|
|
Post by imec on Sept 27, 2009 17:38:46 GMT
Yesterday and today were designated as Giveaway Weekend in Winnipeg. Citizens were encouraged to leave unwanted reusable items at the curb with a sticker attached stating they were "free". We were able to unload some surplus lawn furniture. The Giveaway Weekend webpage provided these guidelines: Giveaway etiquette * Take only the items at the curb marked "FREE". * Respect other people's property – don't walk or drive on people's lawns or gardens. * Giveaway items should still be in good condition. * Don't discard any items on another person’s lawn. I laughed about the first item when I saw a really nice radial saw set up on a neighbor's driveway yesterday ;D. I'm dying to read the stories of items gone missing in tomorrow's paper. Also wondering how many people interpreted the scheme as an opportunity to "gift" certain items to others by leaving them on their curb. |
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Sept 27, 2009 18:59:04 GMT
Regardless of whether it's misinterpreted or abused, it's a good & smart thing for Winnipeg to do.
Years ago I had a friend in New Orleans who never had yard sales. Instead he would set up planks on H-blocks, attractively arrange his give-aways, and make a prominent sign saying he'd appreciated people taking away anything they needed.
|
|
|
|
Post by lagatta on Sept 27, 2009 19:24:36 GMT
A friend of mine and I did that where we used to live - often we just had stuff like old unmatched dishes (that were in fine shape but not particularly quaint or pretty or kitchen stuff). I couldn't be bothered holding a "garage sale" for stuff that was worth at most $10 in total. New immigrant families seemed to be taking most of the stuff. Hope they go to the trouble of putting it out or taking it to a charity shop when they can afford new sets of things.
It would be a great initiative.
I had no yard at all where i lived before - the blocks of flats abutted the street; there was a nice Italian garden in the back though. Here we have a bit of "lawn" but we pulled up the crappy grass, dug up the ground, put in good soil and have planted many kinds of perennial plants - it is very pretty. But a sale would have to be on the sidewalk or in the outdoor staircases.
"Oh, I thought you were getting rid of that radial saw"...
Which reminds me, we had a friend who was a carpenter and very handy, who had bought an old triplex in what was then a very rundown and rather tough part of town. He knew his upstairs tenants were thieves, but couldn't prove it, and they did pay the rent. One day, one of the tenants asked him if he wanted to buy a good outboard motor: for $100....
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 27, 2009 19:31:08 GMT
My parents would put unwanted items at the end of the driveway with a "free" sign in Florida. It worked every time.
When I was emptying the house, I did the same thing with an old portable TV on its wheeled cart. I think it was gone before I had walked back into the garage.
|
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Sept 27, 2009 20:21:09 GMT
Not only does this system help people to get things they need but can't afford, it takes a burden off the city and the homeowner as well. In many cities you're not allowed to just drag the unwanted sofa to the curb for the regular trash pick-up. If the city or a charity agency is willing to come get it, sometimes the donor has to be home for that to happen. What Winnipeg is doing puts an element of fun into the whole thing, although you have to wonder if any fights broke out over curbside treasures.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 27, 2009 20:44:24 GMT
This practice is done more and more here in NOLA. If we could just get the university students to do it in a more responsible way rather then tossing everything out at one time (as in Hippie Christmas) not as much would get wasted.
Perhaps,I may take on the task of asking the various neighborhood groups to contact the universities and coordinate something more organized.
|
|
|
|
Post by auntieannie on Sept 28, 2009 12:01:14 GMT
Anybody on here part of their local "Freecycle" group? It is a series of yahoo! groups and I believe it is at least national in the UK but might be international? If you subscribe, you receive loads of wanted/offer requests from people in your region and there is great stuff available!
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 28, 2009 12:35:20 GMT
Have not heard of here Annie but will look into. I do know that Craig's List which is a free online service for just about anything;buy,sell,trade,rent,barter etc. is utilized in this vain by many that I know. I have used it to unload plants that I have dug up and divided and hate to toss but don't have the energy to bother potting up to sell . Generally,I offer for free or exchange for plants I desire.
It's all the electronic stuff that's a problem unloading.
|
|
