Practical gifts, such as a new toaster to replace that manky one from your flatting days, will at least be put to good use, instead of filling up the waste station six months later.

Click Here to Read the Rest of the Article

Though TreeHugger prefers Buy Nothing Day to the sheer madness of Black Friday, that doesn’t mean you have to live with less or even that you can’t acquire stuff; a great way to do this is with something like The Freecycle Network (it really works!). The big day has passed, but the Network rolls on, and remains a good way to both find and get rid of stuff without having to involve any money.Click here to read this and other fantastic green & recycling related articles at Treehugger.com

Community networks such as craigslist and The Freecycle Network have seen an increase in people requesting clothing, furniture, baby items and Christmas help as the October unemployment rate hit 5.3 percent, the highest in 13 years.

“At this time of year, we do tend to see people who are in dire need,” said JoAnne Dineen, a moderator for Fort Myers Freecycle. “I really think it’s due to the downturn in the housing market. If they get foreclosed on and lose their possessions, Freecycle is somewhere they can turn to and at least get some basic furniture and needs met.”

Freecycle and craigslist are two of the most popular social networking sites. There are 4,000 Freecycle Web sites in 75 countries, while craigslist has 450 sites in 50 countries. Click here to read the article in full

ALBANY — Downtown will come alive with acrobats, BMX bicycles, pony rides and a giant bonfire during the city’s second annual WinterFestival, city officials said Tuesday.
Lodge street will be closed to traffic starting at 1 p.m., as riders from the FreeCycle Action Sports Team do jumps and tricks. Later, “Fetch!” will reach a new level when America’s Best Frisbee Dogs, veterans of several NFL half-time shows, take to the streets..Click here to read the article in full

Tip 1: Make the Store Your Last Choice
Most people’s default response is to go to a store anytime they need something, but that’s not the only way to obtain a needed item. Ask yourself these questions:

Can I get it for free?
If you don’t need something right away, and you usually don’t, it’s worth searching on community ad sites like Craigslist or Kijiji, signing up with some local Freecycle groups, and asking around to see if anyone you know is getting rid of whatever you want.Click here to read the article in full

Several readers also mentioned Freecycle.org, in which people get and give back stuff with no money changing hands. I am unclear how it works, but it seems pretty cool. Not a seal of approval here, but check it out.Click here to read the article in full

6. Free gifts

If you’re really stuck (or broke) look at what you can get for free. Supermarket reward vouchers can be traded in for magazine subscriptions, theatre vouchers, tickets to theme parks and a whole lot more; just investigate the Tesco and Nectar websites. Check out nearly new sales for good quality items and Freecycle Network members often give away unwanted gifts. Click here to read the article in full

Grass is Always Greener – top 10 environmental searches

1. Recycling

2. Global Warming

3. Freecycle

4. Earth

5. Pollution

6. Al Gore

7. Environmental Protection Agency

8. Live Earth

9. Hybrid Cars

10. Solar Energy

Click here to read the article in full

Lewin tries to be mindful of small things. She doesn’t use paper napkins. She uses a clothesline when possible. And she has given away and found used goods on Freecycle for about three years.Click here to read the article in full

Everyone cleans out the closet, the garage and any other storage space available around the house. At that point, the issue becomes what to do with the pile of items no longer in use. The answer just might be a local Internet message board called Freecycle.

After having sampled some of the listings on the Las Vegas Freecycle Web site, Veronica Sproul decided it might be a good thing for Pahrump and started the process to activate the Web site.

Click Here to Read More About Pahrump Freecycle!