Upcycle Materials

As I stated in my last Sustainable Saturday post, this week will be spring related. I reclaim materials frequently, when feasible, and store it for future use. My clients often like the fact that I upcycle materials that otherwise would have ended up in a landfill. This week I am cleaning up my shop and garage so I am going through all of the things I have recovered from last year.

I have a modest shop in my basement where I make and repair many items. It also houses most of my woodworking tools along with lumber that I frequently use. I also keep some of my more interesting reclaimed materials that I use for upcycle projects, like the Little Free Library I am making. There is a worthy local charity in Ann Arbor called Food Gatherers that gets and distributes food to needy families. They have a silent auction that I make something for every year. Last year I donated a Little Free Library and it did very well, so I am making them another for this year. The auction is not until summer but I am not one to procrastinate.

If you are unfamiliar with Little Free Libraries, they are a box to install in your front yard to share books. They are often made out of reclaimed materials and are created with original designs, each one being unique. I tend to over build mine because I have the skill and the materials to do so. They can also be made with a simple design and use a minimal amount of material, but that is not my style.

This is a great time of year to make a project like this in your basement or garage. It is fairly simple and you can make it as intricate as you wish for your front yard. I am making another one for my house while I make the one for Food Gatherers so they will look similar. It is nice to get this built so when the frost line is gone you can get it installed early spring. It is a weekend project and can be done with friends or family. It only takes basic tools (unless you are like me and make it to last decades) and can fun project to do with kids. Remember, safety first!