This is a very simple idea, costs nothing, but can build awareness and connection. Have you ever noticed that when motorcycle riders pass one another....whether they know each other or not.....they do the lowered straight arm fist or open palm thing?

Dumpster diving is intimidating for many (not to mention illegal). Freecycle is great, but old magazines or tin can lids don't seem worthy of mass emailing.

Many cities have specific locations (often next to/part of recycling drop-offs) for sharing free stuff.

The puruser still finds treasure at her own risk, but doesn't have to sort through rotting veggies to find wood scraps for a home improvement project.

Bins can be labeled clearly to make organization easy.

Why do we send our savings accounts, retirement funds, pension funds, and other investments off to other communities? Let’s invest SOME of that in the success of the local community.

Local banks like First Bank Richmond already have some investment programs that guarantee you're investing your funds in the success of local businesses.  We could create other kinds of "stocks" that allow us to put our money where our mouths are.

We don't all need to own our own lawnmower, tiller, weed whacker and gardening tools, do we?  We buy these things and keep our own because we think that's convenient, but how much harder would it be to walk down the street to a neighborhood tool shed where you could "check out" a well-maintained yard appliance for a few hours, and for much less than the cost of buying it yourself?  Sounds good, doesn't it?