I met Bridget by the recycling bins. Our connection happened over empty bolts of fabric. (my car was loaded down, thanks to all the customers who shopped our clearance sale!) We had an instant rapport, visited, and then emailed some follow ups. Our encounter happened 2 days before Earth Day, and I wanted to get her story out!
I asked her if I could 'interview' her via email, and here's the result: (my questions in italic)
You and I met at the recycling bins. I was there with all the Hip Stitch cardboard. Why were you there?
I run the bins every other day or so to see if there's anything repairable or reusable, or to pull out things that don't belong like used automotive oil or scrap metal and get them where they belong.
What motivates you to do this?
Growing up, this is how my family operated. My parents always were looking for ways to extend the life of objects that other people didn't want, rescuing things from the curb, repairing instead of replacing. My dad would rescue window fans from the garbage, make a simple and easy repair, and donate them to our Church's sister Parish in a very economically disadvantaged part of town where they never had air conditioning... And this is in Ohio where it's not only hot but humid.
Tell me a bit about your background (grew up, career, interests) and anything else you want folks to know about you.
I grew up in Ohio, Cincinnati and Columbus. Although I currently work in physical therapy, my first career was working in professional restaurant kitchens and bake shops like the Hyatt Regency. I moved to New Mexico in 2003, following my sister who had come out on a speaking engagement and absolutely fell in love with the environment, the culture, and of course the food.
Here's Bridget and her friend Sallie:
Also, Bridget is an incredible artist! She'll be showing and selling her mandala artwork here:
Los Ranchos: 6718 Rio Grande Blvd NW, Los Ranchos De Albuquerque, NM 87107
Every Sat from 8-12 starting May 7, on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays
And finally, she shared with me about the Facebook group(s) by neighborhood called "Buy Nothing":
She stressed the importance that everything will find a home, a use, a project for someone if it's put out there for someone to claim! Putting an old chair, or mattress, or anything else that should NOT go in the recycling bin, will be claimed if it's just put outside the bin, or on the curb nearby, with a FREE sign. Put it up on the Buy Nothing page on Facebook.
(I confess I don't know the city guidelines about putting things out on the curb, but my point is bigger than that: don't put stuff in the recycling bin that's NOT recyclable. It defeats the purpose. It makes the job harder for those who work on the other end of recycling)
And FINALLY, try practicing "buy nothing", except for FABRIC. At Hip Stitch. Of course.
