Getting those wood scraps out of the basement

We moved into this row house only a half-dozen years ago. We were looking for a place in the city which would accommodate our bike habit, knowing that most row houses aren't super bike friendly: the main access is up a flight of stairs and then straight into the living room. We love biking, but don't want our bikes in the living room.  

When we toured this particular house, there were already a bunch of other possible buyers up in the living room, so we took a detour through the side entrance, and discovered that there's easy access from the street to a large basement area, with lots of storage for bikes.  Beyond the bike storage area (what else would you use it for?!?), there's a basement room with a woodworking area, and spaces for canning shelves, and even a bathroom.  We fell in love with this place just for the basement alone.  (It turns out the rest of the house is nice, too.)

But having a large basement comes with consequences.  My dad used to say, "stuff fills to expand all available space".  And indeed, we've filled the basement up -- with canning jars, off-season supplies like Christmas decorations, family memorabilia that we're going to look at "someday", and with wood.

The wood in the basement; oy.  I never bought wood; but I trash-picked all sorts of wood-based objects for my projects.  I made shelves out of a dining-room table with a broken leg; I found bed slats that turned into cow shelves. I love making things with wood.  But the excess, it multiplied like bunnies.

I read somewhere on the internet (meaning I have no idea if it's actually true) that one of the things that hoarders hoard -- one of those things that's incredibly challenging to get out of their houses -- is wood scraps.  Now that I'm moving, I know I have to clean out the basement, and the wood scraps seem to sit in every corner.  

Or rather they seemed to sit in every corner.  I've spent about two weeks sawing them into smaller pieces and boxing them up, so I can get rid of them. I know that Habitat Restore will take a lot of supplies, but wood scraps are NOT one of the things they want.  I have a friend who heats his home with wood, and if I saw the scraps into manageable pieces, he can take them.  

So that's what I've been doing: turning my "just in case" wood scraps into warmth for his home.  Apparently, I had a lot of "just in case" -- how could I get SO MUCH wood in just 6 years?  It never feels like I'm bringing home so much, and the basement never looked super junky.  But somehow, I have now filled nine boxes with firewood for my friend.

I will say, the basement is starting to look a bit more wide-open than it had before.  Getting stuff for free is a thrill, but getting rid of stuff in a way that is creative and generous is also fulfilling.  And that's what I'm enjoying now. 

There's a lot more de-junking to go -- some of which is sitting on shelves we've made with scrap lumber, and the shelves themselves will need to be de-junked, too.  But getting this wood carved up has been cathartic.  Good-bye, wood scraps!  Be warmth and light to my friend.