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Monday, May 25, 2009
Neighborhoods Happy Memorial Day. Keep it Classy, Portland
Posted by Andrew R Tonry on Mon, May 25, 2009 at 3:42 PM
Something about this—perhaps the worst free pile I've seen in NE Portland yet—screams Memorial Day. Someone got up in the sunny morning, did a little work in the garden, half-assed the finish and decided instead to leave the garbage in the street.
The growing trend of "free" piles is getting out of hand. Since when did laziness become a form of charity? All these dirty old box-springs, tracking closet doors from the 70's and broken ink-jet printers are junk only Homer Simpson would take home. ("Old newspapers!? Coat-hangers?! Expired medicine! Quick you fool, get them in the house!")
Does this happen in other cities?
1
"The growing trend of "free" piles is getting out of hand."
Amen. I especially love the geniuses who put out some boxes in winter weather and leave them there for a week.
On the other hand, I did see some girl grab a free chair the other day. She seemed pretty pleased about it.
Amen. I especially love the geniuses who put out some boxes in winter weather and leave them there for a week.
On the other hand, I did see some girl grab a free chair the other day. She seemed pretty pleased about it.
2
It goes both ways, certainly. The desk I'm sitting at and my vacuum cleaner are both killer finds. But people should only be putting out stuff in the first place that either A.) Works, or B.) isn't absolute garbage. When cardboard box starts growing mold, it's time to put it in the fucking trash can, along with the L Ron Hubbard books and broken light bulbs and empty cans of paint inside.
3
Well, Madison has "Hippie Christmas" which is the 24 hour period between the day all the leases expire and all the leases begin. Rather than pay for storage, people just leave all their junk on the street. I for one found a partially complete set of x-rays, while others have found musical instruments, bottles of liquor. In one very special case, one man found the true meaning of real Christmas
4
The Brown-area of Providence has a similar occurrence at the end of the school year. Excellent finds are likely for anyone interested in doing some hunting.
P.S. As a question with a giant lead-in, your "blog post" really belongs in Questionland, Andrew.
P.S. As a question with a giant lead-in, your "blog post" really belongs in Questionland, Andrew.
7
One free pile I made was 80% of our belongings. I only thought 10% or so was worth donating, but I thought I'd give it a try. The family across the street walked over and took every last scrap. You would've thought it was Christmas. The baby stuff had them in tears.
My personal rule is never to leave anything out more than 24 hours. If there's rain, bring it in. Always plan on donating or tossing what is leftover.
My personal rule is never to leave anything out more than 24 hours. If there's rain, bring it in. Always plan on donating or tossing what is leftover.
9
The "free piles" at our house seldom last more than an hour. I could have a garage sale and make a very small amount of $$$, but then I'd have to site out there and watch things and transact cash... why bother, if I'm being freed of something I no longer need and someone else is getting something they (think) they can use?
One time, I had four sets of shelving units which I was hauling out. Before I had the first two set up outside, I had two people literally begging for them. I was able to split all 4 units up between the two parties.
It was a fascinating negotiation, because one of the parties was an older Asian gentleman who did not speak English... (I was unable to suss his nationality, so please forgive the blanket term "Asian"). At first he was very disappointed that I wasn't giving him two sets of shelves (because he arrived first, by a few seconds), but after much hand-waving and diagramming by me and the other party, we were able to convey that there were more units if he would just wait for me to go in and get them. :-)
One time, I had four sets of shelving units which I was hauling out. Before I had the first two set up outside, I had two people literally begging for them. I was able to split all 4 units up between the two parties.
It was a fascinating negotiation, because one of the parties was an older Asian gentleman who did not speak English... (I was unable to suss his nationality, so please forgive the blanket term "Asian"). At first he was very disappointed that I wasn't giving him two sets of shelves (because he arrived first, by a few seconds), but after much hand-waving and diagramming by me and the other party, we were able to convey that there were more units if he would just wait for me to go in and get them. :-)
10
Once scored a nice old mixtie frame, put on two good wheels (Nexus 7 speed rear), completed the build with pretty good stuff from the personal parts bin, and donated it to the Community Cycling Center.
Somebody got a nice commuting bike!
Somebody got a nice commuting bike!
11
I hope this post is a harbinger of the triumphant return of the soiled mattress down by the river...
12
Shit, have the shit in my house was free stuff someone put out in the street....sweet ass red suede modern-ass asymmetrical chair, a Hammond organ, some kitchen chairs, firewood for the fire pit...I love it.
penthesilea..haha, you must be a meth head.
penthesilea..haha, you must be a meth head.
13
Goes by nabe. Just came from NYC; Brooklyn Heights (Cosby Show neighborhood) residents regularly put perfectly fine TVs on the sidewalk as they upgraded. The books were actually worth taking.
But yah, people should know the difference between trash and potential treasure.
But yah, people should know the difference between trash and potential treasure.
17
have given and received from many of these here free piles across this great city: VIVA LA FREE PILE.
18
Broken ink jet printers have circuit boards in them. The circuits on those boards are made of gold. GOLD.
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