If you’re not Freecycling, you’re part of the problem. I wrote about this last month in my chilling expose on free cats. If you weren’t tuned in that day, Freecycle is a trash-to-treasure listserv. Socially conscious people, or people who can’t bear to throw anything away, can find homes for their trash (Lisa).
I’m not particularly pack-rattish (Steve), nor am I one of the most socially conscious people I know (Lyd). But I love seeing what’s getting passed around. I read it with rapt interest. It might as well be the police blotter in my local paper. I’m not bragging or anything, but I’m from a unique area where the weird, dumb, and crazy rub elbows like so much macaroni salad. We had a Darwin award nominee in our police calls a couple years ago (Nail-gun-to-the-head-guy). That link will take you straight to him.
I thought I might pass along some favorite Freecycle entries from the past week. Bear in mind, you can post for things you want to get rid or or for things you’re in search of (bolds indicate my amusment):
i have a box of misc things, paint roller pans, bubble pack, peanut packing, phone with working caller id, 5 lb bag potatoes, remote control flying saucer, cd case, ect take all or none and freecycle what you don’t want
Potatoes? Why are they in that box? And who gets rid of a bag of potatoes?
i have an RCA TV. i believe that it is 32 inches. it doesnt work, one day i was watching tv, when i turned it off and tried to turn it back on, it came on but the screen was black and we tried it several times and it always stayed black. besides that it is in excellent condition and is only about 5 yrs old
Besides the fact that it doesn’t work, it works great!
These three were posted individually by the same person:
OFFER: Duck eggs. Great for eating or baking
OFFER: 3 Ducks. They are pets I have too many now. Three are up for grabs.
WANTED: Straw for animal bedding
Quick … take the eggs, or there’ll be more ducks up for grabs. 
lid (so as not to be confused with Lyd) said,
November 21, 2006 at 10:39 pm
This was in my freecycle today… my question is… so these things were rotting on your porch for how long and now you think I want them? yum, rotten pumpkin pie. just add sour milk.
offer: 3 pumpkins
Three un-carved Halloween pumpkins- big, medium and small. Never got
around to carving them and I don’t want them to go to waste. Maybe you
can make pie??
julieluongo said,
November 21, 2006 at 10:53 pm
You’re the Lyd I’m talking about!
Socially conscious and humble.
Lisa said,
November 22, 2006 at 2:09 am
My recent favorite was a used pair of anti-embollism stockings. (I have so many questions.) And can you believe no one wanted my yellow 4 foot stuffed animal dog? People take used potty seats, but they don’t want a giant stuffed animal? It came from a carnival and is full of styrofoam pellets and other known carcinogens that the socially conscious shouldn’t want to see polluting our landfills. I’m one of the deranged few who can’t throw anything away, so I don’t care that the dog’s stuffing will be here on Earth long after I’m dead, I just can’t be the one to throw it in the landfill. Won’t someone help me please!
julieluongo said,
November 22, 2006 at 3:39 am
So, Lyd and Lisa have checked in. Now, where’s Steve and the nail-gun-to-the-head-guy?
Are you sure you don’t need anti-embollism stockings? You know my birthday is coming up. Maybe I’ll have a Christmas party this year with a “worst Freecycle find” gift exchange. Oh, that’s perfect. You’re invited!
Jenn said,
November 22, 2006 at 6:11 pm
Lisa, if my one niece didn’t have severe allergies, or the mother of my other two nieces wouldn’t beat me within an inch of my life for bringing another toy into her house, I’d take the dog for them. However, have you considered donating it to a children’s hospital or a Ronald McDonald house?
lid said,
November 23, 2006 at 6:47 pm
shhh, i was trying to be incognito…
(can I bring the rotten pumpkins to the x-mas exchange? they’re sure to be super ripe by then)