Johannesburg – It is a dilemma that confronts you only in the warmer months of the year.
In winter, the choice is simple – a bag of oranges wins hands down, every time, all the time! Anyone who has ever spent more than 10 minutes at their local fresh produce or supermarket – when oranges are not in season – contemplating the strengths and weaknesses of a sack containing butternut to that of onions, knows what I’m talking about.
There is no substitute for the infamous orange mesh sack.
The inimitable orange mesh has many uses.
In the kitchen it has saved many a drain from blockage. Ask any family that cooks pap in large quantities the secret to keeping the drain runny and they will tell you it is several layers of orange mesh that stop the mashy water from clogging the pipes.
In the bathroom, it keeps even the most stubborn of grimes off grouts. And it is the loofah of choice for some – and with plenty of tips on how to fold, cut and sew the perfect scrubbie, it does not have to mess up your decor.
Those who love arts and crafts swear by its versatility at the hands of an up-cycling enthusiast.
Placemats, earring holders, and even hats have been made from the humble orange sack. Sneakerheads have them in varying stages of wear and tear – and they are more trusted than a brand new soft cleaning brush.
So, it was no surprise that a scurry like no other ensued in my household when I realised that I had left the important task of unpacking some fresh produce, including the first sack of oranges bought this winter to chance.
It goes without saying that whoever unpacks the oranges determines the fate of the orange sack. And if that responsibility is left to a member of the family whose ID number starts with a zero, there’s no telling what will happen to the poor sack.
It was this realisation that jolted me out of bed – my first orange sack of the year may be in a garbage bin.
A dash outside confirmed my fears, not only was the bin wheeled out the yard the night before, but at that time of the morning, the garbage truck had long driven past.
I went back into the house deflated.
I will have to wait until I buy another sack of oranges to get a fresh sack and wait for some fresh inspiration on how to use it.
Earrings made of the orange mesh complete with miniature oranges made of clay are selling out on Etsy.
All 467 pairs were gone just last month, not counting the hundreds of garlic, apple and peach designs – all sold out for a little under R180 a pair.
The 23-year-old Canadian-based entrepreneur behind the designs cannot make them fast enough.
It is true that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. In this case, one woman’s scourer is another woman’s cash cow.
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