This is a fun thread. I hate to send anything to the landfill. Guess I’m a hoarder but I’m also artistic. Broken tools, if I’m not able to repair them, go in a pile outside ready for a sculpture. I have 7 broken shovels in that pile and know I’ll get to the sculpture next summer. Making stuff from “trash” thrills me. During this Covid pandemic I’ve been grateful to have stuff I can make something out of. When I wanted a scarecrow last spring I found a broken rake, some bubble wrap, 2 very used holy work gloves, my rain boots that didn’t keep water out anymore, some flimsy stained fabrics, some old red paint and made a super fun scarecrow adorned 2 big eyes out of old CD disks. I noticed the birds stayed clear of my newly planted corn seed for a change. I took the rest of my CD stash and hung them in all my fruit trees. The holographic look worked and I had more fruit this year, especially figs that the birds have devoured in the past.
When I needed a garden gate I remembered an old futon wooden frame I was saving for it’s 1x4 slating and it made 2 great gates. I’ve got bunch’s of mismatched tile of different styles and colors... I did an entire bathroom with them & it worked well. Yes it took more time to work with them but it was satisfying to complete the project. I’m not into the mindset that time is money and I could go buy or hire out whatever I need, but I want to reuse whatevers already in my house & shed. I found too that broken tile makes great planting markers.
I do keep organized & can find items fairly quickly. I wouldn’t be able to live in a disoriented cluttered space. Appalachian assets are what I keep around to use one day, even if I don’t hv a current use for them. I’ve got bags of jar tops and will be making a wind thingy for the garden to deter the bears, deer, Coons, groundhogs, etc. My plan is to drill a sm hole thru the tops, run some fishing line thru them and attach it to a long piece of bamboo.
I keep 5 big bins in my cellar marked, 2021, 2022 .... & stock them with non perishable food I find on sale. I just make sure I use each years before filling it up for a later year. I don’t consider those as hoarding or saving ... just being prepared to take care of myself in a problematic environment.
I don’t see a reason to get down on ourselves for keeping stuff IF we have space & can keep it sorted. Repurposing “junk” Is a fine hobby. I haven’t watched TV for over 25 years. Figuring out what to do with junky assets is much more exciting entertainment to me.
