When I started TheBurg, I never imagined that we’d be contributing to our area’s
horticulture. But, weirdly, that’s turned out to be the case.
You see, every month, we get a massive quantity of new issues delivered to our
office. These copies are piled high, on strong pallets, before our incredible
distribution team fans out across seven counties to bring them to the coffee shop,
diner, library, store, etc., near you.
This is when TheBurg goes from being a news product to an agricultural product.
After our delivery team loads up their vehicles, they leave behind a bunch of stuff,
most of which is then claimed and repurposed.
So, our wooden pallets have been used to build gardening beds, chicken houses and
other infrastructure. Gardeners love our large, heavy blocks of cardboard (which we
use to separate rows of bundled copies) for weed control. One avid gardener even
calls them “Binda boards,” though I can take no credit for them other than
temporary possession.
People have told me they’ve shredded old copies of TheBurg for animal bedding,
which brings to mind the old “birdcage lining” joke, but is actually fine with me. And
our local grocery store, Radish & Rye, often uses our heavy paper to protect its
glassware. This is another great use of old copies, though I find it surreal unpacking
my milk or juice only to discover my own words wrapped around a bottle.
As community advocates, we’re delighted to know that these products have a
second life and that we contribute in a small way, and, admittedly, by accident, to
the local food chain.
I bring this topic up because April is our annual “Home and Garden” issue. This year,
we’re a bit heavier on “garden” than usual, but that seems appropriate with so many
people today growing their own vegetables, fruit, flowers and plants.
So, enjoy all of our content—agricultural and otherwise—and, once you’re done
reading, maybe you can find a novel and environmentally friendly way to repurpose
and reuse your own copy of TheBurg.
Lawrance Binda
Publisher/Editor
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