I was organizing in our camp's workshop, and came across a bucket of nails.  I knew what needed to be done, sort them by size.  I quickly figured out they were probably on their way to the landfill, there were beer caps and other junk mixed in.  But I went through them all, and saved many.  The twisted, U-shaped or headless ones of course continued to the discard pile.  But the ones that need just a tap, and they're usable again, are now in jars on the workbench.

My kids, with a carpenter for a father, were always eager to build too.  They were handed a hammer, a fist of used nails, and board to straighten them on.  New nails for the kids?  No way! Sometimes it was an assigned chore too, Dad was taking something apart, and his helper was straightening the nails.

How about buttons?  Does anyone cut the buttons off old shirts before they go in the rag bag?  Does anyone have rag bag anymore?

Rita Hall has been keeping shop downtown Greenville this summer in the Artisan Cottages.  I have a few pair of her mittens at Kelly MountainMittens that are marked WAY down, left over from last winter.  Just as warm and beautiful, but less of a selection.  Soon I'll be picking up more, and they'll be at the same price Rita always sells them, $40.  

Which brings us to Moosehead Marketplace, which I need to, since this is a business blog.  One thing we reuse, and lots of it, is packing materials.  I buy none of it new.  The bubble wrap, air "pillows", and brown paper have all been used before.  A lot of it comes from my friends at Beyond-a-Century.com, they have a vitamin and supplement business in Greenville.  Also Kineo View Motor Lodge gives me lots.  Some of it I don't even know where it came from, people just open my door and drop off bags of it.  I inspect it, wipe it clean, and reuse.

Some of our products are made from upcycled materials.  Dawn Jennison hand cuts old Monson slate shingles for her products.  Rita Hall uses wool sweaters she buys at thrift shops, washes and sews the material into mittens.  The balsam bags and pillows are from recycled Christmas trees.  The canvas bags from material left over from Bonnie's boat top business.  And so on. 

Coasters hand painted on hand cut slate, balsam bags and pillows from upcycled Christmas trees, signs painted on recycled boards.  

So I'll keep straightening nails.  Cutting off buttons.  And sending along packing materials that I hope you can reuse too.