Hey Donna, I think it is wonderful that you know as much as you do. I'm sorry that your community won't have the chance to share in that knowledge. I hope that as new methods and information are developed that you will have the same access that the MGs will have through the updates and continuing education they participate in. One of the things I enjoy most in the program is the notification we get from researchers in contact with the Extension Service as new information is developed. I learned how to propagate plants in test tubes a while back so I could teach other MGs how to do it. I learned how to build and maintain an ornamental pond for our Display Gardens.I also researched and built a greenroof to demonstrate to visitors. I am sure I could have done those projects and others without being a Master Gardener and maybe I could have passed that information on to others but it sure wouldn't have been the dozens and sometime hundreds that I have had a chance to talk to. Yes, I will admit it is marvelous to know all that stuff but being able to pass that info on to others is the real ego boost. Recently I needed to learn a great deal about the Emerald Ash Borer that has invaded this part of the country so I could answer the questions that came in about it. Much of that info came in from other Extension Offices and I was able to answer close to 50 inquiries about that problem that came in on the hotline. I am only one of many who answer those calls so you can multiply what I got by about 10 times. Does that count as worthwhile? When I was asked to teach some of the classes I am sure that I did not perform as well as a professional instructor but I did get better with time. I seriously doubt that the program would be to your taste since you are only interested in what you can get out of it and it sounds like you are more interested in telling others that you don't need to learn any more than finding out what you might not know. To be blunt, I think the program is better off without your participation. Sandy

Something like that, Mistydatn! It's a reuse center here in the DC area. They do architectural and construction reclamation. Yesterday they were wheeling in long, long pieces of old wood from a house that burned and was deconstructed. The inventory is always changing and there's always something I can use. Unfortunately! Around the corner a ways is the Habitat for Humanity, so I can kill two birds with one trip! Senator13, I am building a credenza with old cabs. Also a wall of cabs in my laundry room. They're from "orphans". An orphan cab is $5.00, which is why I stopped building them from scratch. Why reinvent the wheel? I think right now, the orphans aren't the quality you'd probably want. I don't think you'd want to buy a set, either, because you'd end up with a bunch of unnecessary stuff. But I sometimes pick up a set (9 solid plywood wall cabs for $60.00) when I want most of it. I leave the rest as a donation. If you can figure out what you'd need for your buffet, I could let you know what's there. I go every Friday. Often they have %50 off sales. March is for doors!!! YEAH!!! My credenza/buffet will be laid out like this: bottom row: a 24", 27", 24" base cab Top row: a w2442 glassed cab, a w2718 glassed cab (gotta make that, I think) and another w2442 glass. The 42" tall glass ones will sit on the base cabinets. As a small lift underneath them, I have 2 spice drawer thingys I'm going to cut down to 24" wide. Just more texture. Can you imagine these? Oh = and beaded inset! :) yeah again! I'm pretty thrilled with how things are turning out. I admit, if I had closets I probably wouldn't be so cabinet-ocd.

Sounds like you are making progress Caroline. I wish I was closer - I'd help you. I love painting! I do feel your pain though as I went thru this two years ago when we bought our old and DIRTY house! I still have one bathroom to tackle. It has nasty wallpaper and I'm dreading it but I will be unemployed come May 2nd and it is on my "to do" list before I start looking for a new job. We need progress pictures! ~Betsy

Ruthie here, I work at the nonprofit thrift store mentioned (I hope this doesn't violate Garden Web's rules for businesses, I just want to share some tips & info for shopping & donating at organizations like this) CEFreeman - Thanks so much for this post! Everyone knows you can donate clothing to Goodwill, but so few people even know that this kind of resource exists for reusing building & landscaping materials. I'm glad you had fun and found such useful stuff! For folks in other places: there are several U.S. directories that list home improvement thrift stores. Between the three directories, you should be able to find every building materials reuse center in the country. They are: http://loadingdock.org/about/NationalReuse/index.html http://www.bmra.org/listings/browse-by-state?sobi2Task=search http://www.habitat.org/restores Earth911.org is also a great resources for things you want to get rid of - you can enter your zip code and what kind of item you have, and it gives you all sorts of local donation and recycling options. Graywings - you're exactly right about it being hit-or miss. It's like going to a flea market or a clothing thrift store; often folks come in looking for one thing, but they walk out with something else entirely. I have noticed that the people who get the most amazing stuff visit a couple times a month, at least. As for the pricier furniture - I suspect that some of the furniture you saw may have been from the store's consignment partner. He is an antiques dealer who travels around the East Coast to estate sales, auctions, etc. to get his vintage items and architectural salvage. So unfortunately, his consignment stuff is not nearly as value-priced as the donated materials in the rest of the thrift store (the staff was a bit nervous that the regulars might be scared off when that section was added - and even now, the staff keeps bugging him to offer more sales!). However, it has turned out to be a good decision: commercial warehouse space in the DC area is terribly expensive, and the nonprofit was really struggling for survival for the first few years. But since adding Salvage Arts in 2008, the customer base has grown, and the consignment revenue has helped to stablize the finances. Basically, without the pricier furniture, antiques, and decor, the thrift store wouldn't exist, and wouldn't be able to have 10-cent lumber and $5 sinks for the folks who really need them. But if you don't like the price on something and you're willing to gamble, you might try waiting and keeping an eye on the sales. That's where you'll find the really deep discounts, often when the store receives a lot of a particular kind of item and needs to clear out that department. The same is true at the other nonprofits around the country - you can usually sign up for the mailing list at your local store to find out about their weekly or monthly specials. Some have a particular day of the week when everything is discounted. At some reuse stores, you have to look at the date on the tag because they lower the price each month that the item sits there. Happy re-using, everyone :-) -Ruthie