it is lunchtime, and Huhmp! no it is not; i finished my sandwich; it is no longer lunchtime. i managed to post a hasty little diddy on my mini-blog earlier, and it is raining, though there is plenty more to do today. why would someone go live in their parents' barn as an adult? interesting question. anyway, now it is time to do my chores. i have so many chores to do. can i finish them all?

(edit)
...awhile later...

...i said i was doing chores, but instead i decided to process a box of used keurig cups for reuse as blocking trays in the greenhouse. 

basic procedure: remove lid, coffee grounds and filter-paper insert, and cut an "X" in bottom.

it took me 20-40 seconds each timed, estimating 35+ seconds average
start time ~12:30?
2:05pm end time
~90 k-cups completed
so ~90 cups/~1.5 hours
=~ 60 cups/hour
i did get interrupted in the middle, and wasn't very good about noting exact time i was gone, however the  there are also certain aspaects of doing a manual procedure which add time that is not measured when counting per item, so on average i think 60 cups/hour(ave. 1 cup/min) is maybe not far off. 

https://www.amazon.com/Seedling-Starter-Germination-Labels-6-cell/dp/B00C1T2REK/ref=asc_df_B00C1T2REK
$30/1440cells = 2 cents/cell

i think maybe i am a bit far from hitting the mark on efficiently upcycling k-cups for gardening, however i have done a price analysis of larger planting tubes for seedlings before, and concluded that the economics was more favorable though certainly not a gold mine by any stretch. At the time i decided to make tubes by stacking cut up aluminum cans and filling them with dirt. However, my initial tests would suggest that cans are maybe not really all that durable for this purpose, and can get damaged when pulling the seedlings(especially if ther has been frost and they are frozen).

interesting:
https://cnas.ucr.edu/media/2023/02/10/are-coffee-pods-really-eco-friendly-truth-behind-surprising-findings

"...even though it’s important to consider how capsules are disposed of – most greenhouse gas emissions happen while coffee is being grown..."

but basically, tldr, it does add plastic waste on top of the usual carbon impact related to consuming coffee. 

https://www.npr.org/2023/01/21/1150530714/yeah-actually-your-plastic-coffee-pod-may-not-be-great-for-the-planet

https://divingmoosecoffee.com/blogs/news/the-hidden-cost-of-convenience-keurig-k-cups-and-nespresso-pods-and-their-environmental-impact

perhaps if the pods were all designed to disassemble more easily it could decrease the load on the evironment. interesting note, i found that certain brand of k-cups came appart more easily than others. it appears they are each manufactured slightly differently, and have different modling of the cup itself, as well as different levels of adhesion between the different lids and filters and cups. perhaps a different glue that peels better would make them more recycleable.

Well that was kind of a tedious little project. i still have plenty more cups to process. perhaps i should just throw them out. or maybe i should put them neatly in a corner of the greenhouse incase trump decides he to double down on tariffs and prices go through the roof.

i guess now i'll go see if i can find something more cost effective to do for the rest of the day.