Here's a clever way to use old newpapers to get a "tape" measure harvest. Make seed tapes...it's a great cold-weather project that'll save you loads of planting time in the garden.
Seed tapes are strips of paper with seeds adhered down the center of each strip and evenly spaced. When you plant the strip, the paper and glue decompose and you are left with perfectly spaced crops.
To make seed tapes
1. Rip old newspaper into one inch long strips tearing
from the top to the bottom of the page. Use only black & white sections since colored print can emit toxins into your soil.
2. Make glue using 1/4-cup water to one-cup all-purpose flour.
3. Dab each seed with the flour-water glue and stick them in the center of the strip. Be sure the seeds are spaced evenly apart--check the back of your seed packet for the recommended amount of space between each seed.
4. When the glue is dry, roll up the strips and place in separate sealable plastic bags. To keep the seeds dry add one tablespoon of salt. It's also a good idea to place the seed packet into the respective seed bag. That way, in the spring, you'll know exactly how to plant them.
5. Store in a cool place, such as a basement, until spring.
6. When it's time to plant your seed tapes, lay each strip seed side up in rows several inches deep. Cover with soil and water.
Come next spring, you'll have beautifully spaced plants at a fraction of the effort.