Last August, I noted a huge increase in the number of scavengers driving the streets before the brush 'n bulky pick-up in our neighborhood and expressed concern that many more people hauling off metal for salvage probably meant economic times weren't so hot. For this current pick-up, we're noticing a new trend. Not only are metal items gone in a heartbeat, so is crappy furniture.
I'm not talking about furniture that is relatively easy to refinish and reupholster. I'm talking about poorly made furniture in horrible shape, furniture that's not fit to burn. I have to assume people are not picking it up to burn because there are lots of tree trimmings left behind. Why, and where, is this stuff going? Are people that desperate?
Which, of course, leads to the next question: What recovery?!
If we were settled in our own place, I'd probably be out there scavenging the smaller branches from tree trimmings. After thorough drying, they'd work just fine in the rocket stove or the cob oven we plan to build. At this time, though, we are trying to avoid accumulating too many things we'll have to move.
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6 comments:
A few years ago, our family had a reputation as the one to call when you were ready to get rid of a board fence that had gotten grungy. We built a barn, an outbuilding, interior walls, and lotsa shelving out of the wood, mostly cedar.
I'd love to find some more fences, but now everyone Craigslists them and if I call on it an hour after the ad appears, it's GONE.
Old furniture taken down slowly with a wrench, screwdriver, and nail puller can provide hardware, serviceable wood, insulation, and even fabric. I've parted out a few easy chairs myself, and the bolts, nuts, lock washers, and screws were put right back into use all over the "farm." Pallets make good flats for starts -- with a little patience. Some things seem hardly worth it, though, even for me! Think box springs.
As for burning, people are burning more things than you will want to think about. I saw an article where in England the poor are buying job lots of old books as fuel.
Since moving to the country, I feed the scavengers with anything too good for the dump. I categorize my stuff, like this:
1. My daughter gets first choice of pickings.
2. Furniture stores (Yes.They will take good pieces.)
3. Goodwill for all good condition clothing and linens.
4. HaulYourTrash guys for all debris, broken busted stuff, and small neighborhood children that annoy me. And, finally,
5. Hard pieces of anything that can handle a little weather include a label stating condition and turned with openings on the ground go on the street beyond the swale. NEVER see anyone picking up anything, but it's always gone by morning!
I don't do garage sales, too much work and I've had my use from the item. It's time to pass them on.
Yes, Chile, I think things for some people are definitely that desperate. It seems like I'm aware of more people who lately have slipped a notch downward in the ecnonmic ladder.
Someone I know in the MidWest seems to be in bad straights. She made a remark on the phone the other day about eating a lot of spaghetti, I don't know if with meat or not, and not affording veggies and fruits as they were too expensive. and her husband, who's been out of work a while, makes all their bread.
I've never heard that out of her before. I wanted to say something about lentils and rice that I hae a couple times a week but I actually had a roast in the crock pot and so that information came out instead.
I feel bad for her but didn't want to ask too much. She's still working, their kids are grown and they have a house. They've always wanted to move to Florida when the kids were grown enough.
A neighbor learned that she can't sell her townhouse/condo because no one wants to finance them in the Phoenix area. she'a have to sell to someone who'd pay with cash. I think that dismayed and surprised her.
There are days when things are going along fine and then some bit of news or something i hear from someone reminds me of the direction we're really going in.
On the other hand, contractors and people who fix things want work and are doing pretty well at it. I took two lamps in to see if they could be fixed to the old establishe, Phoenix Lamps, and I'm going to get my excellent brass, floor lamp back like new for not much money!!! I don't know how much yet but lamp is totally useless te way it is. Hooray! I love that lamp and I use it to read by sitting on the couch.
They said they were very busy and they have a wonderful store full of all kinds of lamps, from all time periods, and other furniture that they also sell. It's a wonderful old store to look at.
I'm looking at the rest of my "work on the house" list I've been getting done the past 2 years and it's time to start doing the rest of it: insulation, getting rid of old carpeting, maybe some other things as well.
That's enoug commentary for now. I'm progressing eating/cooking my multitude of greens from the CSA. I passed some on to a friend so they wouldn't go to waste. next time we have mustard greens I'm going to ask to trade!
Peace to all,
Shamba
Perhaps there is a pocket of hope here. Perhaps these are people who can see potential where none existed before. I suspect that I'm wrong, that these are folks who are having to make do, who are the truley homeless, the recently homeless who did not take the time to pack. A sad state to be sure.
It aint m3e cruising through your neighborhood, grabbing the furniture although sounds like something I would do. What is crappy to one is challenging to me.Make a dog bed out if chairs!!!
Risa - we've done furniture (and appliance) deconstruction, too. However, some of the furniture doesn't have much to salvage. A lot has been cane furniture put together with glue (no screws or bolts) and straps, and that is dry-rotted...not to mention getting peed on by loose dogs, coyotes, and male cats. The padding's beyond salvage (and stinky) in most cases.
I can't imagine people burning this stuff, especially when the brush piles left behind often include great wood (pine, mesquite) for burning!
I want a permanent place so I can go do big-time scavenging myself...by bike, of course.
Sharlene - I'm thrilled that usable stuff is getting re-used rather than trashed. What are people doing with the un-usable stuff though?
Shamba - I've noticed more broken rungs on the economic ladder, too. That's probably at the root of what we're observing here.
I'm not a fan of mustard greens, but blanching them does help. It reduces the volume as well as the sharp and pungent taste.
Kathy - we've been thinking that, too. Homeless folks that still have vehicles to haul stuff.
Rob - are you sure? I thought I saw you...
That dog bed's adorable! Pick up some stuff here and it will be pre-scented with coyote and loose dog pee!
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