Spring is almost here. Time to throw open the doors, soak in the sunshine, and reconnect with fellow hibernators. It’s also a good time to give away the stuff that’s been piling up in our houses, get seeds in the ground, strengthen relationships with neighbors and discover new places.
Here are some ideas to help make this Spring a shareable one. From community gardens to neighborhood work parties, community swaps, DIY weddings and more, these how-to’s provide ways to share goods, experiences, land and food.
GARDENING
Having a garden is a great way to fuel your body with fresh, healthy food, to connect with the earth, to make friends and to strengthen communities. Whether a small container garden, garden beds in the yard or a plot in a community garden, getting your hands in the dirt is good for mind and body. And, gardens are excellent demonstrations of abundance; there is always more than enough to share.
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- How to Share a Vegetable Garden
Photo by Shira Golding
SPRING CLEANING
Call it Spring cleaning, decluttering, downsizing or just getting rid of junk, Spring is a good time to look at what you’ve accumulated, determine what you’re using, and give the excess to people who need it. There are lots of online platforms for sharing stuff including Facebook freecycling groups, yerdle and Freecycle. You can also arrange offline events to swap goods. Here are some ways to get started:
- How to Throw Your Own Community Swap Meet
- How to Throw a Used Toy Exchange
- How to Throw a Successful Yard Sale
Creative Commons photo by Eve Cristescu
KIDS AND FAMILY
Many sharing events are either kid-friendly to begin with or can be modified to be kid- and family-friendly, but here are a few kid-specific ideas for promoting sharing, community and sustainability this Spring.
Photo courtesy of the Better Block Project
NEIGHBORHOOD
Whether in a city, the suburbs or a rural area, sharing begins with the people around you. Neighbors are key players in strengthening the sharing economy and building stronger communities. Here are a few ways to bring your neighborhood together to socialize, strategize and get things done this Spring.
- 10 Ways to Create Community in a Suburban Neighborhood
Party Box Photo by Carol Church
CELEBRATIONS
Spring is a primo time to throw a party, or a wedding, or an outdoor gathering. Why not do it shareable-style? From decorations and food, to plates and entertainment, there are, as usual, plenty of resources and talent to go around if we put our minds to it. Here are two examples of sharing being used to throw a great event.
- How to Plan a DIY Wedding
Creative Commons photo by katerha
TRAVEL
For some, Springtime means making hitting the road. Whether traveling by foot, bike or vehicle, there are ways to incorporate sharing into vacations of any size. Airbnb, Couchsurfing, home swaps and more offer alternative to hotels; ride sharing and car sharing platforms including Zimride, Carpooling.com, RelayRides and Getaround can help get you to your destination, shareable-style; and Vayable can connect you with locals who are willing to share the insider’s experience. For those wanting to get completely off the beaten path, check out the Ultimate Guide to Traveling Without Money. Here are more tools to help incorporate sharing into your travel experience.
These are just some of the many ways that you can kick off a Shareable Spring. Find more ideas, check out Shareable’s how to share resource page.
What are you doing to kick off a Shareable Spring? Let us know in comments.
