As a child I spent my Sundays hanging out at our local SPCA. I would go each weekend with my two besties, dropped off in the morning and picked up in the late afternoon. It became our haven and I developed my respect for the used, discarded and left behind.
We scrubbed kennels, fed our charges and spent hours walking, playing and loving these lost souls.
I have always cheered for the underdog, valued the old and respected things that are REAL in this world. I believe in lasting value and commitment, and I think before I buy. I make long-term decisions, ALL THE TIME.
Because of this ingrained value when we wanted to start our life here on Salt Spring, we didn’t run to the local chain store or get some “ready to assemble” boxed sets, we started by searching for items that needed re-homing, re-evaluating and a re-birth.
UsedNanaimo.com was our best friend. When we chose to start with chickens, not only did the upcycled windows and doors we found on the site create our chicken coop, but our CHICKENS came from homes that could no longer care for them.
Life changes happen, and as a community part of our responsibility is to adapt to our neighbours’ needs. By supporting re-use and using a site like UsedNanaimo.com we are not only supporting our community as it changes, but also taking responsibility for the “stuff” already out there.
A true believer in the win-win-win, “adopting” (or purchasing or rescuing) our hens from homes who could no longer have them, filled every value we had.
We still scour UsedNanaimo.com when we are looking for something (and sometimes when we aren’t). It has become part of our evening explorations as we plan out the growth of our farm. We think about the items we missed, like the 50 blueberry bushes for FREE if you would come and dig them up! We were ready with shovels until the following day the freeze hit and ruined our plans.
Or the “various windows” that intrigued hubby and had him coming home with huge wood trimmed heritage glass windows, perfect for the greenhouse we are going to build.
I don’t care if you do it because you want a deal, or because you understand the huge amounts of wasted opportunity out there already, just visit your local UsedEverywhere.com site and explore. Find your favourite category, and take your imagination out for a spin.
Contribute by revitalizing someone else’s leftovers or donate products you no longer want by listing them on the site. Become a part of your community, and play “team” by curtailing the modern age of over-consumerism
And while you are exploring the opportunities on their site, enter to WIN $500 or a Galaxy Tablet by participating in their fun BIG deal personality quiz! And remember, even if it doesn’t come in a shiny box or sparkle like a new puppy, it still has value and may just surprise you.