How to Build a More Sustainable World: Repurpose the Trash Resources We Have in Great Abundance! Here Are Some Great Projects for Upcycling Tires

in #gardening7 years ago

We love the Earth, thus it is our duty and pleasure to protect it. 



We save 350,000 pounds of trash from the landfill annually and utilize it for sustainable purposes. Between composting and burning wood in our hand-built rocket stoves, much of it is used to nurture our unique food reality.

Additionally, trash becomes treasure with a little creativity and manpower! Our Shellie AKA @everlove, for example, is a talented artist with an eye for beauty, and rescued resources are her favorite medium! We are constantly utilizing trash for building and art projects. We beautify our space by salvaging discarded material once destined for the landfill. We find resources in great abundance. 

It is estimated that 300 million tires are discarded in the US each year. This is some serious pollution for our planet! Some solutions are proposed and being utilized, from using them in new highway construction to shoes, but the problem still looms large. 



This trash resource is certainly plentiful! When seen with new eyes, tires can become an excellent resource in your sustainable reality. Here are 4 project ideas for repurposing them:


1. RAISED BEDS
Greens are our most plentiful crop, from kale to Swiss chard to wasabi mustard, and they thrive in the tire beds we created from repurposed truck tires! These are a central feature to our garden and property. They are easy to prep for winter too; we fashion simple greenhouses by pulling clear plastic tarps over them, and we enjoy fresh greens year-round!  



All you have to do is fill tires with dirt and seeds or seedlings for interesting container gardens. You can paint them for a little more beauty, and they can be stacked or used vertically!




Tires are excellent to use on sloped land! They add structure and support to prevent soil erosion.


 
(image source)


We realize that many people fear that tires may leach toxins into soil and food grown into them. While we can't say this isn't happening, we can attest that we've used them for 8 years with great success. Eden greens continue to be the tastiest ones we've ever had, because our soil is alive! From micro organisms to fungi to earthworms, our soil is constantly breaking its constituents down. In this way, nature is able to alchemize a reasonable toxic load. Compared to the extremely toxic inputs that crops are exposed to on a regular basis from air to water to pesticides, we'll take our greens any day!


2. TIRE CHAIRS
These can be simple or fully customized! They make excellent and durable outdoor furniture. However if it rains, water could potentially collect in your tires--and it is surprisingly difficult to drain a water-filled tire. You can consider drilling holes in the underside of each tire to allow for drainage.



These sweet chairs are simply stacked tires with woven seats over the opening. (image source)



These chairs are fancier, fully painted with an upholstered seat. They even have rollers for easy repositioning! (image source)



Here's a set of low stools! (image source)


3. TIRE SWINGS
Children love to swing, and a sustainable tire swing is a classic toy! There's the traditional style, of course, and there is its evolution: the tire swing horse.



This is easy to create with by cutting, bending, and fastening a tire in the right places.




Again, consider drilling a hole in what will be the bottom of the swing to allow drainage. Select a sturdy tree from which to suspend your tree, and the children can enjoy hours and hours of sustainable outdoor fun!  

4. TIRE SANDALS
Did you know you can fashion some sweet sandals out of tires?? These make very sturdy shoes with lots of traction.



Sustainability is always in style! (image source)



(image source)


We hope you are inspired by the possibilities of utilizing tire and trash resources! A healthier planet depends on each of us making healthier choices, and repurposing what we already have in great abundance is such a choice.  A shift in perspective turns rubbish into possibility and great wealth!


www.intothegardenofeden.com

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Definitely, Not going to skid with a pair of this. Maybe, should applied ABS brakes on it too.


I totally admire this type of post! This is gold! I am always looking at things, sadly, before I throw them away, thinking, I wish I knew what to do! with this, but in the past if I don't have a specific idea, I end up with a big pile that doesn't get utilized. Tires are a completely new being to me! I know what to do with any extras that roll my way now! Thanks!

So grateful to inspire!! We have utilized discarded resources for a really long time, and we're full of great project ideas for what some might consider trash. If we can save something from polluting the Earth in a landfill, we all benefit!

Super cool, and super valuable! We already have an overabundance of all things--let's start utilizing the resources we already have rather than pillaging the Earth to make and consume more more more!

Sweet! Thanks for posting this.
I love the way tires are being used, but personally am not really interested in pounding them full of dirt. It's a great idea, for other people. :P
It's interesting that some wouldn't use tires for fear of toxicity, but would use heat-treated lumber and/or railroad ties - both of which have some nasties in them.

That's an interesting point, @anotherjoe! It's definitely interesting to see where people draw the lines for "good" and "bad", and potentially more interesting to see what escapes many people's awareness completely. As you point out, who considers the chemicals that go into treating wood? For another example, does anyone consider how far their organic produce had to travel to get to the store they're buying it from, and all the petroleum that goes into that, and where all the taxes go that are paid out at every step of the production process? Does anyone consider the amount of death and destruction that goes into producing toilet paper? There are many layers to what makes an option truly sustainable, and there is much opportunity for people to go deeper. There are so many ways to build a better world!!

Wow! Great line of thinking. You are accomplishing so much, and there are nuances that most never consider.
I'm still needing an alternative toilet paper. Out here in the desert, our options might not be as available as other locations. We wrestle with how much water use is "sustainable" as well.

WOW! Tire sandals. I never would have thought of that!
Right now I'm in a temporary home so once my husband and I can afford to buy some land, our goal is to be as self-sustained as possible. I'll be honest, I don't think I could go all out gardenofeden style, but I can do my part and keep as much garbage out of the landfills.

Right, we may not be able to do everything, but we can do something!
One of the amazing opportunities that exists at the Garden of Eden is that we can come together with like-minded individuals to accomplish a focused vision, and each person can contribute their resources towards that. There's more than enough land; we don't all have to be land owners! Some people contribute physical resources like land because that's what they have in abundance, while someone else can contribute skills because that's what they have to give. This is the beauty of community! We don't have to do everything on our own, and when we work together it's easier for everyone!

Tire sandals eh, might try some of these bad boys for myself haha
Perfect article! :)

Thank you, so glad you're inspired! Try it out and post on Steemit--would love to see your sandals!

Great article, of course upvoted!

Thank you @future24! It's up to us to be the change!

Oh my Gosh!!! I love this post. I love bringing awareness to not only what one can do with waste, but what is really going on behind the scenes in harvesting, producing, transporting, packaging, stocking, selling , storing and trashing materials. I believe people never really think about the real ramifications of our actions as the focus is on the end product and the most up-to-date trendy thing one can possibly buy and show off to friends. Once one begins to see what we are doing to ourselves and the planet, the only honorable thing to do is to change our relationship to things.

I grew up with very few purchased resources. My dad was hyper focused on sustainability, though I didn't really know it at the time. My siblings and I are extremely creative, turning trash into treasure as making something out of nothing was not uncommon for us.

Now I live with @quinneaker, a master of sustainability. He is aware of the full spectrum of possibility and has implemented an incredibly high standard of honorable living at the Garden of Eden. He has amplified my awareness even more of what is possible in everyday living. He has suggestions on what anyone can do to lower their carbon footprint, slow the money train flowing out of their pocketbook, and simultaneously saving the planet. Even if it's only one small step at a time.

Tires are a great resource. I own a pair of tire tread shoes--I think they will last forever! I feel the greens we grow in the tires are in no danger, as I believe mother earth has a consciousness and she must be aware of the service we are providing by utilizing materials that would otherwise be sitting in devastating enormous piles of other human waste.

It's so fun and rewarding to wisely use our resources and to make something beautiful and useful from otherwise trashed materials. I'm grateful to reuse, repurpose, recycle, reclaim, upcycle and salvage. Opening my eyes more everyday.

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