Ever since Laura mentioned Freecycling in her comments on my Reserve Storage Space post last week, I've been posting several items per day, and to my surprise, offloading them within 24-48 hours! It's yet another social network I'm glad to have joined. The primary motivation of its members is environmental – to ensure items stay out of landfills. As the instructions indicate, nothing is too small to post.
In less than a week, I've given away:
- a plant
- watch (with dead battery)
- swimming goggles
- meditation tapes
- books
- pictures
- scale
- clock
Each person has been friendly, grateful, and dependable. I've had a dad and his kids stop by, a young guy just getting started, a guy who works for Amtrak, and some older women. Some people grab and go, while a few have chatted for a bit.
It is a nice, new way to connect with others in the community, as well as meet the people who intend to use my stuff (as opposed to dropping it all off at the Salvation Army as I've done until now). It's working so well, my apartment is starting to feel increasingly empty.
Welcome! The Freecycle Networkâ„¢ is made up of 4,138 groups with 3,948,000 members across the globe. It's a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It's all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills. Each local group is moderated by a local volunteer (them's good people). Membership is free. To sign up, find your community by entering it into the search box above or by clicking on ” Browse Groups”? above the search box. Have fun!
Find your community through the Freecycle Network today, and start giving (or taking, if you're in that mode)!
Dave is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Go Backpacking and Feastio. He's been to 66 countries and lived in Colombia and Peru. Read the full story of how he became a travel blogger.
Planning a trip? Go Backpacking recommends:
- G Adventures for small group tours.
- World Nomads for travel insurance.
- Hostelworld for booking hostels.
- Rail Europe for train passes.
Laura
Saturday 13th of October 2007
Yea, you, Dave! I agree -- it is wonderful meeting people who will actually make use of your "trash." For me, this is all part of the process and when possible, I like to choose the path which provides me some personal fulfillment. Freecycling has done that for me.
I, too, used to give my stuff away anonymously -- mostly to Goodwill. Now I give most of my clothes to Wearable Collections -- Michael (he recycles -- that rhymes! :lol: ) and his partners started the business to recycle actual fabric from donated clothes -- the $$, if not otherwise redirected elsewhere, goes to a paralysis research center, in honor of his paralyzed friend. I feel so good giving him the clothes I no longer want.
True, some Freecyclers just come and get my stuff. Others want to make a connection with me. Today I just gave away a whole bunch of Christmas decorations to a woman and her daughter.
In addition to the "goodwill" that I have received from my fellow Freecyclers, I just received this most amazing note from one young woman new to the city who was recipient of some of my unused kitchen items: "My parents are visiting me from China now. I told them about you and how we got those lovely gifts, they are very impressed and touched by your generosity. This is very unusual in China, so you gave a great impression of America too."
How amazing is that!? I don't know about you, but part of my desire to travel the world is not only to educate myself of other cultures, mindsets, etc., but to show those who may not get to actually know a U.S. citizen and probably have a pretty bad impression of us overall, that we're not all that bad. The journey begins at home, I suppose! I was blown away.
I'm so glad you're having these positive experiences and that you're helping to minimize the growth of our landfills!
Dave
Sunday 14th of October 2007
Wow, you've got some good stories happening!
I've also been thinking about how the network can be helpful once I return home, and am trying to re-establish myself on a tight budget.
I just posted by spice collection - yet more stuff I'm trying to let go of. :sad:
Laura
Saturday 13th of October 2007
Yea, you, Dave! I agree -- it is wonderful meeting people who will actually make use of your "trash." For me, this is all part of the process and when possible, I like to choose the path which provides me some personal fulfillment. Freecycling has done that for me.
I, too, used to give my stuff away anonymously -- mostly to Goodwill. Now I give most of my clothes to Wearable Collections -- Michael (he recycles -- that rhymes! :lol: ) and his partners started the business to recycle actual fabric from donated clothes -- the $$, if not otherwise redirected elsewhere, goes to a paralysis research center, in honor of his paralyzed friend. I feel so good giving him the clothes I no longer want.
True, some Freecyclers just come and get my stuff. Others want to make a connection with me. Today I just gave away a whole bunch of Christmas decorations to a woman and her daughter.
In addition to the "goodwill" that I have received from my fellow Freecyclers, I just received this most amazing note from one young woman new to the city who was recipient of some of my unused kitchen items: "My parents are visiting me from China now. I told them about you and how we got those lovely gifts, they are very impressed and touched by your generosity. This is very unusual in China, so you gave a great impression of America too."
How amazing is that!? I don't know about you, but part of my desire to travel the world is not only to educate myself of other cultures, mindsets, etc., but to show those who may not get to actually know a U.S. citizen and probably have a pretty bad impression of us overall, that we're not all that bad. The journey begins at home, I suppose! I was blown away.
I'm so glad you're having these positive experiences and that you're helping to minimize the growth of our landfills!
Dave
Sunday 14th of October 2007
Wow, you've got some good stories happening!
I've also been thinking about how the network can be helpful once I return home, and am trying to re-establish myself on a tight budget.
I just posted by spice collection - yet more stuff I'm trying to let go of. :sad:
Laura
Saturday 13th of October 2007
Yea, you, Dave! I agree -- it is wonderful meeting people who will actually make use of your "trash." For me, this is all part of the process and when possible, I like to choose the path which provides me some personal fulfillment. Freecycling has done that for me.
I, too, used to give my stuff away anonymously -- mostly to Goodwill. Now I give most of my clothes to Wearable Collections -- Michael (he recycles -- that rhymes! :lol: ) and his partners started the business to recycle actual fabric from donated clothes -- the $$, if not otherwise redirected elsewhere, goes to a paralysis research center, in honor of his paralyzed friend. I feel so good giving him the clothes I no longer want.
True, some Freecyclers just come and get my stuff. Others want to make a connection with me. Today I just gave away a whole bunch of Christmas decorations to a woman and her daughter.
In addition to the "goodwill" that I have received from my fellow Freecyclers, I just received this most amazing note from one young woman new to the city who was recipient of some of my unused kitchen items: "My parents are visiting me from China now. I told them about you and how we got those lovely gifts, they are very impressed and touched by your generosity. This is very unusual in China, so you gave a great impression of America too."
How amazing is that!? I don't know about you, but part of my desire to travel the world is not only to educate myself of other cultures, mindsets, etc., but to show those who may not get to actually know a U.S. citizen and probably have a pretty bad impression of us overall, that we're not all that bad. The journey begins at home, I suppose! I was blown away.
I'm so glad you're having these positive experiences and that you're helping to minimize the growth of our landfills!