]

3. That is a good thought

always those free real estate newpapers too, to pick on a group.

[Curmudgeoness]

4. Wish I was close to you....I use newpaper for lots of things

but I still have too much to use. I did have a roller for paper logs to use with wood logs in the fireplace, but have no fireplace anymore....so sad.

[uppityperson]

6. Do you have a garden? Mulch the paths with newspaper to keep weeds down and on off season, if

you have one, put it on the beds with a couple shovels of soil on it to keep from blowing away. I've also used it to cover grass with before making a new bed, put it on in fall many layers thick, shovel some soil here and there, by spring you have softer non-weedy soil and organic material to dig in.

[Curmudgeoness]

7. I actually do use it in the garden a couple of ways.

I do use it as a weed block like you suggest. I do appreciate the suggestion to put some soil on it to keep it from blowing away, since I am constantly trying to find ways to keep it down, from pounding sticks in it to putting full bottles of water at the corners.

And I have been trying to get rid of a whole section of flower bed that was invaded by mint (that I planted, damn it) and creeping myrtle (which just appeared from nowhere and I thought was nice). I have been putting down layers of newspaper for years, and it still exists!!! I guess that getting rid of grass for a bed is easier than this.

I also use a shredder to shred some newspaper and put it in the compost pile.

And even so, too danged much newspaper!!!!

[uppityperson]

8. Mint is wonderful and awful. I ended up with creeping jenny, bought from a Master Gardeners

sale. It took many yrs to get rid of it and it still pops up every now and then. Fortunately my mint is planted next to a boggy area, so i can pull up the creepers and keep it somewhat in place. I'd take the newspapers, but guess we are a distance apart. Ah well, thanks for the thought.

[Curmudgeoness]

9. What I have learned from buying/exchanging plants.....

every plant that you get will become an intrusive, unwanted weed over time. That is why people are willing to give some of it away...they need to keep pulling it up.

On the bright side, if you have a place where nothing will grow and you don't have to worry about whether a plant goes wild, these are the best places to get plants.

[canetoad]

5. Sort of the same problem here in winter

Don't buy newspapers. I keep a tub near the open fire, into it goes every scrap of paper that would normally go into recycling plus all the junk mail, free newspapers etc. I eke out the glossies with a bit of good-burning paper. This and half a firelighter per conflagration keeps me going.