Why I Love Freecycle

[Oola]

Today I am going down to my allotment site, as a lady there advertised two compost bins to be taken. I messaged her as quickly as possible and managed to be chosen to receive them. She's giving up her allotment and wanted to give them away, and she has also thrown in a load of free bamboo canes, which I could really make use of.

So far from Freecycle I have managed to get the following bits and pieces:

A massive set of Knitting Needles
Bobbins (didn't fit my machine but swopped them with someone on RM)
Bricks for the garden
2 x Compost Bins
Bamboo Canes
A Greenhouse


And so far I have given away:

Yoga matt & accessories set
Gas Cooker
Chicken wire
Darkroom Equipment

I'm sure as we turn out a few of the rooms, I'll find more bits and pieces to give away. I'm so glad that my friend from work last year told me about it, I've really done well.

I'm hoping this year to do a car boot sale, perhaps sell some extra plants that I've got, some books, clothes etc. Anything that's let over I'll put on Freecycle - it's so good to know that my things won't end up in landfill. I just wish councils would join forces and promote Freecycle. It's by no means perfect, but I imagine it's saved the council having to send a lot of items to landfill.

There's also a new programme on the BBC in the mornings with that woman Lorna Spicer (not a huge fan). They get people to refurbish or just sell items to raise money, with more of a focus on recycling and what would have otherwise be chucked out. I think in the current economical climate, people will do well to take note. Especially since eBay is starting to try and compete with Amazon, and turn eBay into more of a shopping mall than an auction website.

What about you? Have you had any notable Freecycle success stories?

[TIGGYWINKLE]

I think Freecycle is a wonderful idea. I don't have the time to use it much, but I did get 2 lovely bamboo chairs for the garden. Just finished painting one, and the rains came. They are so comfy. I have a bunch of stuff I want to put on offer in the Autumn. I missed a juicer recently, and was disappointed. You really need to log on once a week to keep abreast of whats on offer. You do very well Oola, I must have a look, but my husband goes crazy. He figures we have enough stuff to get rid of, and then I import other peoples cast offs! It is hard to sneak in something big! TIGGYWINKLE X

[jazzactivist]

I have just joined Kenadl freecycle after being a member of the Dumfries and Galloway group. At the moment I receive messages form both groups and the difference between what is advertised and wanted on the two is very interesting. D&G seems more focused on practical items for the garden, hobbies, children etc, whereas, so far, Kendal seems more focused on high quality household goods. I love Freecycle and have given away lots of things that seemed quite useful to people, and am gritting my teeth not to follow up all the plants and seedlings that are coming on now. I got 7 lovely blackcurrent bushes last year.

[sandybay]

Tried the Freecycle site but found it a bit confusing , something about joining Yahoo ? Is this just a membership thing ?

[Katelb]

Me too Sandybay,I didn't care for the Yahoo element and once I signed up,I was deluged with goodness knows what which seemed to emanate from having got involved with Yahoo.

[jazzactivist]

I understand you concerns sandybay and katelb. Most Freecycle groups operate as a group connected by the Yahoo email system, as it is free and easily accessible. The Freecycle groups seem to operate just like RM, with your group's moderator controlling the content, so you don't get any spam. I only use my Yahoo email for Freecycle and have never received any other messages on it. If you go onto the Freecycle website and search for your local group, then go to that page and scroll down you should be able to click on what is currently on offer / wanted through your Freecycle group, but you can't do more than look unless you join. My advice would be that if you like the type of thing that you see and the tone of the messages then join up using Yahoo. I hope that this helps. Good luck.

[Helene]

Just to let you know, Jazz, that I joined the local group yesterday after reading your comments, so shell be interested to see what transpires. Have to offer something first, but that shouldn't be a problem as this house sems to be heaving with stuf that we don't use any more. I am guesing though that you have to be on the ball and be lucky to see something that you want just exactly when it comes onto the site to be in with a chance of getting it! Shall keep my eye open. One thing though, instead of using the yahoo e-mail address I have changed it so that the messages come through to my own e-mail address, but into a separate freeserve folder, not into the inbox, which would have been deluged with messages.

[franbee]

I try not to acquire stuff if at all possible, though I went to a council run event last month where Freecycle had a stand, and people donated stuff to give away to show the punters what it was all about. Trouble was, it was mainly kids who came, and they had to be asked not to just take stuff unless they really wanted it, we had a vision of it all going straight in the bin, which isn't the idea. I came away with a couple of books to read on holiday.

[Oola]

Another tip is to go to your options on the group and organise to receive a Daily Digest of the posts, that way you get one email with lots of grouped offered, wanted or received item notifications, rather than millions of individual emails every day.

[franbee]

I don't get the email option, Oola, I just check in every day or so to have a look.

[jazzactivist]

That's a good idea about the email system, Helene and Oola. I just check my Yahoo emails every evening and delete the messages, unless I see one that I want.