Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Star-Eagle Independent Newspaper – MAY 2010

I have a real problem. And it is starting to bug me. My problem is that I can’t let things go to waste. You know, just throw it away!

Now before you start thinking of the next episode of Hoarders on TV, I am not talking about this in that way. Believe me, I am trying to reduce what is around me, not add to it. What I mean is that I try to squeeze the last bit of life out of everything that crosses my path. I try to find a use for things so that they can provide something again even if for something other than the original intended purpose.

There is a joy to be experienced when you take something that was going to be, or had been discarded, and put it back into service. Give it a life, one more time.

The most direct way I have found for some things is to either sell them, and I usually use Craigslist, or give them away again on Craigslist or Freecycle (search Ada County Freecycle to learn more). Here I can unload a lot of the things that I tear out of peoples homes that I do not, or cannot donate to Second Chance Building Materials or Habitat’s Re-Store. (Some more internet searching for you to do).

But beyond the obvious building materials and home related items that I come across due to my chosen occupation as a Remodeling Contractor, I tend to intersect with a lot of other junk through hobbies and I guess just keeping an eye out for interesting things.

I think I told you the story about my Daughters 1951 Chevy and the busted 216 straight 6 engine. Maybe not…. Anyway, we had to put in a new engine and we upgraded to a more modern 1960 235. So, there were a pile of 216 parts in my garage. I gave away what I could after several months, and was ready to take the rest to the landfill. The truck was loaded. And I yanked out the 216 parts. There has to be a use for these! I just couldn’t be responsible for burying them up on the side of the hill!

Then I remembered Art In The Park from last year and those sculptures those folks made out of metal bits and steel parts. Hmmm. The end result is this “Yard Art” bug, creature, sculpture, what have you.

So I guess there is an obvious line to be crossed as in most things. When does a person take it too far? When does it become wrong, or weird to try and reuse too much? You will have to answer this for yourself, but I bet it is something that you will take just a little further than those around you. You will take it, at whatever level in your life you have chosen, just beyond what they do, and that is what will make you different.

If you got a chuckle out of my motor bug, my mission has been accomplished. My weirdness put a smile on your face. That old Chevy is still putting smiles on peoples faces.

Joe and Vicki Prin own Joe Prin Remodeling LLC, Idaho Registered Contractor #RCE-23530, and can be contacted at 573-1082 or by email- joe@joeprin.com. Listen to the HomeFix Radio show hosted by Joe, Saturdays, 9-10 AM on 670 KBOI