SECONDHAND SUNDAY (SEPT. 27): Put your stuff on the curb and find out what others what put out on their curbs!

Since it is still not safe to hold a crowded market in one place, we are joining City-supported Secondhand Sunday and inviting all of you to be part of it by putting your stuff on your own curb next Sunday, September 27th, 9 am-5pm!

WHAT IS Secondhand Sunday?

Secondhand Sunday (SHS) is a community reuse day held the last Sunday of April and September. It’s your chance to get rid of unwanted, reusable items laying around your home.

Simply leave them on your property next to the sidewalk or curb for your neighbours to take for free.

Then, get in on the action and hunt for what you may need (on others' sidewalks). 

The September Secondhand Sunday has been approved by Toronto Public Health.

If you want to participate and also find out about other participants in your area, email Secondhand Sunday. That will give you an opportunity to connect with the others via facebook as well. You will be sent that information. 

And here are printable POSTERS and POSTCARDS you can use to advertise it on your block and encourage your neighbours to join.

Find here also a helpful list of additional INSTRUCTIONS 
provided by Secondhand Sunday (e.g., what to put out, what to do at end of day).

Everything you want to know about Secondhand Sunday--FAQs, contacts, what to do if you live in a multi-residential building, volunteer opportunities, and more--can be found on Secondhand Sunday's website. 

See you September 27th: everywhere in Toronto!

This Saturday Aug. 15 & Sunday Aug. 16 : Really Really Free Market @Home Edition! NOT at Campbell Park

 

This Saturday & Sunday: Really Really Free Market @Home Edition!  NOT at Campbell Park.  (also, read on: a different kind of market) In the spirit of community, sharing, and reducing waste, some of our market attendees have agreed to have mini-free markets on their front lawns on Saturday.   Their addresses are listed below, but will updated in the given lin For privacy concerns, some of them have not included a specific house number.   Please Join In:  =》By going for a walk and possibly picking up a few new-to-you treasures!    =》OR by joining in and placing items you are ready to part with out on your curb/yard/driveway for others! If you decide to join, please send us your address (by street or by number) before Saturday,  to rrfmarket@gmail.com and we will add you to the list. Tell your neighbour's too. Perhaps they will join as well- the more the merrier!    We will make available a poster available online for you print so as to make yourself known to passers-by.   If not, just visit the listed places and enjoy some FREE shopping this weekend. (Do NOT take anything to these places. It is not a swap event.) IMPORTANT: YOU MAY NOT TAKE YOUR STUFF TO ANY OF THESE MINI-MARKETS. YOU MAY ONLY GIVE AWAY STUFF AT YOUR OWN PLACE.   ALL COVID-19 PROTOCOLS APPLY. DO NOT GO IF YOU ARE SICK. MAINTAIN 2m PHYSICAL DISTANCE FROM OTHERS.   ALL MARKET PROTOCOLS APPLY. TAKE TURNS LOOKING LOOKING AT STUFF AND TAKE ONLY WHAT YOU NEED. REMEMBER TO CLEAR YOUR LEFTOVERS FROM YOUR DISPLAY AREA BY 5 PM IN ACCORDANCE WITH CITY BYLAWS. CHECK UPDATED LIST BEFORE YOU GO OUT SATURDAY OR SUNDAY, at:  https://bit.ly/2PQuXXE CURRENT LIST (as of August 12) RRFM @Home Edition August 15 & 16, 2020  Saturday & Sunday   SATURDAY:   Hemford Crescent and Duncairn Road (nearest major intersection -- Don Mills Road and Lawrence Avenue East)  9 am to end of day   50 Edgecombe avenue (Avenue road and lawrence- south of lawrence, west of avenue road on west side)  10 am to 2 pm   Laurel Ave between Bloor St and Burnhamthorpe Rd, Etobicoke (Nearest major intersection Blood and East Mall) 10 am to end of day   150 Hampton Ave  (100 m south of Danforth Ave, near Chester station) 11 am to end of day   138 Albany Avenue (Nearest major intersection Bathurst and Bloor) 9:30 am to end of day Marian Engel park, which is between Shaw and Christie, and Davenport and Dupont   (south of Davenport, north of Dupont) 10:00 am to 3:00 pm   SUNDAY:   Keele Street between Bloor and Glenlake (Nearest major intersection Bloor and Keele) 10 am to end of day   150 Hampton Ave  (100 m south of Danforth Ave, near Chester station) 12 noon to 4 pm

Re-Use Your Glass Jars

Hi everyone!

I hope everyone has been safe and well during these times. There's been a LOT going on in the world during the past couple of months, and while we should all be talking some time to continue to educate ourselves about global and national issues, we also must find a balance and practice some self-care (so that we can continue to show up and learn!)

 I'm coming to you today with a light-hearted DIY post. For me, I've found that moving my hands and crafting has been really beneficial for my overall wellbeing, and I find it very soothing! At times, I get discouraged because I don't think that much of what I'm creating is particularly "beautiful" but I don't want to let that stop me from merely trying.

When the pandemic hit and my work closed and school went online, I flew to where my partner lives to bunker up with them. This has been great, buuuut I has less than a day to pack and I didn't think I would be living somewhere other than my apartment for 4+ months. I, inevitably, did not pack as many things as I would've liked to have. And it is truly just little things that I didn't think to bring, but would be nice to have, so I've been trying to be inventive about making them instead of buying them while I'm up here!

Recently, I've really been wanting a spot to put my makeup brushes that isn't my make up bag. So I decided to re-use a jar that we would've recycled anyway! You can really for this DIY for anything that you want to put in a jar, whether it be cotton balls, coins, or even just decor! Here's how I did it.

Step one: Remove any labels the jar has. If your jar is sticky to the touch, soak it in a bowl of vinegar for ~30 minutes, and then scrub at it with a scrubbie (the one you use to wash dishes) under warm water. Repeat if necessary.

Step two: Gather your supplies!
You will need: 4 acrylic paint colors that you think work well together, your clean jar, paint brushes or q tips, and some paper towel/water, and a palette

I went with these four colours, but any four that you like will do! 

Step three: For this pattern, we are going to be doing dots, around dots, around dots (this will make sense in a minute). So decide on your sequence of colours. I decided to go from darkest to lightest, so blue-purple-pink-white, but I also think any combination would look really nice!

Step four: start dotting! I want my first (blue) dot to be the biggest, and my outside (white) dots to be the smallest, so I went for a combination of q-tips and small paintbrushes to achieve this. Having a really light touch while doing the small dots really helped, but sometimes they were still kind of big! Don't be discouraged if that happens - it'll still look beautiful!

Start with your first color (blue) and make a single, large dot. 

Then using your next color (purple) make slightly smaller dots around the blue. 

Repeat for the next two colours! 

Step 5: Repeat all over the jar!

Step 6: Once you're happy with how your jar looks, let dry overnight and place your items in it the next morning!

I added my makeup brushes once the paint was dry. I also added a fun blue stripe going around the jar! 

I think that adding a base coat of colour under the dots would be really fun and make the dots pop even more, but I like the way mine looks too! 

Let me know what you think and how yours turn out in the comment section below. 

All the best, 

Nicole :) 

Spring Cleaning During A Pandemic (Tips!)

Hello Market-Goers!

Most of the organizations that accept second-hand items are closed right now - including our Really Really Free Market. Some organizations, such as Diabetes Canada, are even begging people to stop leaving items at their donation bins, as they will ultimately end up in the garbage since they can't be collected at this time.

If you are able to store your stuff for when donations can be accepted again, that's the best thing to do! 

If you really really can't keep and store your items, then you can post things for free online. Many people are struggling with layoffs and might really need what you have. We would only recommend doing this if you can arrange contactless porch pick-ups. It would also be good to advise recipients to handle things with care: wash/sanitize hands after pick-up and wash/sanitize items before use.

Below are some places you can share and/or look for items for free:

     ✹ facebook.com/marketplace/
     ✹ buynothingproject.org/find-a-group/
     ✹ bunz.com
     ✹ PALZ groups on Facebook (search "PALZ" to find various groups)
     ✹ freecycle.org
     ✹ Kijiji.ca
     ✹ craigslist.org
     ✹ trashnothing.com
     ✹ Use Facebook’s search bar to look up the name of your neighbourhood, a local Buy/Sell/Trade           group might show up
     ✹ Putting items on your front lawn, if the weather doesn't call for rain, with a "free" sign for those           that live on a busy street.

Tip: When posting items to give away online, be sure to include:
1) Photo(s)
2) A description with the condition of the item
3) The closest intersection to the pick-up location

We hope everyone is staying healthy, safe and is well during these times.
Love, The RRFM Team 

Update + What To Do During Quarantine

Hello folks!

I hope all is well for you during these uncertain times.

As you (may) already know, the RRFM is CLOSED until further notice.  It is of course sad - but necessary as physical distancing is the safest thing we can do for ourselves and for each other. We miss you all dearly and look forward to seeing your bright and smiling faces when it is safe for us to re-open the RRFM market!

I have been in quarantine for a little over a month now. It started off pretty fun, I got to spend my time catching up on everything I couldn't do before. Finally watching that netflix show thats been on 'My List' for months, chatting with friends (over the phone) I hadn't seen in a while, and finishing up my school work. But . . . by the third week I hit a wall! I was SO! BORED! I had more spare time on my hand than I was used to, which definitely seems to be the general consensus amongst a lot of us. With all of this spare time, I didn't really know what to do. And then I got to thinking about all the cool items I picked up at the market over the past year and got busy. So here are my top three activities (right now) when that self-isolation boredom hits you hard:

#1: That Stack of Books 

You know, that stack. The stack that you keep telling yourself you'll get too when you just have a little bit more free time. Well, nows that time! I know I have picked up SO many book from the market over the past few months that I told myself I would get too one day. Today is that day!

I know they say not to judge a book by its cover, but my recommendation to you is to pick which one to start with based on the cover. You likely picked it up because the description piqued your interest - so no need to read it again! Just choose at whim and get to reading.

#2: Try to craft! 

Learning a new form of art can be really intimidating, whether its painting, sewing, drawing, knitting, collaging, etc. All can be really hard to start, but once you do you'll find your groove!

I've been learning how to cross stitch over the past few months which has been hard but rewarding. There are tons of free templates online so I just try to find one that matches the colors I currently have and get to sewing. My current supplies did not come from the market, but I've definitely seen cross stitch rings and tons of thread there before - so if you were the lucky one that picked up any crafting items, now is a great time to pick it up!

#3: New Kitchen Tool Fun!

Have you found a new kitchen gadget at the market recently that you've wanted to test out? What about a new plate, bowl or pan? Nows a great time for it! I know I've been watching a lot of Hell's Kitchen recently, and have been inspired to try to plate my food a little nicer. It's such a fun way to show off those beautiful plates or bowls you've picked out form the market! Pans are also a veeeeery versatile item - I've made everything from pitas to falafel to stovetop pizza on one. Don't be shy to get creative with whatever kitchen item you've picked up and really think out of the box.

How have you been staying busy? Let me know in the comments below. :)
-Nicole

IMPORTANT NOTICE: APRIL 4th CANCELLATION!

Dear Market-goers,

Given that it is not possible to consistently maintain the recommended "social distance" of 2 metres between us at at our monthly markets, and also given that most items at the market are handled by multiple people who will be hard pressed to wash their hands every 10 minutes, we are cancelling the April 4th Really Really Free Market at Campbell Park.

We will remain optimistic and cancel only one market for now (the following one would be on May 2nd), and act according to developments and recommendations from public health authorities.

Wash your hands, try not to touch your face, elbow "handshake" (remember how we did it during SARS?), and self-isolate if you've travelled abroad. Those precautions should also help protect us from most seasonal colds and flus. Take care of each other, and see you as soon as possible! 

-The Organizing Volunteers of Really Really Free Market Toronto West End (Campbell Park)

DIY Project: Mirror Painting!

Hi folks!

            This month I wanted to share a fun DIY project I did with artsy-mirrors I found at the market in the fall time. They had such a fun shape that I had to grab them! Unfortunately, I don’t have any before pictures of the mirrors. I scoured my phone to see if I had taken any without any luck. Nonetheless, here is the after:

            When I found them, they were a stark white color with some scuff marks. My room already has a lot of white décor, so I knew immediately that if I grabbed them I would be painting them a different color. The shape reminded me of a sun with sun rays so I debated painting it a fun mix of yellow/orange. Ultimately, I went with this burgundy color so that it would match my bed sheets and really tie my room together.

            On a warm Sunday, I headed to the Wal-Mart near my house to get my supplies: sand paper, paint, and paint brushes. When I got home, I made sure to lay down some newspaper so I would contain the mess I was about to create. First, I buffed the mirrors wood frame with the sand paper to get rid of any bumps. This ensures a smoother finish. Then I took some green works all purposes cleaning spray and blotted it. This helped remove anything that came off while I sanded it and got rid of some of the scuff marks. I also took the time to Windex the mirror bit. I let this dry for 30 minutes or so and then I got to the fun part: painting!

            Wal-Mart didn’t have the exact colour I was looking for so I actually purchased two different colours and mixed them together. I got Apple Barrel’s Bright Red and Barn Red colour, and mixed 3 parts Barn Red with 1 part Bright Red to get my desired colour. After applying the first coat I let it sit for about an hour to dry up, and then applied the second coat!

If I could do it again, I would definitely recommend purchasing painters tape and taping up the mirror portion so as not to get any paint on the mirror. If this DOES happen, I found that wiping it up immediately with a bit of wet paper towel did the trick to get it off. As well, you’ll be able to get a better, more even coat around the inside edge. Picture below, you can see it’s a bit uneven! But, I like to think it adds to the charm. 

            All in all, this was a super fun project and I love the way it looks in my bedroom! Have you done any DIY projects with items you’ve found at the market? Let us know in the comments!

-Nicole

Hi everyone!

Just a reminder that the next RRFM is coming up in a couple days - March 7th!

Don't forget to bring a reusable bag for all your found goodies. Saturday morning is looking to be sunny, but cold so don't forget to bundle up!

See you there,
Nicole

Hello and welcome to the RRFM blog!

My name is Nicole and I’m the newest addition to the wonderful team of volunteers that helps run this market. I’m very excited to be a part of this and get to know all of you that make the market so special!

A bit about me: I study Food and Nutrition at Ryerson, so of course I’m always cooking and baking. I haven’t had a functional oven for the last two years, but my apartment recently go an upgrade so I have been making so many fun dishes. From lasagne, to eggplant parmesan, to carrot cake loaf, the possibilities feel endless. I truly didn’t know how much good food I was missing out on (or, maybe, I just didn’t want to think about it.) I like to be active so in the summer months you can catch me hiking almost every single weekend and as many weeknights as I can, and in the winter I like to keep things inside so I do a lot of yoga. Buuuut I did get a pair of hockey skates as a present recently so you just might catch me doing laps before and after the market at Campbell Park rink.

I heard about the RRFM through a former-roommate but still very good friend of mine. She was new to the city and so was actively exploring what it had to offer more than I was, and stumbled upon it online! She thought “cool! I love free stuff” and went to it. When I came home later that night, I opened up the freezer to grab some pierogies and there was a baseball cap in there. After some laughing, she explained that she had gotten it from a market and it was a method she read about online to kill any germs or bacteria it might be harbouring. This seemed questionable (fact-check this before you rely on this method!!) but she went on to tell me all about the market and the cool things she found there! I went next month, found some great items and loved it.

If YOU are interested in coming – the next market will be on March 7^th! It’s always the first Saturday of every month, but just in case you forget, I’ll be putting out a reminder here on the blog a couple of days before.

All the best, and if you see me (or any other volunteers) don’t be shy to say hi!

-Nicole