Forget the internet of things; find what you need and a sense of community connection at the same time with our take on a shopping directory with a difference, compiled by Ellen Warrell.
Cuddles and company with Borrow My Doggy. Miss spending time with a dog, or have a furry friend of your own that you could use a hand with, for walks or even a holiday? Borrowmydoggy.com will help you find trusted local people (and dogs!).
Pop into the actual library. Libraries are full of good stuff. You can visit for a welcoming space, free books and audiobooks, and computer access – or join online to borrow e-books via an app. Many libraries also host craft sessions, talks and cultural events as a great way to meet people.
Visit your local library of things. A ‘library of things’ loans out items to people in the local community – often tools, DIY equipment and other bulky or expensive things that you may only need occasionally. Search online for one near you.
Rehome items from FreeCycle or Trash Nothing. There are several sites that help local communities to share unwanted stuff for free. Two good ones to try are freecycle.org and trashnothing.com.
Be part of Community Supported Agriculture. In the CSA model, local farmers sell a certain number of ‘shares’ in their farm at the start of a season. In return for this direct, upfront support, you receive regular portions of the farm’s produce. Find your nearest at communitysupportedagriculture.org.uk/find-a-csa.
Hitch a ride on Liftshare. Got space in your car, or need to get somewhere? Liftshare matches passengers with drivers heading in the same direction, reducing your carbon footprint and saving money. Liftshare.co.uk.
Fight food waste on Olio. Use this popular sharing app to give and get free things locally. Olio has a particular focus on food, but you can find all sorts of other items, too. Download Olio from Google Play or the App Store.
Illustrations by Victoria Holmes via Skribbl, a collection of hand-drawn illustrations by independent artists, available to download from weareskribbl.com.
This column was initially published in the spring-summer edition of Wicked Leeks magazine. You can read the full magazine online for free.
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