Oh, Beautiful Jars, How I love Thee!

Let me start by saying that I am not a crazed environmentalist, a "tree hugger", but I am very concerned about our planet, and I do love trees of all kinds. I am especially fond of the Eucalyptus tree, with that soft, smooth bark. Those are trees that I hug every chance I get (and there are many in my village). I'm sure I get a few raised eyebrows, but who cares? I am too engrossed in the texture and fragrance to care. But I digress... this post is about jars. So how does this connect? Well, environmentally speaking, I find it just a little crazy that people buy products in glass jars, eat or use the product, then toss the jar. Then, they make a pot of beans, and upon finding they have leftovers, they put the beans in a plastic container that they purchased for that very thing. A perfectly beautiful jar , wasted (yes, jars can be beautiful!), and there are so many other uses for them as well! I have the rubber bands that once held a bunch of broccoli together stashed in a little, square jar that pesto came in. I have alligator clips waiting patiently in a pasta jar. And then there is that octagon shaped jar that the clover honey came in... swoon, swoon....   So here's the thing: I always really look at a jar before tossing it out (into the recycle bin, of course), because you just never know...