On this day in 1825 Ezra Daggett and Tom Kensett got a patent for storing food in tin cans. Soon picture labels were added, showing what was inside. Cans were used for everything, from fruits and vegetables to soups and juices. Today, with recycling, tin cans are more popular than ever. But before you recycle, we’ve got other ideas for you. Empty cans are great little organizers in the home and the workshop. Nailed to a wall they’re hangers for extension cords and garden hoses. They won’t cut and cause damage like nails will. Use them for mini-buckets, for paintbrushes or small leaks; they go where big buckets can’t. With holes in the bottom they make dandy pots for seedlings, or can be used for spreading grass seed, plant food and fertilizer. Get creative with tin snips and even make a windshield for your patio tiki torch. You open about 800 cans a year so you will probably run out of ideas before you run out of cans. And that’s the On The House tip for today.