Thread: Eco-friendly haunting

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Met Haunter for the first time today, it was great! Always glad to meet fellow yard haunters.

I went back to the forum and came across this thread he started March of 2008. I think this is worthy of new discussion. What are people doing to conserve? How are people saving watts? materials? Etc.

I know I am just as guilty as many others by building all of my styrofoam props but I would like to say I get a lot of my materials through various recycle centers.

Want paint? Go to your local waste disposal center and pick up as many free cans as you want.

Want lumber? Go to businesses like target and walmart and you can usually pick up pallets for free. Also check out light-industrial areas for wood and remnants. Also, check CraigsList!! I can't say enough about what you can find on CraigsList. All sorts of excess building materials can be found.

Want props? Try recycling with fellow haunters! Maybe you're tired of your toe-pincher or older tombstones? Check with other haunters in your area and see about a trade!

I'm sure there's a lot more, but this can get people going again!

OMG SparklyJ....you should write a book, "Everything you always wanted to know about dumpster diving but were afraid to ask"
You are my new hero!
Loved reading your post
And Haunter, thumbs up for at least trying to go green with your haunt!

MsM

When I was young we used to drive a couple towns over to see this guys christmas yard display. It was pretty epic. But the coolest thing off all was going over to the guys electric meter and watch how fast it was turning. I think because it became such a well known tradition in the area, that the electric company gave him a cheaper rate during the time.

As for going green with Halloween, I got to admit that I don't think twice about firing of a can of spray paint. In general we are pretty green people. We drive cars with excellent MPG, even before it was cool. We recycle more than we throw out. I even have a push reel mower instead of a gas.

But when it comes to Halloween, I am pretty bad. If I do use recycled materials it is because it is the cheap solution, or just that beat up stuff looks better.

I was dumpster diving but most of lumber is not treated and I am leaving my Gar shack prop out year around in our garden. So now I go to Home Depot and buy their scrap lumber (all pressure treated deck material) for $ 4 on a nice bundle. Built my whole shack and bench for only $ 8. Great wood too. 2x6,1x6 and some fence planks and I use every piece cut and uncut, short and long to secure weak points. I build my stuff for year around weather.... snow ,ice, wind, and rain.

I was cleaning out my garage when I came across several cans of 10-year old latex paint. I was just about to get rid of them when I remembered that I can use them for monster mud (5 parts drywall compound + 1 part latex paint). Now to think up some MM projects.

I also keep any remaining scrap wood from projects and parts from furniture that I put together. My peering tombstone prop was built using mostly leftover screws, washers, brackets, and wood. It's' always nice when you can reuse leftover parts and not have to make yet another trip to your hardware store.

I like TK421's idea of recycling or trading unused props. If you have unwanted props looking for a new haunted home, try the For Sale/Trade By Individuals section.

I recycle the aluminum cans from the "beverages" I drink while building props. Does that count?

Paper mache!

I don't think we've tossed a newspaper all year.

There's that eco friendly/bio degradable great stuff alternative foam, as well. I used it out of desperation last year. Think it would actually do better for some uses.