Earlier in the week I briefly mentioned that I had been to the local dechetterie with my husband. Whilst recycling is on the up in the UK here it is a way of life. Dechetteries or the tip, is organised quite differently and linked to resourceries where items are given a new lease of life.
Close to us is Ti’recup. Here items that have been taken to the dechetterie or collected directly are resold. Their mission is to educate people about re-using items and not sending them unnecessarily to landfill. Unlike charity shops in the UK Ti’recup is not about making as much money as possible. Therefore items are extremely cheap which means that people are more likely to go and attempt to buy items there.
Much of our gite d’etape is furnished and kitted out with items from there. A mug or a glass is usually 10 cents, approximately 8p. This means that I am unconcerned that clients will break items. For one euro I can buy 10 mugs or glasses.
Last weekend I re-arranged furniture in the gite d’etape and it left me with a gap that I needed to fill and I felt that a lamp would be the answer. At the same time I need a bathroom cabinet for our cottage. Given the current situation going between the UK and Europe is extremely difficult and it will be a very long time before we see any of our furniture. We now think that it may be best to simply sell most of it in the UK and to buy what we need here. To be honest we have always bought a great deal of second hand furniture and though there are some items with sentimental value there is little that cannot be replaced for a sensible price here.
So this afternoon a friend and I set off for Ti’recoup to look for the items that I wanted. It is a glory hole and it is often difficult to leave with only what you planned to purchase. I found a cabinet that I thought would fit my bathroom unfortunately another woman had already said that she wanted to buy it, so I lost out on that one. I spent some time wandering and finally found a lamp that I thought would be suitable, 3 euros. The base is decorated with leaves, La Feuillee, which is where our gite d’etape is situated, translates as The Leaf, so I felt that this was particularly appropriate. Some of you may know that I collect teapots and strangely there are often a number there. This one for 30 cents, is unusual and so I couldn’t let it go. I continued to look for a cabinet and finally found something that I thought would do. I will paint it. At the moment it is looking rather tired and sorry for itself. However for 2.50 euros, yes cheaper than the lamp and with a marble top, an absolute bargain and if I don’t like it in 6 months I can send it back!
Where do you go for a glorious bargain? And how can we encourage more people, to reuse, recycle and to better consider the resources available on our planet?
Tales from the Sheshed France 
Here in Powys I have been picking up items on Facebook marketplace or auctions. The last things I bought was a good as new rug £30 and a bag of dinosaurs £3!
The local people (only been here 2 years) we have met so far are very keen on thrifty ways, also advising us to use local suppliers for farm eggs and meat.
I seem to have connected with people who enjoy gardens so we have been sharing cuttings and unwanted plants. One way to reuse recycle I suppose.
Good luck with your purchases Zenna.
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I think that sounds wonderful. I think the sharing of plants and cuttings is wonderful. I shall share my cupboard when I’ve painted it.
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Love it! Wish we had something similar – I can’t bear just sending stuff to the tip.
Generally I donate and shop in charity shops (St Luke’s a local hospice shop). Now I’ve moved to a quieter place I also put stuff in a box outside the house with a ‘help yourself’. This is only good for waterproof stuff – recently put out dozens of plant pots and trays – all recycled within 24 hours. Wish I could do that with clothes! 🤗
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It is quite amazing here. You find few charity shops per se but the resourceries are abundant. In normal times there are vide greniers every weekend, literally empty the loft. A bit like car boots but again very cheap. These can be in someone’s house or barn or are organised by the local commune, parish, and raise funds for the locality.
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Love it! Wish we had something similar – I can’t bear just sending stuff to the tip.
Generally I donate and shop in charity shops (St Luke’s a local hospice shop). Now I’ve moved to a quieter place I also put stuff in a box outside the house with a ‘help yourself’. This is only good for waterproof stuff – recently put out dozens of plant pots and trays – all recycled within 24 hours. Wish I could do that with clothes! 🤗
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Fantastic bargains there Zenna ! I normally go to the Chiffoneirs in Morlaix and have done for about 20 years but the prices have slowly crept up. Market place is pretty good but generally most second hand things are more expensive here I think.
Your teapot is brilliant. I collect old ceramic pate bowels and general kitchen items. We virtually did our whole house with second hand things. Like you, I would always prefer to but something preowned. All the materials, pollution in their creation, taxes, resources and sometimes love are thrown away too easily. I like to think that if an object has a purpose and can be reused or repaired then it still has a life with me. The Japanese don’t throw away broken pots or China and glue them and them use gold leaf to put along the crack to accentuate the fact it was broken. They think that it enhances its beauty and shows it’s past. I love this idea. Something has to be totally knackered for me to throw it out. I have bags of old clothing that I plan on turning into rag rugs and such. Now all I need are 6 more hours in every day !! Xxxx
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I like Chiffoniers, but Ti’recup is certainly the cheapest. Let me know when you find those 6 hours!
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You might find them first ! Hahaha xxx
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Ha, ha! I can but hope!
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Very jealous of your dechetterie, wish we had something like that here, I tend to look at auctions or gumtree but they are quite expensive at times, our dump/recycling centre is just so expensive
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I do think with things like that the UK have it wrong. We need to encourage people to reuse.
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