Reducing your ecological footprint by choosing to reuse doesn’t have to stop with your wardrobe or home décor. You can apply those same ideas to your outdoor living space. Here are a few ideas.
Reuse outdoor furniture
Need something fixed? Check out a local furniture repair shop.
Looking for something new-to-you? The Habitat for Humanity ReStore is a good source for used outdoor furniture, or any local thrift stores may carry a limited supply of patio goods.
Don’t care to go to a store? Check out one of several websites where people post their used goods for sale (or maybe even for free!) like Craigslist, Facebook, and Nextdoor.
Repair outdoor kitchens
Keeping outdoor kitchens working can be tricky in our climate. If your gas grill is having problems, be sure to check with your local hardware store or appliance repair service to see if they can repair it. Or if you’re handy and like to repair things yourself, there are plenty of video tutorials online to help walk you through repairs. You can find information for charcoal grill repair as well as other items online as well on places like Family Handyman, Popular Mechanics and Better Homes and Gardens.
Repurpose outdoor décor
Outdoor spaces are a perfect place to be creative, unique and quirky – all qualities that are great for reusing and repurposing materials instead of buying new. There are many terrific places to find these secondhand treasures – from occasional shops to antique stores and thrift shops.
Or just take a creative look around your home or garage and reuse or repurpose something you already own. Places like Pinterest can be your best friend to give you inspiration or instructions.
If you’re looking to get rid of some of your décor, make sure it is in good shape and check with your local store that takes donations if they accept that type of item.
Plants and more plants
Minnesotans love their gardens, which means people often have plenty of greenery they either want to get or they want to get rid of. Consider your ecological footprint and post on or check local websites where people sell or exchange used goods like Craigslist, Facebook, and Nextdoor. Or visit a local plant swap. Plant swaps often include garden tools and planting equipment in addition to plants and seeds. Our Choose to Reuse event listing lists some of these, or find them listed on local city, neighborhood or garden-focused websites and calendars, your community newspaper, or yard signs placed around town.
Enjoy your outdoor living the reuse way.
