Carmageddon kept people from venturing far from home, but local yard sales created a worthwhile diversion for many Mar Vistans.
Yard sales are the original eco-friendly way to shop. By purchasing a previously owned dress, you keep it in your closet and out of our already over-crowded landfills. The same goes for anything else you buy second-hand.
By choosing to purchase used items instead of new ones, you reduce the use of natural resources, including fossil fuels that go into manufacturing, packaging and shipping goods.
If you haven't already seen The Story of Stuff, watch it now. This 22-minute youtube video will shift your perception away from mindless spending toward mindful purchasing.
Instill green values in your children by setting up your own yard sale. Kids can assist at every level from setting out merchandise and helping “customers” (see photo), to managing a lemonade stand and tallying up the proceeds at the end of the day.
Cole Bechtel, a 7-year-old entrepreneur said of the yard sale he hepled run in Mar Vista during Carmageddon weekend, "I can help people who don't want to drive far to get some great stuff. They don't have to go to the store, they can come here!"
Here's a list of reasons why you should hold a yard sale or attend one:
- As a buyer, you can save a little money.
- As a seller, you can make a little money.
- You create more space and orderliness in your homes. Less clutter often results in a sense of inner calm and clarity.
- You connect with neighbors, encourage new friendships and a establish a stronger sense of community.
A greener community often starts with knowing your neighbors. Once those relationships are established, you are more likely to walk next door to borrow a cup of sugar than drive to the market; you'll set up carpools to get your kids to school; you'll swap books and DVDs with newly-discovered neighborhood friends.
Next time you pass a sign saying, “Yard Sale Today,” take a minute to see if one man’s (or woman’s) trash might be your treasure.
Jeanne Kuntz combines sustainable living with health and wellness. Learn more about successful behavior change on her website, TeachingWellness.com
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