Chew Freecycle - reusing stuff in the Chew Valley area
Chew Freecycle - in a nutshell
It's a free service, set up by go-zero, that sends you emails from local people about useful stuff that they want to get rid of. To subscribe to the service, just fill your email address in the box below and click the button to add it too the list.
Once you email has been added to the list you will be sent a confirmation email, when you reply to this you will be subscribed. You will then be sent emails about stuff being offered and you can offer stuff of your own by sending an email to ChewFreecycle@yahoogroups.com [1].
Chew Freecycle - questions and answers
Q. What is Chew Freecycle?
It is an email list for people living in and around the Chew Valley, to put local people in touch with one another so that people who want to get rid of stuff they don't have a use for can give it to people who can find a use for it.
Q. Can anybody take part?
Yes, although it all works better the closer you live to the Chew Valley as Chew Freecycle is all about offering and collecting stuff locally. Freecycle is also open to people representing charities or voluntary organisations, so if your local theatre group needs some old hoovers then send an email!
Q. How do I get stuff?
People with stuff to get rid of send an email to the list and everybody on the list receives the email. If they have a use for the stuff that is being got rid of then they can get in contact with the person that sent the email and arrange to get hold of it.
Q. How do I get rid of stuff?
You send an email to the email address given above stating what you have to offer and await replies. Here's an example
To: ChewFreecycle@yahoogroups.com
Subject: OFFER Skis. Stanton Drew
Two pairs of racing skis, old but good condition. Located in Stanton Drew near the Druids Arms. Email me if you are interested. Mike
You should keep the subject as short as possible but do say if you are offering or wanting something, say what it is, and say where you live roughly. You do not need to say your address or your phone number, the email will automatically have your email address on it so people can just reply to you if they are interested.
When you post to the list start your subject line off with one of these four key words: OFFER if you are offering something, TAKEN if its gone, WANTED if there is something that you need that people may have lying around in their garage, RECEIVED if someone has managed to supply you with it.
Q. Isn't this all a bit confusing?
It is a bit. What I did was just sign up and read the emails I got and very quickly saw how it all worked.
Q. Should I worry about security?
When you send an email you are giving information to other people in the community and beyond. Use your common sense about what you want them all to know about you...
OFFER: skis Stanton Hawkfield.
Two pairs of skis, they are in the way of my new quad bike in the garage and they block the door so it can't close properly, as a result I can't activate the burglar alarm. I live at NoNeighbour Cottage in Stanton Hawkfield, if you call round make sure its after 6pm because before that there will be nobody there at all.
OFFER: bits and bobs Lower Hawkfield.
On offer, a pile of back issues of Hunt Saboteurs Weekly, a shotgun without a licence, twelve fur coats and a box of rosettes for the British National Party, call me on 01293 830 159 if you have any questions.
OFFER: old telly, Old TV Norton Wick
Old TV for collection. I've just bought a 42 inch plasma TV and my wife wants me to keep it in the shed until I've got rid of the old TV. We both work in Bristol during the day so we could drop the old TV off if anyone wanted it. Call by Lockless House in Norton Wick if you are interested.
Q. What if more than one person can use what you are offering?
Then it is up to you to choose who to give them to. Weigh up who wants them and why they want them. Consider the following two examples:
Hi - I would like the skis to add to my ski collection, I currently have 34 pairs decorating the walls around my indoor swimming pool.
Hi - I am training nights for the winter Olympics while doing my A'levels but I can't afford to buy any skis, currently I'm practising with two old lengths of PVC guttering.
Q. Will I be inundated with emails if I subscribe?
The catchment area of the Chew Valley is quite low in population so there will not be a huge number of emails. If the levels do get high you can opt for a daily summary email instead of lots of individual emails. And if you really don't want any more emails you just send an email to ChewFreecycle-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com [2] and they will stop, simple as that!
Q. How do I find out more?
If you subscribe to the list as described above then you will automatically get an introductory email with more information. If you want to know more about the global Freecycle organisation then have a look at www.freecycle.org [3] If you want to know more about the Chew Freecycle list then go to groups.yahoo.com/group/ChewFreecycle
[4]
Q. What if I still have a question about it?
To get in touch with the people running the Chew Freecycle list just send an email to ChewFreecycle-owner@yahoogroups.com [5]