Starting Repurpose before it was Called Repurposing

Starting Repurpose before it was Called Repurposing
by Jan Johnson, Webmaster www.discoversolarenergy.com

Of the 3 R’s, the one in which I have the most practice is REUSE.  I grew up with a crafting mother.  When I became restless as a child, Mom took down a box from the top shelf in her closet.   Inside the box was all kinds of good stuff – ribbon, beads, odd puzzle pieces, used strings, paper, broken things, bits of this-and-that.  She would hand me the box and ask me to make her something.  My Dad gave me scrap lumber and invited me to make something.   So I was blessed to grow up in a home where I was encouraged to see new uses for items. 
Of course I didn’t think of this in terms of repurposing, but that is exactly what I did.  I picked flowers and put them in a mayo jar.  I turned wooded yardsticks into the most delightful little boxes.   As I recalled I lined them with fabric scraps from Mom’s sewing projects.  I made purses from old pairs of jeans.  I make chip bowls, which became Christmas gifts,  out of vinyl record albums.  The list goes on and on.
My parents always found treasure in somebody’s trash.  They looked for old furniture that Dad could redesign, remake and refinish into the most marvelous pieces.  This hobby turned into a cottage business for him.
Repurposing, just to clarify, is reusing something in a different way than it was originally intended.  Repurposing is good for the environment.   It certainly saves money and the amount of items in the landfill.
Repurposing is a way of thinking.  Before tossing something ask yourself,  "How else can it be use?" Before buying something ask yourself, "Do I already have something that can meet the need?"   Before buying something new, shop the thrift stores.
Here is a list of Repurpose ideas

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