Plant a forest using un-recyclable tetrapack cartons, payback some of the oxygen you have used and give something to future generations.

Use those un-recyclable tetrapack cartons to plant acorns.
The perfect Christmas gift.

If you start planting oaks now,........

(unless you're really old, infertile, imprisoned or suffer a horrible accident or debilitating disease),

.........you will be able to bring your children and grandchildren to sit under and enjoy these trees.

Step 1 Motivation.

My local Re-cycling facility does not re-cycle tetra-packs,(paper cartons).

I tried to think of a use for them.

To my suprise, I discovered that some of them have an Aluminium lining.

I turned one inside out and it was not unnatractive.

Thus my Christmas plan to give every one a baby oak tree in a recycled pot can now be realised.......


Collect some acorns and a tetrapack.

Comments

[nearyjm64]

For anyone who wanted suggestions on different containers... I used 2 liter soft drink bottles.  I cut the top off of the container about 3 inches below the cap.  Then I filled the container with potting soil, with several drainage holes at the bottom.
I started my tree project in the fall.  Before I launched on my endeavor, I collected about 50 acorns from under a large oak tree.  I placed them in a bucket and put about a quarter inch of water in the bottom of the bucket.  Within 2 weeks, many (but not all) of the acorns sprouted a "tap root" about 2 inches long.  This root is what lays the foundation for the oak tree.  I took the acorns that had sprouted a tap root and placed each one in their own separate bottle.  I kept all of the bottles in my shed during the winter and watered them weekly to prevent the soil from drying out.  When transplanting in the spring, take care to not damage the tap root.

[i_am_an_awesome_fish]

 What a beautiful little tree! I am trying to grow acorns with my pre-school class. We planted some that had already started to sprout, so fingers crossed!

[Klaus Baude 123]

Wow...this was inspirational. Too bad I dont ever use Tetra packs. Do you think you could make an instructabl on how to grow trees in other containers?

[notker]

nice tipp: http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-organic-planting-pots-using-old-newspa/?ALLSTEPS

[notker]

you can grow it in any type of container/area if it's big enough ideas: shoes,cans,garden;(),neighbours' garden,...,half winebottle;

[ronmaggi]

The whole turning inside uoy thing seems like it is for aesthetic reasons. If you are using this technique to start a tree nursery, do you still need to turn the carton inside out? Thanks for the i'ble. We go through A LOT of tetra pack cartons!!!

[Ariel Kyrou]

Dear Friend of Humanity, I don't understand why you say Tetra Pak cartons are "un-recyclable", as they are ?

[iraqniphobia]

He says in step number 1 that he can't recycle them at his local recycling plant. So for him (and many others who's centers do not recycle them) they might as well be un-recyclable.

[polo99a9]

great work. and great idea. I will try this. too bad not to many people do this. good luck.

[I_am_Canadian]

Im having a lot of trouble turning these inside-out. Any tips? Please? Anyone?

[FriendOfHumanity]

Dear I_am_Canadian, I only used the ones with aluminium foil inside, maybe they are tougher. I did it slowly and gently and evenly, bit by bit. I don't know if this helps you at all , but I assure you that it can be done and should only take a few minutes. Good Luck. FriendOfHumanity.

[I_am_Canadian]

Ok, Thanks. I have kindof taken up growing Citrus Fruits now. If I can ever get a tetrapack inside-out thought, I will do this.

[nicolasjara]

Hi. I just post to tell my experience about tetrapack. I'm from Chile. Here we have a foundation called "Un techo para Chile". They work giving basic houses to homeless people. The houses are made of tetrapack recycled. The container in the image =>http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/6382/articles2272fotoportadamm8.jpg is made of tetrapack boxes.
Just a comment, don't misunderstand it. Anyway it's a great Instructable. You have my vote, FriendOfHumanity.

[FriendOfHumanity]

Dear Nicolasjara, That's great news.I was interested enough to look it up and found another link about Tetrapak houses, in the Philippines. www.tetrapak.com.ph/recyclingnews.html My favourite thing of this type is the brick bottle: When Mr.Heineken went to the Caribbean, he saw the amount of discarded bottles and the lack of building materials and tried to solve this www.inhabitat.com/2007/10/11/heineken-wobo-the-brick-that-holds-beer/ It really is worth a look. Anyway its amazing to me that all bottles are not made this way. Best Wishes FriendOfHumanity.

[jehan60188]

This is pretty neat; now I just need to start using tetrapacks!

[I_am_Canadian]

Im doing it. Great work. And I love your name, "freindofhumanity". lol

[altomic]

really cool idea.

I thought about starting my an "Oak nursery" on my in-laws farm.

Start it now and then when in 50 years when the Oaks are a little bigger (and I need cash) I would sell them.

I thought about containing them in the big poly bags that are used for paper recycling for shops.

Don't know if other countries use them but in australia they are about 1metre*1metre* 1metre.

plant the trees.

set up a solar watering system.

check on them once a year or so.

unfortunately the farm is no longer an option.

this site is a place for dreamers

how do you get an elephant up an oak tree?
-tell it stand on an acorn and wait.

[Tamoko2]

What a great idea... Off to search for acorns!

[FunkLiberationFront]

Great instructable! I hope you will post follow up pictures as the acorns sprout and grow.

[zanthia]

tetra pak IS recyclable... it's just not common in the usa (the recycling)

[omnibot]

Really? How? Tetras are common as muck here (Sweden) and I know we're just supposed to put them with the combustiables. Also, love the instructable.

[zanthia]

I don't know the details of it, but I know its possible for them to be recycled. The UK is big on it. They don't do it where I live (they don't recycle much of anything), which makes me mad every time I drink milk or juice.
http://www.tetrapakrecycling.com/

[qetuo]

I know how you fell my county can't recycle, this, or that. It is pathetic really. What they will and wont do. But i like the instructible it is a really good idea, you could plant all types of things in there, then just bury it in the ground and the roots would punch through the tetra.

[omnibot]

Thanx .. I'll start getting on peoples nerves at once.

[double2]

I have been cleaning, cutting, and saving my tetra paks. I plan on stapling them on the dogs house like shingles, to reflect the brilliant sun (which is maybe why they are turned inside out). After I have enough saved for the outside of the dog house I will continue saving them but rinse and keep intact. The will be usedon the inside of doghouse as a "dead air space" insulation and papercreted(plastered) over.

[HewgO]

Nice Instructable. Clear, simple and for a good cause. Also, nice photoshop in the end >:)

[FriendOfHumanity]

Well done Hewg0, I was waiting for someone to spot that.

[The Dark Ninja]

Is there a place to buy oak nuts/seeds to plant? I live in Sicily and would like to plant a few out this way. Seeing as how there are none here. (Military... Gov't Housing. I think I could plant it in a pot and take it home w/ me and plant it there.)

[ironsmiter]

sadly, I think the whole non-native species thing may be an issue. True, oaks don't even start acorning till they're 20-50 years old... but there probably is still some kind of import restriction. another important factoid is, only around one in 10,000 acorns actually makes it to the tree stage naturally. You may be better off considering a nice local cherry or olive tree, if you're "returning home" to a temperate enough climate.

[toomuch]

Nice idea & nice instructable, thanks for contributing. Also, thanks for listing the ways in which one might not be able to enjoy the trees with children & grandchildren. ;) I think you left a few possibilities out, for instance: One might be unable to find a partner. Babies become illegal. Not enough people recycle tetrapacks and the earth boils up from the global warming. Ha ha, just trying to have fun :)

[Alienor]

Very nice but tetrapacs ARE recyclable.....come over to Europe and learn how to do it...;-) We have some really large companies doing this and earning lots of money.

[wocket]

what a great idea.

[Kevvixx]

One Word. Awesome.

[GorillazMiko]

Simple to say.

You got my vote.

_{(and rating)}

[silver912targa]

Turning the tetra-pack inside out is just for the aesthetics, right? And you choose oak trees because they live long? Why not chestnuts, they're easy to grow and give nuts (or fruit?) to eat. That's a double gain isn't it. Thanks for your post. Michel Portugal

[liam01]

Tetrapack can be recycled into envelopes. I know this become i am about to sell them. liking the idea, i shall start collecting cartons strait away.

[liam01]

because*

[iraqniphobia]

I've always wanted to be like Elzéard Bouffier! Now with this, I can one up him!

[dacker]

Did you see the animated film, "The Man Who Planted Trees?" It is one of the most memorable and moving films I have ever seen.

My wife and I, then childless, first saw it at an animation film festival on Christmas Eve. When it finally came-out on VHS, we bought it -- and again when it was available on DVD. Every Christmas Eve, the whole family watches it together; it's a new tradition.

It's available via Netflix.

[iraqniphobia]

Yes, I have! It is a very moving animation.I saw it streamed on the internet, and I made quite a few other people watch it.