I have been dancing around the idea of a blog for so long, and finally settled on the theme that fuels my muse like no other: the
Recycling Barn in my small town of
Bowdoinham, Maine. I go to the barn each week to recycle my mixed paper, my plastics (No. 1-7), my newsprint, Styrofoam and items that I am no longer in love with. I launch these items and take other things home with me from the barn’s “Gift Shop” or put-and-take area. For some of us, the "Gift Shop" is the heart and soul of the barn; Open shelving to put your once-loved-but now-not-so-much items, lots of room for books and 3 big bins for clothes, shoes and toys.On each visit to the barn, I try very hard to stick to the simple rule:
Drop Off More Than You Take Home. Often the rule is broken with the simple justification that I will make something wonderful with what I have found. In this blog I hope to chronicle that process; what some have called “upcycling” or “repurposing.” I hope to share with my readers (will there be readers?) the joyous process of finding something discarded and giving it new life. I am not alone in this quest. My little village is chock full of people doing the same thing. I will invite them to share their stuff, too. So there it is, my first post. I dedicate this post to Ramona (pictured above), who was working at the barn one particular day when I was ooohing or aaahhhing over some treasure I had found, overheard my joy and said "Kate, that's why we call this place 'The Barn of Opportunity'!" I hope you will enjoy my posts and join me in the great quest to reduce, reuse, and recycle.
I have been dancing around the idea of a blog for so long, and finally settled on the theme that fuels my muse like no other: the Recycling Barn in my small town of Bowdoinham, Maine. I go to the barn each week to recycle my mixed paper, my plastics (No. 1-7), my newsprint, Styrofoam and items that I am no longer in love with. I launch these items and take other things home with me from the barn’s “Gift Shop” or put-and-take area. For some of us, the "Gift Shop" is the heart and soul of the barn; Open shelving to put your once-loved-but now-not-so-much items, lots of room for books and 3 big bins for clothes, shoes and toys.On each visit to the barn, I try very hard to stick to the simple rule: Drop Off More Than You Take Home. Often the rule is broken with the simple justification that I will make something wonderful with what I have found. In this blog I hope to chronicle that process; what some have called “upcycling” or “repurposing.” I hope to share with my readers (will there be readers?) the joyous process of finding something discarded and giving it new life. I am not alone in this quest. My little village is chock full of people doing the same thing. I will invite them to share their stuff, too. So there it is, my first post. I dedicate this post to Ramona (pictured above), who was working at the barn one particular day when I was ooohing or aaahhhing over some treasure I had found, overheard my joy and said "Kate, that's why we call this place 'The Barn of Opportunity'!" I hope you will enjoy my posts and join me in the great quest to reduce, reuse, and recycle.
The Barn of Opportunity - I love it! Count me in, and congratulations on posting your first blog - impressive! Peggy
ReplyDeleteKate - I love it! Congrats on your blog breakthrough!
ReplyDeleteWONDERFUL!! I, too, have a deep love of my Thursday/Saturday 'church' and believe in the power of the Bowdoinham Recycling Barn! Great blog idea- and I WILL BE YOUR READER!!
ReplyDeleteThis is great Kate!! One persons junk is another persons treasure, right. I can't wait to see what you find and create. I love to treasure hunt used items! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on making the big time, Kate! Can't wait to see/read about your repurposed treasures. I've got recycling barn envy... Maybe we should start one in Cumberland!
ReplyDeleteSo cool, I love it. I have got everything from boxtops to furniture. JB
ReplyDeleteyou ROCK girlfriend! Proud to know ya!
ReplyDeletexo
Love it ! And good job on your first post!
ReplyDeleteThanks, friends. This is going to be fun. I found myself at Hannaford today taking a picture of the recycling bin. What a nutjob blogger I've become overnight. I do hope you'll keep reading and commenting.
ReplyDeleteWell when I first surfed in to look there were no comments. Then life intervened. Ahem. It looks GREAT! and I can't wait to read more. HUGS, Sarah
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the dark side! I'll add you to my feed reader!
ReplyDeleteDon says, "welcome to the BO?"
ReplyDeleteCount me in!! I have had many dreams about the barn myself!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea, Great start, Kate!!
ReplyDeleteLove the Barn!! I have found many "treasures" there, in fact, I quit playing Farmville and devoted Jan and Feb to inventing new crafts from recyclables.My family thinks I've gone over the edge...
ReplyDeleteWhat? Only Reason #726 to live here? No way ... more like reason #5 or #6 for me! I LOVE that Bowdoinham was one of the first, if not THE first, "pay as you throw" municipalities AND free curbside recycling PLUS the "Barn" on top of that!! Love it here.
ReplyDeleteOK WebgURL, I see your thinking... if I rank ordered my reasons for living in Bowdoinham the Barn would be in the top five for sure. Right up there with strawberries and smelt shacks and people and the opportunity to put my ballot into a wooden box with a slit in the top. Thanks for sharing my enthusiasm.
ReplyDeleteI am generally not invited to join family outings to the barn due to my possible indulgent behavior at the gift shop. One day I was in the tub and heard the doorbell. When I finally opened the door a cement bust of William Shakespeare was sitting on the porch. It had come straight from the gift shop to me via a friend who knew he would find a welcome home here. Best recycling ever, I can't imagine who would have parted with it.
ReplyDeleteJo!This is the magic of the Barn of Opportunity!
ReplyDeleteKate, After over 10 years of waiting/searching, we have just obtained a building en route to our transfer station in Pittsfield. In fact, today is a work day to try to get it set up as a re-use building for an opening next month. It is called the Trash to Treasure ReUse Center. I am sharing your blog with our Recycling Committee and am very excited about all the information that you have posted thus far. Jane
ReplyDeleteJane- Sounds like a great place. Congratulations and good work. Please send updates.
ReplyDeleteI certainly know where the love of the put-n-take comes from!!
ReplyDeleteGreat job sis!
A blogger in the family? It's about time. Now as for the treasures to be found in our basement in Rochester....not exactly the barn of opportunity, but..do come and see what we can find down there! Have fun!
ReplyDeleteMy siblings approve! This middle child swells with pride. Thanks, guys.
ReplyDeleteHello- I just found you and read all the posts. Now, I'll be wanting MORE. and a guest visit for toys. I need to make one of those plastic toy wreaths for my front door!!!!! Today is 6/10/11
ReplyDeleteKate, I love your blog and check it regularly. Our Reuse Building in Pittsfield is going well but we are really stockpiling books. I have read about repurposing them, etc and put up posters but the shelves are really loading up. Do you know of any libraries or places that could use some of these? Folks are taking some here, reading them and returning them!! I guess we are an adjunct library! Any ideas are welcome. Jane
ReplyDeleteJane- Thanks so much. Hooray for Pittsfield and its intrepid recyclers. About books. They do get baled in with the mixed paper to be recycled every so often, when the shelves at the Barn can't handle them. I enrolled in something called "Operation Paperback" which provides requests and addresses from military personnel who would like books sent to them. We raised money for postage and volunteers boxed up the books. Check out their website. And regarding crafting with books,stay tuned for this year's offerings of "Treasures from the library Attic" . I'll blog about it soon.
ReplyDelete