Friday, August 15, 2008

Freecycle

Yahoo has created a unique way to give things away and also receive things free. Freecycle has been around for a while now and it has hundreds of local "groups." I belong to the Mid Michigan Freecycle Network and I have been able to give many things away and also acquire some good stuff, all for free!

Things I gave away:

Nice telescope
1950's portable kitchen table and 2 chairs
A lot of perennials
Older pots and pans
Reese hitch
3 Roosters (2 Cuckoo Marans and an Ameracauna)
Quail Eggs (I gave these to a nice lady who loved my chickens)
Laundry sink
2 Lazy Boy style chairs

Things I have received:

Ice cream maker
Wood stove for Ruth's studio
Nice telescope (same one I received! I wasn't using it)

I highly recommend this as a way to recycle your stuff that is collecting dust, and also as a way you can get some stuff you need/want.

You can post either a want ad or an offer ad. Everything is free. The people I have run across have all been "salt of the earth" kinds of people.

I encourage you to click on the link and take a look. You are able to check right away if there is a local group for you to join. You may need to open a Yahoo account (free). You can then go and look at the messages that have been posted and find out if someone has something you'd like, or maybe someone is looking for something you would like to get rid of.

I like the idea of this, and I support it!

20 comments:

Bob Johnson said...

Don, too funny you gave away the same telescope you got for free on the same freecycle, which by the way sounds cool going to check it out, again another cool link I got from you, thanks.

Anet said...

I'm already signed up for this same Freecycle group. I just haven't done anything with it yet.
It's nice to know that you recommend this. Thanks Don, I'll check it out a little more.
Are you ready for Back-to-School?
I have until Sept 15th before I go back!

Amy said...

Ah, so THAT'S what happened to those extra roosters! I like Freecycle too. I have used it to get rid of unwanted timber from trees that fell this spring. Now, perhaps someone with a 1956 Porsche 356 roadster would be kind enough to give it to me...

Ginnie Hart said...

I get e-mails every day, Don, from the group I belong to. We have never received anything but we HAVE given something away: a riding lawn mower! It really is a great service.

Anonymous said...

I also belong to Freecycle and promote it frequently with my friends.

I have responded to people wanting items but have never received anything from it as yet but you never know what people want to give away.

Loring Wirbel said...

There's a couple places in town with Freecycle book bins, and I always find it odd to notice which books I am eager to give up so others can read them, and which ones I consider my private treasures that I'll never part with. Things that inspire don't have value if they're not shared, but we can sometimes get very hung up on our stuff.

Country Girl said...

That is a great idea! I will check it out for sure. Thanks for sharing the link! ~Kim

Sharon said...

It is great. I love the idea of exchanges and am always puzzled when people want payment for something they no longer need. There isn't a group near me (no big surprise there) but we've always had our own little low tech freecyle. Our little post office has a large chalk board where everyone writes what they have or what they are looking for....it's where we found Larry's kiln. Right now there's a free ice fishing hut if anyone's interested in spending the winter sitting over a frozen hole! :)

Anonymous said...

I've heard of it, but don't think I've actually checked it out. I'm off to hunt for stuff! :)

Don said...

bob: I wish I had kept it now that I have an expert who could have told me what to look at...

anet: It is interesting to see what kinds of things are available. I like the getting rid of stuff part!

I am sitting in my classroom right now avoiding all the work I need to do to get ready. I do get excited once I get my list of students and get started on the what, where, when, why and how of school!

Is the 15th when you go back to your home schooling duties?

Don said...

Amy: yes that is how I disposed of the roos. A very nice lady from a few towns over has a farm and wanted to hear roosters crowing again, so I was more than happy to oblige! She fell in love with my cochins and I gave her a partridge cochin pullet. (Mostly because I felt guilty giving her three roosters!) She has a divided coop so she can keep the pullet away from the boisterous boys.

I would like a 1955 pickup of some sort! I'll let you know if I see your Porsche.

ginnie: a riding lawn mower! You must have received a gazzillion requests for that!

Don said...

carole: It is a nice way to feel like a part of a greater community. I have given way more than I have received. Except now Ruth and Lesley (daughter) want me to collect wooden chairs, so I am going to post that next week!

loring: It is so true that I can get hung up on stuff that I consider valuable and simply cannot part with. That sounds like the topic for an interesting post!

country girl: Freecycle is a great thing. I want to make some of that laundry soap you just blogged about. Lavender scented?

Don said...

sharon: You should get the ice fishing hut (we call them "shanties") and turn it into a chicken coop!

I have a kiln, do I need the blower on the bottom or can I just use the kiln as it is?

Don said...

jen: happy hunting! Let us know if you find anything good, or get rid of anything.

Anet said...

Hey Don, the 15th is the date I start back to teaching preschool.
I teach 3 mornings a week. Right in your old neighborhood at Holy Cross. It works out with homeschooling Noah because I'm home by about 12:30pm. He is watched by his siblings or his grandmother until I get home. Noah and I have already started our homeschooling. He's a 3rd grader!
We are doing a Civil War unit and The Spiderwick Choronicles unit. I make up the units myself. I tie in math, read, writing, art and the best of all imagination into each themes we do. I think I have just as much fun as Noah! Oh this weekend we are headed to Jackson to check out the Civil War Muster.
I hope you have a great year at school!

laura said...

Freecycle is such a great idea! There aren't any groups within 60 miles of me though. Around here yard sales are all the rage--and a considerable traffic hazard!

sandy said...

I've heard about this. I'll have to check it out when I get the time, especially since I have a lot of nice items that i don't need anymore.

Loring Wirbel said...

Ruth just let the big news slip about the award - WAHOO! Congrats!

Don said...

anet: Sounds like a great plan, on all fronts! We used to have mini Civil War reenactments at our school, complete with a cannon and musket fire! The lady with those connections retired and alas so did the war. Nothing can replace seeing, smelling and hearing.

Laura: I love yard sales! I used to take my mom around every Saturday and we were the queen and king of "yarding."

Don said...

sandy: you'll get hooked! It does feel good to give things away to people who can use the stuff.

loring: thank you! It is a nice little recognition.