Saleing good for the soul and planet

Garage sale season is in full swing. Whether you’ve just finished some spring cleaning, are making room for new items, are moving out of your house, or just want to earn a little money, selling gently used items has more benefits than we may realize. While some might poo-poo the idea of putting our junk on display (and let’s face it – sometimes it can be junk), more often than not, our items for sale are good for another round.

Garage and yard sales certainly benefit us at the individual level. Obviously, sellers make cash quickly. There are no shipping and handling fees or hassles. Buyers, too, can score some pretty good deals, and paying far less than full price can really ease the never-ending strain on our wallets. These types of sales also foster community, where neighbors get to know neighbors. They might even inspire a young person to purge, earn and donate while also teaching them about markets and profit.

But more importantly, this buying and selling of goods out of our homes is extremely environmentally friendly. We probably don’t consider that as we declutter our closets and cabinets, but in a very large way, we are lightening the load on Mother Earth.

It’s no secret that we live in a throw-away society. Often, it’s easier and cheaper to throw something out. As long as it’s not junk, though, and could be repurposed, consider the benefits of a garage sale. First, it reduces the stress on our already overflowing landfills. According to Statista.com, there are 1,250 landfill facilities in the U.S., and most will reach capacity in the next few decades.

Second, consider that garage sales cut down on emissions. While it might be tough to measure specifically, surely as we walk, bike, or drive our personal vehicles to these sales, we are eliminating the need for the trucks, freight, ships, and other heavy-duty, carbon-dioxide-producing modes of transportation that come with buying new goods.

And finally, upcycling eases the strain on our recycling facilities. The cost of recycling continues to rise and Sanders County has struggled to find economical ways to recycle. As other countries understandably refuse to be a dumping ground for our waste more and more, we turn to recycling centers, but those processes are not 100% perfect 100% of the time. We can give them a break by fixing and reusing.

The pandemic and its supply-chain shortages forced us to be conscious of and creative with the things we had available. It made me think of an old slogan from the Great Depression: “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.” That’s still an appropriate mindset, so set sale! Consider the benefits of garage sales, moving sales, junk sales, yard sales. Whatever their name, their many benefits warm Mother Nature’s heart.

— Annie Wooden