Curbing!!!

I can't believe I have forgotten about writing about one of my most favorite pastimes, curbing! For those of you who don't know or use a different term (junking, dumpster diving) curbing is when you take something that someone else has put out to the trash. I do have some dignity and won't actually open a trash can and take out an article out, but, for example, if someone is moving and leaves something that I can salvage I will. I have loved curbing before it was considered "green" to do (that is an excuse I like to use as to why I do it; we don't want it to end up in a landfill!). Growing up, our neighborhood had "riff raff" days a couple of times a year where people would put out bulky items that they didn't want (thankfully our Parish takes bulky items once a week, what a treat!). I would come home hauling a new to me container, chair, etc. begging my mom to let us keep it. My mother only fed my love and would either refurbish it or find the perfect spot for each item I lugged home.
I recently had a friend come over and speaking about a mutual friend she said, "did you know that like half of the stuff in her house she has gotten from other people's garbage??" At which point I laughed and said, let me show you around my home :) Take the above picture as example A. The plant container, Adirondack chair, and two captain's chairs, yes, you guessed it all were set to fill up space in a landfill, but with a little sanding (thank-you, hubby), paint, love, and even help from the kiddos they all turned out pretty well. We (yes, my husband now occasionally curbs too although he is much more selective) have come across some other treasures that now grace our home including an old coat hanger, old windows (so great hanging up), shelving units, wicker baskets, and the list could go on. It is great because it is so conducive to the style we love. Freecycle also now has "curbside alerts" that are always a fun adventure.
I love when people find out where some of our things have come from and love even more when I find out I'm not the only one who is taking full advantage of recycling in our community :)