DEAR SUN SPOTS: We look forward to reading the Sun Journal, which means we also get a lot of plastic bags even on days when it’s not raining or snowing.
There may be reasons I don’t understand that make it necessary to put the newspaper in the bag (I’d rather not get the bag in the first place); but now that all those blue and yellow strips have accumulated in my front hall, what should I do with them? In the past I’ve given them back to the carrier to be reused, but I wish there could be fewer used in the first place. — Jane, no town
ANSWER: All newspaper carriers are independent contractors, and they are the ones who make the decision to bag the papers. It’s not something the company requires but is done as a customer courtesy by carriers.
You could check with your carrier to see if they would skip the plastic on yours.
I don’t have a crystal ball, but I don’t see the practice of popping the newspaper into plastic bags going away entirely. I appreciate having my newspaper in a bag as it protects it from the elements. There’s dampness to contend with, and dust, dirt, and pollen flying by as vehicles drive past. The weather in Maine is so unpredictable so between the time my paper is delivered and when I actually bring it into the house, the possibility of rain, snow, wind, etc. is there. I don’t want to have a soggy, gritty paper to contend with and the plastic keeps it “fresh.”
I give the bags to family members who are grateful to have them when walking their dogs. They tie a few bags onto the dog’s leash so they’re at the ready for quick pickups.
The bags can be used to slip shoes and items that may leak into your luggage when traveling.
I’ve also seen the bags used to make “plarn” (plastic yarn for craft projects).
DEAR SUN SPOTS: In my quest to be healthy I started growing my own sprouts. They are expensive to buy and it’s great having fresh sprouts to add to my meals.
I bought a four-tray cylinder on Amazon and I’m having a problem with mold setting in. Some of the smaller seeds take up to 25 days so I keep a close eye on them, but this last batch has fuzzy, white mold on them before the 4 to5 days when they were to be ready.
I keep my house on the cool side and rinse the seeds twice daily. I’m hoping someone has an idea about what I could be doing wrong. — No name, Lewiston
ANSWER: Are you sure it’s mold and not roots forming? The new roots will have a furry appearance resembling cotton and can be mistaken for mold.
If it is mold, the sprouts will smell musty and you will see black dots. My best guess is that the sprouts don’t have enough air circulation. Try spreading the sprouts out more or using less seeds when starting out. The room could be too warm, or there could be too wet. Using filtered water is best and the vessel you are using to rinse/water the sprouts should be squeaky clean.
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