Recycled Treasures

It’s a sale, it’s a party, it’s a chance to clean out your attic or stock up on gently-used baby gear—it’s a garage sale. And starting this month, you can expect to enjoy a series of neighbourhood-wide sales, where you will find more than you likely bargained for.

Garage sales are particularly good opportunities for laying claim to amazingly inexpensive kid gear, often in excellent condition. Whether you’re in the market for a vintage Fisher Price garage, a Little Tykes play structure or a double Chariot bike stroller in good shape, a neighbourhood garage sale is a promising hunting ground.

The Great Glebe Garage Sale, arguably Ottawa’s most anticipated sale, is coming up on Saturday, May 23, from 9 am to 3 pm. As experienced shoppers, we can tell you that the best advice is to arrive early—and we mean early—especially if you’re hoping to snag some great kids’ stuff. Ignore the 9 am start time, because a lot of the best loot is gone by 8 am (and as we like to remind our readers, you’re up anyway!).

Look for sidewalk sales along Bank Street courtesy of merchants. If your little ones are stroller-bound, bring the lightest, skinniest set of wheels you have so you can easily navigate crowded streets and sidewalks. A backpack or stroller basket is a great way to store your findings. Give older children a small allowance to up the fun potential, and see what kinds of bargains they can strike.

You don’t need to live in the Glebe to sell—just rent a table and set yourself up where the traffic is busy. For more info, contact Sabrina Quraeshi at (613) 737-6746 or e-mail dave.sabrina@sympatico.ca.

There are at least two other huge garage sales coming up next month. On June 6, head to Westboro for a community-wide sale featuring Dovercourt Park as ground zero, with a barbecue and bouncy castle for the kids. If you’d rather sell than shop, rent a table for $10.

Near the end of the summer, make your way to the Old Ottawa South Porch Sale, an annual event held on the first Saturday in September with an average of 300 homes participating.

Want to organize your own community garage sale? Canvass the neighbours first and if there is interest, you’ll need to contact your community association, since they may be willing to help you organize and publicize the event. Spreading the word is key, so get your information out on flyers, posters, storefront windows and community websites. If your kids are old enough, they’ll love keeping track of the money and putting flyers up around the neighbourhood. A small refreshment stand (aka lemonade) is a great addition on a hot day.

Some communities direct a portion of their sales’ profits to charity—suggest that residents set aside 10 per cent for a local cause.

Now, to find a Saturday when there is no soccer…or other pressing parental responsibilities.

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