The annual Wildsight Elk Valley Community Yard Sale is back and is taking place Saturday, May 25th from 9am to 1pm and all households, organizations, and businesses are encouraged to take part!
Recent trends such as the popular Netflix series Tidying Up with Marie Kondo, highlight the benefits of letting go of items that are no longer cherished or regularly used. Kondo’s trademarked method, rooted in Japanese culture and Shinto spiritual practices, is one of many helpful ways to re-evaluate our possessions and how they shape our lives. The long-standing tradition of spring cleaning can bring a breath of fresh air into the home, and create a more organized and relaxing environment for the whole family.
Spring cleaning also reveals what we might want to purchase — and why not try to find these items second hand first? The second-hand economy continues to be important to Canadians. According to The 4th Annual Kijiji Second-Hand Economy Index the sale of gently used items accounted for 28.5 Billion dollars spent in 2017, with an estimated 4.1 billion in British Columbia alone. 85% of Canadians have participated in the second-hand economy. The 25-44 age group engage the most, citing affordability, environmentalism, and the ability to find products that aren’t in local stores as reasons to seek out a second-hand item.
Yard sales may seem old fashioned in the age of online sale and swap pages, but many advantages remain; they’re an opportunity to get to know neighbours and run in to old friends, to support someone you see around town, and tour the community in a unique way. Any items which aren’t sold are already organized and ready to be donated appropriately, or sold in other ways.
Being a part of the Wildsight Elk Valley Community Yard Sale is easy — participants pay a $20.00 fee and register before May 13th! All proceeds go towards supporting environmental education programming in Fernie and surrounding areas. Registration forms can be found on at wildsight.ca/yardsale, or in the May editions of the Fernie Free Press. Your $20 registration fee includes yard sale signage, online promotion, and inclusion on Wildsight’s Community Yard Sale map which will be published in The Free Press on May 23. If you register after May 13th that is not a problem but please be aware your address will not be on the Fernie Free Press Yard Sale Trail map. You will however, receive extensive online promotion of your sale.
Wildsight Elk Valley will also be hosting a “White Elephant” sale at their office at 891 Second Avenue in Fernie. Residents who aren’t able to host their own garage sale but want to participate can drop off items anytime after May 10th.
We hope you are able to host a sale or visit a sale (or 20!) on May 25th! Happy treasure hunting!
