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Monday, January 7, 2008

Have something good that needs a new home? Freecycle it.

It's funny how often there are things we do on a regular basis that we just assume others know about. Well, Freecycle fits that bill quite nicely.

For those of you who are unfamiliar, freecycle is an organization that works via email that you join and then can give or get stuff as you need it. I came across it when we had an older queen size mattress to get rid of that was in good condition. Salvation Army et.al wouldn't take it and I heard about freecycle. I joined (it's free) posted it, and immediately got three emails. It was gone by that evening and what's more, it went to a lovely single mom who had been sharing her bed with her son due to a lack of funds. She was so excited about it and we felt great giving it away. Craigslist also has a free section, but I've had better luck with freecycle, I think it attracts a different crowd for some reason. I get the daily digests and more than once have found something that I want/need and gotten it for free.

Check it out.

Dave


3 comments:

Greengo said...

Glad to see somebody else promoting this...

Seza said...

In Minneapolis we have a wonderful site called Free Market, which promotes exchanges between neighbors. It works like Craig's List, but closer to home and more intimate. Check it out.

www.twincitiesfreemarket.org

Anonymous said...

Well D, thanks for the suggestion... I dropped a few things through the site, got rid of them effortlessly, and have since been making my way through the house. It's amazing how much stuff we hang on to just because we don't know how to get rid of it. And it's not going off to Goodwill where they might use it, or they might throw it away or it may sit undiscovered. You get to physically give it to someone who really wants it, will really use it, and may even pass it on to someone else when they're done. It repurposes stuff, keeps the consumption and waste down, and helps build the community. Upside, upside, upside.