I think that black lid would draw too much heat. I also use them for pretty much everything! Crayons, legos, old bacon grease, flower pots, hair bands, etc. Love that the handle is built in. I do have 3 clematis starts in 3 separate containers now, perfect size!

I was thinking of cutting out most of the black lid & using the remaining rim to click down over top of clear plastic w/holes in it to let rain in. That way the top would be transparent & vent heat

Yes, cutting out the lid is the way to go.
I used one once, way back about 10 years ago. It worked great.... too great. The plant got so big and was so happy in it that I put off transplanting. When I finally did transplant it was not easy getting it out of the container.

Its so deep and not very flexable, you end up cutting up the container to get the plant (s) out! So I don't use them for WSing anymore.

But
I use mine with a folded paper towel in the bottom for collecting my kitchen scraps for the compost pile. I have about 8 of them under the sink and once each is full it gets set out on the porch and when I have time I carry them to the pile.

They are easy to wash/rinse out and use again.

I have one under the sink in our bathroom to put all the bar soap "ends" into. One day I'll melt them down and make
either liquid soap or more bar soap out of them. :)

One I have stored heirloom tomato seeds in. A friend saved seeds spread on a paper towel and dried them. She wrote the name of each on the paper towel and when dry folded them up. I stick them in the coffee container and save them that way.
When ready to plant, just snip the paper towel around each seed and plant.. paper and all. They sprout just fine.

I'm trying a bunch of the smaller 14 oz coffee cans this year. I found it easier to toss the lid and just put a plastic baggie on top with an elastic. A lot easier than trying to cut up those lids.

Melvalena My italian grandfather showed me how to save tomato seed that way and i've been using that method for 50years. I cut tomatoes that i'm eating on one towel and then press a fresh towel over it to draw off the seeds and you have instant plant tape Ric

Here is a link that might be useful: ricjo22's exchange list

Folgers containers work great, as do Maxwell House and all the others. They last a long, long time. You'll get many years out of them.

Posted by pixie_lou 5 (My Page) on Fri, Feb 3, 12 at 15:03

I'm trying a bunch of the smaller 14 oz coffee cans this year. I found it easier to toss the lid and just put a plastic baggie on top with an elastic. A lot easier than trying to cut up those lids. I don't do much of what you call "winter sowing'' but this is similar one of my favorite indoor rooting or seed starting tricks. I use the 'sandwich bags', I think they are called, and a container that is about the right size such that the bag stretches tight, sometimes clipping a corner for aeration.