Something for nothing

Sometimes you just need to network.  People do that when they are looking for a job, right?

Well, sometimes you just need to put out there a need you have, or you just need to listen to what people have that they want to get rid of or trade for something that they need.

Dear darling works with a fellow whose sister owns a bagel shop.  Every Thursday morning she drops off the day olds to her brother and he brings them to work for anyone who wants them.  Sometimes it's a few, sometimes it's a dozen or more.

Dear darling, being new to this job, didn't really know "joe" well so he didn't want to take any bagels the first few weeks, but noticed that they usually got put into the shop frig and no one took them, they got forgotten and got thrown out.  What a waste!

Now, each week, if no one has take them, or some, dear darling will put them in the freezer and bring them home and we put them in our freezer.  Unless he picks and chooses, which he doesn't have time for, we do end up with bagels we wouldn't normally buy, like Jalapeno, which thank goodness they color with red dye to warn you, they are HOT!

Some will be eaten for breakfast, some will become a bun for a sandwich or burger and some will become bagel chips or croutons.

Another thing that we get "free" is our aged compost.  Our county has a composting program that is open to anyone in the county.  You can bring your yard waste in.  Townships bring in their yard waste, and the program processes it.  Anyone in the county can go in during operating hours and take as much compost as they want for free.  Residents only.  No contractors.  The program is also run in part by one of the local colleges and the Department of Natural Resources.

Now, is this compost "organic"?  No, I don't think it could be classified as that because it has yard waste from anywhere and everywhere and lots of home owners use chemicals on their lawns.  So in this case, you need to use your best judgement as to where you want to use this compost.

My last item is "almost for nothing".  Dear darling has a friend with a tree business and in exchange for free firewood that's already been cut and split, dear darling helps him out with odd jobs he needs done in his down time.  So, basically, we have heated our home for the past four years for free.

Ask around, you may be surprised at what good things are out there, free for the asking.  I'd love to hear about what you find.