If you've not heard of it, the home page is here http://www.freecycle.org/ and here's some quotes from the page:
The Freecycle Network? is made up of many individual groups across the globe. It's a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. Each local group is moderated by a local volunteer (them's good people). Membership is free. To sign up, find your community by clicking on the region on the left. You may then go directly to your local group by clicking on "Go To" or you may immediately joing by clicking on "Join." It will generate an automatic e-mail which, when sent, will sign you up for the local group and send you a response with instructions on how it works. Can't find a group near you? You might want to consider starting one (click on "Start a Group" for instructions). Have fun!
Everyone who is concerned about Peak Oil should be a member of their local group, or starting a group if there isn't one. I was in the Oxford group, but it got pretty big so I decided to apply to start my own group in my village (it covers a couple of nearby villages too). You can offer stuff you son't want, and also post "wanted" requests, as long as it's all free.When you want to find a new home for something -- whether it's a chair, a fax machine, piano, or an old door -- you simply send an e-mail offering it to members of the local Freecycle group.
Or, maybe you're looking to acquire something yourself. Simply respond to a member's offer, and you just might get it. After that, it's up to the giver to decide who receives the gift and to set up a pickup time for passing on the treasure.
Our main rule: Everything posted must be free, legal, and appropriate for all ages.
Non-profit organizations also benefit from The Freecycle Network. Post the item or items you want to give away and specify that you wish the gift to go to a nonprofit cause. It's entirey your choice! It's a free cycle of giving.
Here's why you should be a member:
- reduced landfill use
- increase re-use of goods rather than purchasing new
- get stuff for free!
- you will make all kinds of contacts, and you can tell each one about Peak Oil - they may be open to it, as they're already concerned about the environment.
- you can publicise any peak oil related events via the group, especially if you are the owner of it, as long as you don't stray too far from the main purpose of the system.
I only set my group up yesterday, and I've already got into a peak oil discussion with the owner of a neighbouring group, and he's put a link to powerswitch on his group homepage.
Get out there and use it, it's great fun!
p.s. In small groups there are only a few messages a day, but in a large group there may be hundreds, so then you can switch to receive a daily "digest" rather than individual emails. You can also choose to receive no mail, and just browse the messages on your group homepage - the messages are searchable.