Having cooked professionally for years, I am a firm believer in having the right tool for the job. A tool designed for the task can make work less frustrating and often yields a finished result that is of a higher quality. (Have I told you how in love I am with my stand mixer?) Sometimes the right tool is expensive, but it should last and last. Twenty years ago I spent a lot of money on a chef knife, and continue to use it daily. That said, (and having defended my buying habits) I also believe that sometimes the right tool doesn’t have to be expensive. Sometimes it doesn’t cost anything at all.
I needed a scoop for the laying hen pellets. I had just used up the last of the laundry detergent.
I took the cardboard cutting scissors and went to work.
Not hard work, though. In two minutes I’d made my scoop.
Some perfect tools, like my knives, are beautiful. My grain scoop is not. But, using it makes me feel virtuous and clever. The chickens don’t care a whit about beautiful and told me that it works just fine.
You can make my scoop, or you can construct a plastic scoop that is far more attractive. I found a Korean blog that has a multitude of clever ways to repurpose plastic cartons, including this scoop. It’s much prettier than mine, but mine holds more pellets!
Clearly the girls approve your recycling efforts.
I’ve been using an old one quart yogurt container but clearly the laundry soap scoop is an improvement I am going to make. Today. I just happen to have an empty one, ready to go into recycling. Presto – I shall repurpose it instead.
I may have to use this idea. I love it!!
It’s one of those things that seems obvious when you see it, but don’t necessarily think of yourself. I used a yogurt container as a scoop for years!
Each feed bin near my 2 hen runs has a custom-made scoop made from a 4-pint milk container. When one eventually bites the dust, I cut another, just like yours, Terry! Free and reused always gives a warm glow, I find!!
Meant to ask the name of the Korean blog, please! ;-)
Click on the word “blog” and it will send you there. I don’t know the name, it’s all in Korean! :)
Google translate might help, thought it might still seem weird to read.
I love their dustpan! I have a bunch of old detergent jugs around…I’ll have to make a few, we can never find them when we want them! And then we can have “foul” dustpans and “clean” ones. Those work well for scooping up legos, to put away, too, requiring a labeled “clean” dustpan….
A lego scoop. Brilliant! I could have used that a few years back.
Great idea. I’d love to see the other ideas on the Korean site, too. “Blog” isn’t working for me though.
The link to the Korean blog is live. Enjoy!
I’m going to make some of those scoops! I have the scissors already thanks to a shopping TV impulse buy. We use them when we don’t want to chance ruining our “good” cutters. They (the cardboard scissors) are tough and get into those nasty blister packages easily.
I have a can opener that removes the rim of the can so there are no sharp edges. So far I’ve been using cans, like from vegetarian “pork” and beans or the larger Goya beans, for scoops. I do like the handle feature on your plastic bottle scoop Terry. Since I like a scoop in every bucket, I need quite a few. oats, pdz, de, layer feed, lentils, oyster shell, etc.
Interesting blog- I especially like the shoe-rack-space-saver idea! How did you find this blog?
BTW- same chef knife! -only mine is the 6″ version. I think I chose that brand after reading what the Frugal Gourmet had to say about knives!
What brand is your no-sharp-edges can opener?
oops, that was supposed to be a reply to Carol!
Suzanne, I found the Korean blog because I saw a pic of her scoop on FaceBook, but it wasn’t attributed. I feel that it’s really important to let people know where your ideas come from and to link back to their originators. The Korean’s lovely scoop had been posted by several well-known blogs, but no links! I finally found one and traced it, which was worthwhile, because the blog has other nifty and really nicely crafted containers made out of plastic cartons.
I use a plastic beaker as my scoop. I find it’s just the right size for my needs. it’s always good when you can find a use for something rather than buying something especially.
Your blog and this info on the Korean blog is thrilling! a friend sent me to HenCam yesterday when I discussed cracking an egg open and finding it chartreuse! It wasn’t spoiled, didn’t smell or taste bad, but it glowed! Your discussion on shell color cleared up a lot of questions about the brown eggs I prefer. I’ve read that people consider them “fresher,” but I think it was the late Adele Davis who said they were healthier for you, too. Perhaps that’s because they tended to be local and thus fresher.
Anyway, I’ve added HenCam to my list of blogs I love on XtremeEnglish, and I hope my readers will spend some time on your blog. It’s a wonder! My oldest daughter, who lives in Scotland and has kept hens for years, will love this, too.
Many thanks for your most entertaining and instructive blog!
Glad you found me, and thanks for the links on your blog.
I’ve used my Seventh Generation empties for the same thing!