Chilly Bins / Ice Boxes / Fish Boxes with Lids - TAKEN
TAKEN - Polystyrene cooler boxes. Ideal for protecting temperature-sensitive items during travel/moving or heading out to bach. 9 for collection, Kohimarama. contact letsplay@kohibowls.org
RE-PURPOSE OR RE-USE
Bringing on seeds – put seedlings in a pot inside and put a sheet of glass on top, creating a ready-made glass house that never loses its stable temperature.
Planters for the garden.
A window box that keeps plants warm through winter, so you can have vegetables all year.
Bringing on leeks and carrots. If they are planted in deep soil in the box, they will grow straight and tall, looking for the sunlight.
A good selection of mixed herbs will fit in one box. Grow on a kitchen window, you need never miss out on fresh herbs
Grow mushrooms in the box (mushroom-growing kits are easily found online).
Use a box to bring chilled and frozen food back from the shops.
Take on a picnic to keep food at the right temperature (cold or hot).
Take cold or hot meals to relatives.
Store kids’ toys, e.g. building bricks, without all the clattering noise of getting them out of a plastic box.
Use as packing boxes for small special valuables when you move house.
Store dry pet food in them – with the lid on, the smell won’t get out.
Use in a car to store used nappies on a journey, until you can dispose of them properly (the boxes are smell-proof as well as heat-proof).
Poll: Should all neighbours have to contribute to improvements?
An Auckland court has ruled a woman doesn’t have to contribute towards the cost of fixing a driveway she shares with 10 neighbours.
When thinking about fences, driveways or tree felling, for example, do you think all neighbours should have to pay if the improvements directly benefit them?
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82.3% Yes
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15% No
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2.7% Other - I'll share below
What is happening to our services?
Hi Neighbours
I'm concerned as to the level of services in our city, while our rates keep going up!
A short while ago we had 3 bins damaged in 1 rubbish-day pick-up. It took close to 6 weeks to resolve and I had to repeatedly follow-up progress as the case was closed 2x without any action - one of those instances stated they "couldn't find the bins" but they had never moved from the kerb side they are collected from since they got damaged.
Similarly I reported a small water leak on 1-Aug to Watercare just outside our property, on council land. I heard nothing back and the stream of water running grew and grew. I followed it up last week, only to be told it had been thoroughly investigated and it was not a Watercare issue. If I wanted to resolve it, I could pay a plumber. Yesterday I saw the water reader and said to him the running water is a problem - he agreed. I re-reported it and today it is being fixed - by Watercare - as it is gushing. They repairers assured me it is for sure a Watercare issue.
What can we do about this? We don't pay faulty money - but we get faulty service. It's not good enough.
What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?
Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.