We're trying to cook up a little cork-saving project for the fall and wonder how many of you would be willing to participate. The idea is to find some organization that takes used corks and uses them for something other than filling up an old fish bowl, which is what they do for us out at our mom's place where we spend the weekend. She's made some nifty trivets out of them in the past, but we're starting to think bigger. Better. Corkier.
And if anyone knows of a group that makes cork floors, ceiling tiles, or heck, even trivets, let us know.
Have you read The Cork Boat?
Muy charming.
He got restaurants in on the saving when it became clear that his friends wouldn't drink enough . . . later he got a portugese cork maker into the scheme.
I've got a ton of corks at home - I'd be happy to give them a good home if you can find one!
Here's a company that makes a mosaic-type flooring out of recycled wine corks!
http://www.corkandfloor.com/mosaic.htm
Some cross-polination between the design site and the kitchen site...
I have been saving corks for ages, to make a cork board, and I just finished it a little while ago:) But I still have tons of corks, there are only so many trivets and cork boards one can make. I would be happy to send on my extras, they are inhabiting a drawer, a bag, a basket, etc.
for what it's worth, you might want to donate the corks to an inner-city arts program. find a craft uyou could make with them and supply the directions along with the corks. then pat yerself on the back.
this is a great idea to start here in chicago, too. we normally save all the corks from the bar i work at and donate them to a woman who makes 'cork art'...but i just heard she is on an artistic hiatus, so we'll need to find a new place. i'm going to be on the lookout! thanks for the idea.
I'd donate corks but I already send them all to my father, who relishes using them in his fireplace in the winter.
He says "Cork is nice kindling; it is also neat and about the right size to stimulate a dying fire; you can place the cork in just the right place to start things up again."