More FreeCycling Possible For Chestnut Hill

Along West Highland Avenue during Sunday's Home and Garden Festival, Eco Alley, sponsored by Green in Chestnut Hill (GRinCH), contained vendors from environmentally-friendly companies, live music and information about being green.

The newest feature of Eco Alley was a FreeCycling event where visitors could peruse books, movies and CDs that were completely free. The materials were donated by residents who preferred to recycle their old media instead of throwing it away.

"Eco Alley and the FreeCycle were a huge success. The FreeCycle was our first event of its kind and we had no idea what to expect. We were shocked to walk into Valley Green Bank (the drop off spot) Sunday to see a sea of books! We estimate 1,500-2,000 books, CDs and DVDs were donated. The tables were over flowing and crowded with treasure-hunters all day. By the end of the fest we were down to a few dozen left," said Amy Edelman, co-founder of GRinCH.

The event was such a success, in fact, that another FreeCycle could be in the works. This time, it will be even bigger, without being limited to books, CDs and DVDs.

"Because of the FreeCycle success and excitement surrounding it, GRinCH is discussing the possibility of a 'full on' FreeCycle on a larger scale in the late summer or early fall. It would be in Chestnut Hill and independent of festivals and include all the items you would find at a yard sale. Details will be shared as they emerge," Edelman said.