Too many corks!

Like many on the WLDG, I'd guess, years ago I started saving corks from wine bottles I'd opened. This was true for wines opened at home or when we went out to dinner. I'd even discriminate to some extent and not keep anything but real cork. I'd feel bad when one would fall apart or have to be pushed into the bottle and I'd feel proud when I got one of those real long ones indicating a wine meant to be aged from a well known estate or chateau.

In retrospect, I have no idea why I did this. I have resolved to throw away what I have, unless someone here wants them (I'll pay shipping), and not save any more. I need to fact facts: That wall of corks, that trivet and that corkboard message board simple isn't going to be made. I feel like I've matured somehow. Besides, I need the space for actual wine. I also note that while I've resolved to do this, I haven't done it yet.

Yeah, that's me also. Even after I shipped a large box out to someone who wanted corks for some project I have at least 3 boxes remaining and just can't seem to throw them out. Funny thing is that I don't keep the sparkling wine corks, just still wine.

I just sort of absently-minded save my corks as well. Fortunately, I've been able to find a home for them over the last 35 yrs...
there always seems to be somebody who wants them for various projects. Last garbage bag full went to our local TraderJoes
for their cork bulletin board. The guy was flabbergasted when I broughht in this huge bag full. He looked at me like...I had some
sort of problem!! Apparently, someone had noticed a SQN cork on their board and they tracked me down and connected me
up with the guy.
My kids used to like to dump them on the (carpeted) hallway & spread them out, thenstart back in the living room, take a
good run, then belly-flop onto them and slide the length of the hallway. And, of course, it was always Dad that had to
clean up the mess.
Tom

My kids used to like to dump them on the (carpeted) hallway & spread them out, then start back in the living room, take a
good run, then belly-flop onto them and slide the length of the hallway. And, of course, it was always Dad that had to
clean up the mess.

Belly-flop on to corks - that's different! On the 100th day of school, 1st or 2nd grade I think, students were supposed to bring in 100 of something. Needless to say, my kids would bring 100 corks. I'm sure a few eyebrows were raised. I can hear the teacher now: "And what does your daddy do?"

BTW - Congrats, Tom, on your 1,000th post recently!

BTW - Congrats, Tom, on your 1,000th post recently!

Thanks, Jon. To tell the truth...I hadn't noticed.
Usually when people start tossing out big numbers w/ my name..they're funnin' me on my age!!!
Tom

Jon,

I have heard of this nation wide cork recycling program. I Googled it up, I see Whole Foods takes corks for recycling and one of my favorite wine shops here has a recycling program. Something to think about.

Michael

The guy was flabbergasted when I broughht in this huge bag full. He looked at me like...I had some
sort of problem!!

That gave me quite a laugh because the same thing has happened to me. I keep my old corks in one of those big glass water cooler jugs. Anytime someone comes over that does not know me well and sees the jug full of corks, their eyes practically pop out. Then they usually say something like, "Holy crap! You drank all that wine?!"

I thought I read some where a few years ago that a guy made a boat out of wine bottle corks.

I have heard of this nation wide cork recycling program. Something to think about. Michael

Thanks Michael - I would much rather recycle than just throw them out. I even wondered what they'd do to my compost bin.

Hi Jon,

I save my corks also. My wife and son made a bulletin board out of them that is in our kitchen. It's fun to look and at the corks and remember the wines. It's also scary when you draw a blank sometimes.

Depends on if it's worth your while, but they go for about $3-10 per hundred on eBay.

http://completed.shop.ebay.com/items/Multi-Purpose-Craft-Supplies__used-corks?MA2ShowItems&_trksid=p3286.c0.m283&_rdc=1&_sacat=28102&_fln=1&_catref=1&LH_Complete=1&guest=1

Walt

1- glue them on your cellar door.

2 - put them together to make trivets out of them

3 - dump them in a planter as an interesting mulch (friends did this on an inside planter and it was a converstaion piece)