Albert, they don't come apart when they are completely planted next to each other and under soil. You can't use them as self-contained pots! If you look at the last picture on the first post, you can see them in the lasagna pan and kitty litter box. There is no way for them to fall apart.... that is until you take them out to plant. Then they might, but by that time you're done anyway! My husband built me a cold frame out of PVC pipe. Inside the cold frame, I have a couple of skids/pallets to keep the containers up off the ground. (A couple of years ago I had my containers on the patio and some slugs found their way inside! The nerve!!) The total cost for the cold frame was about about $20.00. It comes apart for easy summer/fall storage. Living in a condo, the neighbors wouldn't like to see me set up my old recyclables in full view on my patio. I have to at least try and be descrete... well somewhat anyway! (complain to me, they WILL be rewarded with a w/s plant)

I don't want to hijack Elizabeth's thread, but I am going through the same, only have a much worse problem. My projects get really big, and I realize that in the past the boxes or baskets I have used haven't been deep enough. I was a The Old Time Pottery last weekend, - they've got a number of stores in Atlanta and I don't know if they are elsewhere. They were selling "lingerie chests" with drawers that are about the size needed for 8.5 x 11 papers, or folded legal size paper. So I bought the only 2 they had (one was their floor sample, already assembled!) and have started sticking projects in that. I have already realized I'll probably need paperweights to keep the larger piles from getting out of control and sticking so the drawers can't open. The chest is about 45" high, and the drawers look square - I would say about 14" x 14". I am planning on using these drawers and maybe if I need them some boxes. I've tried baskets before, and realize that one reason they don't work for me is that they are so heavily textured that the papers get caught by the woven strips, or it's uncomfortable for me to stick my hands in. So far, I've scoooped up the project piles on my morning room table, which serves as a desk. As long as the drawers remain easy to open (i.e., good, lasting construction of cheap furniture, as well as controlling the piles by dividing into sub-projects, if needed), this might work for me.

Thanks Luthien! What a great idea. I took a papermaking class years ago, but you make it seem easier somehow. I think an old window screen could be used too, I have some of the ones that you insert into the window and slide open. Maybe I could take one apart. The trick would be getting the right size of transparency. I've also seen amazing things made with the pulp. Once you squeeze most of the water out of it, the pulp can be used to sculpt shapes. If anyone is interested in that aspect just google paper pulp sculpture or paper mache sculpture. kathy

Meatloaf can bring out the best and the worst in people. Some throw temper tantrums and stomp their feet if you don't bury it in 2" of the condiment their life centers around! (Ask me how I know -HA!). Fortunately most are rational and can reminisce without screaming and shouting. :) Normally I like a mixture of meats. Ground beef, pork sausage and pepperoni are popular here. Binders can vary. I happen to like onion, pepper and celery in it at times too but it depends on the type of meatloaf I'm making. Occasionally I make sort of a "pizza meatloaf" with a pizza sauce and pizza geared flavorings, even some mozzarella in it. I make meatloaf a number of different ways. It doesn't "have" to be one way for me to enjoy it. Normally I prefer bread (whole grain or multi-grain works great) cracker crumbs or something rather than the dried breadcrumbs. I like a crust on meatloaf. Finally there's getting to be more people admitting they like it and gear a recipe toward it. I find that interesting. I use eggs in there usually. But that doesn't always glue it together, I've had crumbly loaves and meatballs with more and less egg. I've found that how much it's packed makes a difference too. Sometimes I like it more dense, sometimes I like it more crumbly. I've never had great success with the bacon wrapped meatloaves but might give it another try sometime. Especially if I put it on the grill but then someone will throw a tantrum if it's not boiled in catchip, I suppose! :D I like different types of seasonings again depending on mood. Sometimes Spikes, Jane's, my own rib rub or a variation or whatever is around. I don't get into the packaged seasonings. I like less sodium and MSG. Usually a dash of hot sauce goes in there. Sometimes some bacon, sometimes some parmesan... Like I said, I'm not locked into one type of meatloaf. Here is a link that might be useful: Not everyone is ashamed. Some take pride in the double wide. Jolene's Tamale Loaf