Does everyone know about FreeCycle? If not, you should … no, this has nothing to do with bicycles, unless you have one to give away.

This is the Internet being put to good use, in my opinion. FreeCycle simply offers a means for people to circulate stuff amongst themselves without it winding up in landfills. Last week, I got rid of some perfectly good horizontal blinds that no longer had a purpose at my place, and a box of Star Trek videos. Interestingly, the same guy took both items.

This is a worldwide concept, with highly localized cells, so you can likely find a neighbourhood FreeCycle through this link. For example, I belong to the Toronto CabbageTown FreeCycle list. I receive postings of things on "offer" or "wanted" – it works both ways. You get to ask for stuff and also to monitor what is being offered. This service is particularly useful for people "in transition" from one place to another.

I have used this exclusively to get rid of stuff and I've never had to wait more than a few hours for a response to my "offered" items.

Weirdest thing offered lately? An opened box of granola. Specifically, the message read: one almost-full box of Dorset Cereals granola, Cherries and Berries flavour. This was followed by a story involving preferring homemade muesli but not finding the ingredients, etc.

Weirder still? Someone took the granola in less than 12 hours.

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