The Day a WHOLE City Moves (& the TREASURES it leaves behind): Curbside Scavenging 2023

Join me for some curbside archeology, and find some AMAZING treasures just dumped on the side of the road, because when 70,000 households move on the same day, chaos and garbage ensue (ideal conditions for finding some treasures)! Taking recycling to the next level, I cruise Montreal on foot, by bike and by car to dig through garbage piles all over the city and round up some amazing treasures!
Learn what Moving Day is, when and how it started, and why it turns the entire city upside down... oh yea, and see what goodies I can find!
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VIDEOS MENTIONED:
🎬 How to get rid of bedbugs (Mark Rober): kzbin.info/www/bejne/hGbVoYl8htSKgMk
🎬 Dumpster Diving Denmark: Vintage Treasures & Crafting Supplies Galore: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p2jClqSErq6Fopo
🎬 Sewing Table Curbside Scavenging - Montreal Edition: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i2bHZK2oe8qpmLM
#dumpsterdiving #recycling #montreal
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[@brooke_reiverrose2949]

Makes me grateful to have always lived in places where the appliances came with (and stayed with) the apartment. Those staircases are gorgeous though

[@blufaerie]

The entire concept of the whole city moving on the same day sounds chaotic and perfect at the same time. You found a lot of great things!!!

[@ShannonMakes]

Thank you!! :-D :-D

[@pkclabaugh9178]

It sounds like move in/move out day when the kids go back/leave college.😊😊😊

[@AleshaM30]

Most college towns have a "moving day". In my town we call it Hippie Christmas.

[@ShannonMakes]

Hippie Christmas... love that! I go out trolling around with my friend's dad, who lives right next door to a campus, cuz we both love sifting through all the discarded dorm/apartment debris (and it's a private uni, so lots of good stuff)!!

[@HouseHooligan]

Okay, the scavenging content was fun and fascinating, but can we just talk about your clever girl turning the water park on on her own? 😍

[@ShannonMakes]

It’s been a few times that we show her the button and try to get her to turn it on, but it’s a finicky button, hard even for humans to turn on, so it was very fun when she managed it!!

[@mariascudder3277]

Phillippa Gregory is a good writer

[@adelleshoemaker8487]

Taking couch covers for the velvet is so smart 🤯

[@hannahmounser7786]

Moving day sounds like a dream for us fellow foragers, that handsewn quilt is quite the treasure! Thanks for sharing your moving day adventure.

[@ShannonMakes]

You're very welcome, thanks for watching!!

[@Gandellion]

Man, Canadian cities seem like such great places to live, they seem like they were built with residents in mind and to promote quality of life.

[@ShannonMakes]

Really depends on where you are, unfortunately the majority of Canadian cities are nearly as bad as US cities. Certain parts of Montreal are one of the few exceptions. Not Just Bikes is a fantastic city planning channel that talk a LOT about walkability and good vs. bad city design, and he's originally from London, Ontario (a city he rants about on a regular basis). Great channel, highly recommend!!

[@cecilehoare3053]

@@ShannonMakes Shannon, I'm not far from London to the point many specialist appointments are made through London. I CANNOT stand driving in London!! My son actually lived there for 5 years for university and the only good thing, there are two Value Villages to choose from! lol

[@robintheparttimesewer6798]

Two! When the daughter was down there I only remember 1. Salvation army had a bit bad store there as well

[@cecilehoare3053]

@@robintheparttimesewer6798 one out by the 401 off of Wellington Rd and the second on Dundas (hwy 2) st on the east end of town. They have a few other second hand stores including new-ish Goodwill book stores in the last ten years or so!

[@robintheparttimesewer6798]

@@cecilehoare3053 yeah I keep forgetting how much time has passed. She went to London after high school and that was a good number of years ago. These days I don’t go much past Woodstock. They have a wonderful Len’s Mills store that I go and ogle maybe drool as well. So many pretty fabrics!

[@carrieatkinson9850]

I LOOOOVE that little corgi butt!!❤ It’s so refreshing to see a corgi that isn’t grossly overweight. What a sweet little girl !

[@ShannonMakes]

Yes, we like to keep her nice and trim 🥰

[@dreed1058]

I think you created a new urban phrase: waste archeology😂❤!! I'm with you, at 7 mos pregnant, I saw a young man throwing boxes of what looked like VINTAGE FABRIC! I found boxes of quilts not completed (so fun!), and lots of scraps!! I still have much of it - 36 years later😅🎉! Hugs Shannon & Phil;)

[@ShannonMakes]

Love it!!

[@lilaskye2375]

Reminds me of Berkeley ca, where I lived for almost 40 years. Every day was “moving day”. I walked everywhere (the gym, grocery store, etc); and I always took an empty backpack with me to pick up any useful items left on the sidewalk (bags of clothes-sometimes new with tags still attached, and anything else that one could want or imagine.

[@ShannonMakes]

Love that!

[@susanrybak7192]

My daughter lived in Montreal for 5 years and i helped her move a number of times, we used a wheel barrow, shopping cart and our truck to move her from one house to another. Moving day is amazing chaos!

[@ShannonMakes]

Amazing chaos is right!

[@brendatucker35]

Would enjoy being there on July. Love the quilt, beautiful find!!!❤❤❤❤❤

[@Jac3258]

In New Zealand people move dairy farms on June 1st - their household, their machinery, herds of cows, everything. Also called Mooving day 😅

[@ShannonMakes]

MOOving day... I love that 🐮🐄

[@garbtheater]

Aw man that orange lamp 🧡😭

[@ShannonMakes]

Right?! So fun! (although I admit, I'd probably have painted it, just to match our living room a bit more)

[@briarwoodimp]

The suburbs of Minneapolis have annual clean up days where folks can put out anything for garbage collection. I loved those weekends when I lived there, tho to be honest, I indulged in regular alley shopping in the city proper, as they allowed folks to put out large items anytime. 20 years later, I still have antique furniture I picked up then.

[@sturdy2723]

Haven't been to Montreal (yet). I live in a college town so the first of every month the street score is pretty good but 1 June (usually two weeks after graduation) it's exceptional. With enough time and patience and some helping hands you could absolutely furnish an entire apartment with what you find on the sidewalks. But my favorite street score/moving day story was years ago, helping a buddy move out of a place and a family was moving in down the hall. They saw us moving the furniture (we were either going to take it to donate or leave outside, can't remember) and they took it all! No stairs required which was great because that was a fifth floor apartment with no elevator. On another note, as a Californian, I'm fascinated that the large appliances (fridge, stove, washer, and dryer) don't come with the apartments. Everywhere I've lived here it's part of the lease.

[@ShannonMakes]

Oh yea, my entire living room/kitchen area (short of the actual appliances, and even a couple of those) are furnished entirely off the streets. Not even thrifted in a secondhand shop, but actually 100% free. It's NUTS. Also, huzzah for not having to move all that furniture out of the building... that's fantastic. And it's not unusual at all to have to bring your own appliances in many of the countries I've lived in Europe. Kinda annoying, but also kinda great that you don't get stuck with total shit appliances!

[@thebookwyrmslair6757]

I've lived all over the US. To my understanding, kitchens MUST be furnished with stove / oven and fridge to be considered rentable. I've never seen any listing of an apartment or house that didn't. When we purchased a house, we had to pick out a fridge, but the stove, oven, and dishwasher were already installed. Washers and dryers can be hit or miss - we've carried our own set through the last few rental houses.

[@ShannonMakes]

Not that way here is Montreal, and it’s not uncommon in Germany either, for “unfurnished” to mean FULLY unfurnished

[@katecapek3116]

The black top hat cams are for the 400 & 500 series Singers. The white ones are for the 600 series.

[@ShannonMakes]

Ooooh, thank you, that’s good to know - I need to find someone with those machines, as mines from the 300 series

[@katecapek3116]

@@ShannonMakes if you know someone with one of those series, they will be grateful. The whole set gets expensive.

[@kimberlypease2823]

How much would you sell the sewing cams for?

[@pluezilvlk8427]

I think your videos are the only ones that don't even make it to my to watch later list these days, I just watch them immediately 😊

[@ShannonMakes]

Wow, that’s such an amazing compliment, thank you so much!! 🥰🥰🫶

[@kathrynblack9152]

In Boston, it’s referred to as 'Alston Christmas' when the college kids arrive/rotate in September. The local news channels often do a story on it.

[@ShannonMakes]

Love that!! A few comments here mentioning the Alston Christmas! 🗑🎄

[@yarning4asmile]

In the USA but I love this idea of communal sharing in a sense. Allowing the things one no longer needs to be taken by the one who does need them or has a use for them with zero cost or zero ties. A complete letting go, moving on, and recycling. If I was you, I would invest in a little cart on wheels for adventures such as this!

[@melissashiels7838]

If I lived in Montreal I'd definitely be out treasure hunting. We always picked up stuff by the side of the road with my mother - she still has some road-side furniture that we picked up 30 years ago. I'd absolutely love to know if there's a particular legendary item that's been doing the rounds on moving day for the last 50 years that Montrealers know to look out for. Something that someone put out on the curb in the 70s that got picked up, and put out a few years later, only for someone else to pick it up and repeat the cycle for 50 years. (That would make a fantastic short story - some really distinct object like that green couch - and you could tell the lives of all the different owners of the object over the years during the years that they owned the object. Happy stories of couples starting out, couples getting divorced or starting over again, children playing with/on it, pets taking naps on it, the things that got lost in the couch, etc. )

[@indiabilly]

What a fabulous idea! I recently picked up a plan chest from Facebook marketplace for my threads and notions and art supplies, I looked it up and it was made in the 1930’s , for the last few years it had belonged to the sellers elderly farmer uncle, he had horses and it had horse gear, tools and gun parts in it and I love that it has history and that it has held many items and served many people and businesses over its 93 or so years xx

[@ShannonMakes]

omg, that's such a lovely and whimsical idea, I absolutely love it, and I would LOVE somebody to write that story... I'd sure read it (even better if I found it in a little free library)!!

[@ShannonMakes]

That's super cool, love that you were able to find a bit about it's history!

[@latonyalee7821]

If I was in Montreal, I would definitely be out on Moving Day! You have some great finds. Oh and your fur baby is super cute!

[@ShannonMakes]

Thank you!!

[@angielovett4159]

I love treasure hunting! I’m all about reduce, reuse, recycle!

[@ShannonMakes]

And it's so much fun!

[@SauronsAccntnt]

Dang this really makes me miss living in a walkable/bike-able city. When I lived in Santa Cruz (California) the streets during the summertime were a treasure trove from the combination of upper-middle-class homeowners & the annual exodus of students from the nearby university.

[@ShannonMakes]

Walkable city is the main reason I love Montreal. I hate cars, and much prefer walking or biking... so much nicer (and better for long term health, generally speaking)

[@grannysquared7140]

Similar happenings in major college towns like Ann Arbor Michigan when dorm rooms empty out for the summer break. My sister found a working computer and reems of paper still in original packaging.

[@katmusswoodwind]

A computer? Gee... And so many people go without, too!

[@ShannonMakes]

OK, that's impressive! The flat screen TV in our living room is also from the side of the road - it just had a minor electronic glitch that was easily fixable!

[@lauracoffinmendez2428]

Boston has "Allston Christmas" with ~70% of leases begin September 1, and most of the people moving are college students. We don't have a specific day but lots of people will just put a bunch of items outside then post their address on local facebook groups, sometimes I'm amazed at what nice stuff is being given away!

[@sturdy2723]

Greetings from Berkeley where the post-graduation street score is an absolute feast. I used to live in Davis and it was the same. Definitely a college town thing. :)

[@DawnDavidson]

Yup. I lived in Berkeley, CA for many years. May was always a great time to upgrade furniture. :)

[@CraftyInTheory]

We have a "Reuse Rendezvous" once or twice a year. Residents are encouraged to put boxes of gently used goods for people to come by and take as needed. I find searching for stuff fun and it's great to put out things that are still in good shape without having to garage sale it.

[@pmclaughlin4111]

In Boston, it's September 1st. Particularly because Boston is a college town. They call it Allston Christmas. (Allston being a neighborhood of Boston with a high percentage of students) Your finds are much higher quality than a bunch of students leave behind Also a common event is Storrowing. Named after a famously low clearance bridge, it means to ram your truck into an overpass or bridge because you thought the cars only sign was just a suggestion.

[@ShannonMakes]

You're not the first to mention Allston Christmas (although you were the first to give the etymology, so I thank you extra for that)... sounds like so much fun! Living next to a campus is SO good on at the end of the school year... I go out trolling around with my friend's dad, who lives next to one, cuz we both love sifting through all the discarded dorm/apartment debris (and it's a private uni, so lots of good stuff)!!

[@SnappyDragon]

ahahaha I have not thought about that bridge in years!

[@alexreith4877]

I was coming to the comments to basically make this same comment so thanks!

[@jeanmullins3284]

We keep our eyes open every trash day in my neighborhood (Tuesday and Friday) for finds. We've gotten many treasures that way. I live in Mississippi, USA.

[@Kelli.Hicks.5]

I can only imagine the traffic jams that must ensue, with all those moving trucks parked on the streets as people are loading and unloading their goods. 😱

[@ShannonMakes]

Yes, the traffic can be just HORRIBLE!

[@bunhelsingslegacy3549]

@@ShannonMakes ...cause Montreal traffic isn't hellish enough on a normal day...

[@miloruby8259]

I left Montreal to live in the boonies closer to Quebec City! I would gladly go back to chaos Montreal anytime, just miss it so much!

[@madelinebock6469]

thx for the walk down memory lane

[@kitty16vcat11]

Ok, just discovered you and want to say how amazing and cute you are! )have never said this about anyone before 😂) I had to come on my phone just to comment and subscribe as was watching you on a tv. Have to say I loved it when you put on your suncream - I screamed you go girl! 😂 👍 But really wanted to say, I live in a country where nothing is left on the streets, we have charity companies and private ones who come and collect your ‘treasure trash’ for free, to be sold in large warehouses. Anyway, mentioned you to my 25 year old daughter, she is a mini you in the sense foraging for those amazing things. She’s also a fashion designer and she collects all sorts and makes all sorts 😂 she’s done this since she was four! I always loved it and encouraged her to do whatever makes her happy! Anyhow, love and blessings upon you! Btw THAT orange lamp 😭 ❤❤❤

[@ShannonMakes]

There definitely are people that go out with large trucks and collect stuff to sell privately, but in a city of 2 million people (and lots of congestion in the streets on these days, with everyone moving), it's quite hard for them to get everything, so there's lots left to private individuals, thankfully!!

[@kitty16vcat11]

@@ShannonMakes oh wow, you even had time to reply to my message filled with grammatical errors - so sorry but amended now with the help of 🤓 💕

[@syeina]

Montreal seems like an absolutely gorgeous city

[@bonniehyden962]

If I were there...I most definitely would be cruising the streets! Sometimes a person can be lucky enough to find usable items put out by the road in some of our towns in the rural area of East Texas. If time allows, I always stop to pursue the possibilities!

[@katmusswoodwind]

Does this really happen in one day?! That sounds super overwhelming...!

[@ShannonMakes]

It absolutely does! I mean, obviously some people move the days before or after, but most move on the 1st!

[@BeMoreBarnaby]

I find it quirkily reassuring that, even in the face of globalization, cities maintain some distinct customs and weird traditions. And I admire your restraint. My husband would have been prying my claws off so much stuff. Me: "Look! An orange floor lamp / green sofa / [add long list of other stuff you nobly passed up]!" Husband: "Noooooooo! Back away from the stuffed ostrich / tiger castration kit / grand piano with missing keys!" etc. What a great way to spend a day!😂

[@katmusswoodwind]

@@BeMoreBarnaby to be fair that's a nice way of putting it! Also I'm sort of understanding a little better about the cultural differences here - I'm England it feels a bit more risky picking up rejected items, just because we don't have an actual day where this is acceptable !

[@mjlcreativestitchworkshop7292]

Yes it does really happen lol the entire province of qc moving day is july 1 lol

[@mjlcreativestitchworkshop7292]

Yes yes it does really happen that specific day lol... the only province in Canada to have this spesific day for renting dates lol...

[@SandySterling-ph2nn]

Oh wow, the orange lamp was awesome, I would have figured some way to get it home.

[@roxannebolla8567]

In our area of the Midwest US, many communities have a “community yard sale” where homes have their yard sales at the same time. It makes for a pretty cool event. The following days/week is “large trash pick up day” and people leave their leftovers on the roadsides and treasure hunters go about. I have picked up some cool stuff for free and have left a lot of things out for others.

[@ShannonMakes]

Very fun!!

[@octavia088]

Oh, that quilt!

[@ShannonMakes]

Right?! So beautiful!!

[@toodlesmossberg5770]

In my state we have a city wide neighborhood cleanup that’s putting anything you don’t want on the curb and either letting the trash or other people pick it up. We drive around every year to see the find goodies!

[@ShannonMakes]

So nice!!!

[@VeryJoable]

My mom had a Singer machine with those cams. They’re for various stitches, a precursor to sewing machines with computers. If I remember correctly, there was even one for embroidered letters.

[@AwkwardBirb]

I used to work at a library and we had to have special training on how to handle items that had been returned with bed bugs. It scared the life outta me 😅

[@ShannonMakes]

Even books 😳😳Oof 🙁

[@tinakercher8768]

The train case and quilt are my favorites, besides your adorable dog.

[@zanesutherland406]

Fun! We don’t have anything like that where I’m at. I used to dumpster dive a lot, and was one of my favorite outings lol. But the county put a shed at each green box site and they guard the garbage, no dumpster diving for many years now. It’s so sad all the things that could be diverted from the landfill, and it’s sickening to have our tax dollars go to a person guarding what people discard. Occasionally on a Sunday I’ve gotten lucky and the guard wasn’t there. I wish they had a specific covered area that people could put things that are still useable. We do have a clearance thrift store here, a branch of the main thrift store. They have bins of things. You can get a basket of stuff for $5, a black garbage bag full for $10. Single items are like .10-.50 or so. It’s such a blessing and one of my favorite things to do while in town.

[@anitamorales1506]

Shannon, your videos are ridiculously fun to watch. You could be a professional! I am also a scavenger and am often amazed at the things that people throw away. I have also renovated an old house, circa 1901. It wasn't as distressed as yours, but it took us 9 years. I wish you well in this project and wish I had the means to help financially, but that is not an option. I am a senior, in southern California and am looking forward to watching your journey. Thank you for the giggles!

[@werelemur1138]

I was born in Montreal but my parents moved back to California when I was about a year old. I've heard stories about the Moving Day chaos. I lived in Isla Vista for a few years and when UCSB let out for the summer a lot of students moved back home and left an incredible amount of stuff. I found a surfboard an ugly but very comfortable sofa, so many books.

[@ShannonMakes]

College campuses at the end of term (or beginning) are amazing for this sort of thing too, so true!

[@katrinalevin4064]

I always check out the donation bags or piles on my walks with my dogs. In fact at this moment I am wearing a dress I made of blue, yellow and white seersucker 5 yards score I found recently. Yes, the fabric is cotton.

[@ShannonMakes]

Ooooh, that's a fantastic find! LOVE that!!

[@johnmelissaziech6207]

The cams are for the Singer Golden Touch and Sew from the early 70's. I got mine in 1973. It was before you could just touch a button to get decorative stitches.

[@Beingnessing]

A hope those folks who really need these items have access and know about this.

[@mellisartandcrafts]

I love treasure hunting. Here in Berlin people also put things on the street, but on more random days. Sundays we sometimes go out and check out bixes in out neighbourhood.

[@sophieb.1287]

Do you have any specific places/areas in Berlin where you go for some hunting? Here in the South of Berlin I find those kind of boxes very rarely. 🤔

[@linemonssi4108]

@@sophieb.1287 I always found a lot (especially furniture) in Wedding/Gesundbrunnen

[@sophieb.1287]

@@linemonssi4108 Thank you very much 😊

[@mellisartandcrafts]

I found more in areas whith family houses, but maybe it's just my area 😄

[@sophieb.1287]

@@mellisartandcrafts As soon as I have a Sunday off, I'll check this out. 😁

[@coolcutiekitti17]

I live in a college town in the US and every semester we have “Riff Raff” where we can put out anything for trash. It’s amazing the things people throw away

[@ShannonMakes]

Ahhh, I love the name! Riff Raff!

[@kfries1282]

We have a couple of those Portis racks that add to our closet space. We bought wooden hangers with swivel heads, hang them on the bottom horizontal pole and t-shirts sit almost flat against the wall in the bedroom. We can get about 15 or so shirts on each.

[@ShannonMakes]

ooooh, nice tip!! thank you

[@w8what575]

Omg! Ur dog is adorable! I so wish to get a corgi cuz they’re so adorable and well behaved and smart…

[@ShannonMakes]

They can be, but they definitely do need a TON of exercise in order to stay mentally stimulated and not cause trouble!

[@ThimbleAndPlume]

What an interesting phenomenon. People leave items on the curb around here sometimes and I have gotten several nice pieces of furniture to upcycle. Just got a little tale the other day. But it's so cool that you found such a diverse selection of items. That velvet was nice, and the quilt! It amazes me what people just throw away sometimes.

[@ShannonMakes]

Yea, so many good things get thrown away, it's kinda nuts! My entire living room is pulled from the curb. I was looking at it the other day, and realized that there wasn't even anything thrifted in there, it was literally all free... 😳

[@parklady7540]

IF I was there, you better believe it I would go out.

[@nlkeyser]

Omg we had bedbugs 2 years ago because they came through the walls from a neighbor's apartment. It was horrific.

[@skutovr]

My husband HATES that I want to pick up curbside items. SO! If I were in Quebec instead of Kansas… I’d just go along to help you! Besides, I could fill a curbside with plenty of unused and unneeded items of my own.

[@janesheridan5632]

Shannon, I always look forward to viewing your videos. Thank you for sharing your endeavors.

[@ShannonMakes]

You are so welcome! So glad you're enjoying them, and thank you for checking out the older videos, there are some good ones there!!

[@SIC647]

You know I would totally have been there, if I lived in the vicinity. 😄 My city has a reuse centre, where all usable recycling from the genbrugsstationer gets diverted to. It is only 2 km from where I live. That is very dangerous. 😅 I have to limit my visits. Montreal looks so... I was going to say Danish, but: European. What a surprise. Is it the French connection? /Stine

[@ShannonMakes]

oh my gosh, NOTHING is more dangerous than a good genbruggstation... there were a couple pretty close to our place in KBH, and I literally never left empty handed. SO dangerous!! 🤣 Also, re: European-ness, the area that I live in, the Plateau, is known for being very European... the rest of Montreal is less French and more North American.

[@kaytiej8311]

The city looks so gorgeous. Thanks for showing us around, while also picking up some neat pieces.

[@ShannonMakes]

My pleasure 😊

[@Ninzip]

I love this sneak peak into a to different culture that would be absolute second hand heaven to me!

[@ShannonMakes]

Thank you!!

[@BeeWilliamsBuzz]

Never heard of moving day but I can see me participating one way or the other if I lived there. Thanks for sharing, awesome video and adorable Corgi. L&L 2U

[@ShannonMakes]

Thanks for watching!

[@khazbar]

Wow, it must be quite chaotic!! I'm from Melbourne & many of our town councils here have a "hard waste collection" once a year but all at different times. So here, we have a similar thing with people putting unwanted furniture, small items & appliances on the nature strip outside their homes. Then you see other people driving around going through the piles & turning someone's discards into their own treasures!! Good way to recycle! Enjoyed your history of Montreal's Moving Day!😊

[@ShannonMakes]

Thank you!

[@J.Robison]

Ashland, Ohio has a spring clean-up every April. They divide the town into quadrants and each has one week to put their stuff out free of charge. It's so fun to look for treasures and it became a family event! Often, we would take good stuff we couldn't use and donate it to a thrift store because the trash trucks and metal scrappers pick up often.

[@ShannonMakes]

That's amazing!!

[@DestructionGlitter]

I used to live in a really bohemian area with lots of college students and 20-somethings, people mostly moved during the summer and the streets would be filled with discarded items. We got a sofa and an armchair, and I also have several clothing items I found on the street, cleaned to high heaven and still use to this day.

[@ShannonMakes]

LOVE that! I, also, have entire rooms furnished exclusively with curbside finds... it's nuts what ppl will throw out!!

[@madddoll8685]

This is fascinating, je suis née au Québec - but I had never heard of this before. Moving day....for an entire city, chaotic for sure!

[@kathahahn20]

Sure! If I had been in Montreal, I would definetly go Tresore hunting. I even do it in Germany. As a Student it is the best way to same Monet and get ikeaish vintage furniture!

[@ShannonMakes]

💪💪💪

[@robintheparttimesewer6798]

Wow the quilts were a great find. Not a bad haul considering the weather. When we lived in Ottawa I remember seeing news stories about moving day.

[@ShannonMakes]

Yea, I'm sure it would have been even better if 1.) it hadn't rained, and 2.) I could have gone out in the few days following as well... still not bad though

[@sharonarrendale8418]

If I had at house, I would do exactly guys did. How fun and all of the treasures that you can find. I know around the big towns people will leave things out for others or the garbage. Happy hunting!❤

[@lauries6517]

Love this. We have a neighbor who is cleaning out a relatives home and they just throw everything away. We have saved two bags of brand new winter coats, vintage tea glasses, nuts and bolts, embroidered pieces, etc. Then when they found out we were saving things they put a nasty note in the trash telling us to stop. UGH!

[@ShannonMakes]

OK, see that is the part that I don’t understand to any degree… like I can sympathize with someone who maybe ran out of time or is super overwhelmed in their life and doesn’t have the time to donate (as per your other comment), but what I have zero concept of is then scolding others for taking your garbage and giving it a second life… I truly think I will never understand that type of person

[@lauries6517]

@@ShannonMakes They have been coming once a week for several months so time isn't the issue. They are so-called Christians too and we have a church you can donate to just blocks away. Even the trash collectors think they are crazy. We try to keep things out of the landfill. We also go into over a hundred year old houses and take the wood trim, doors and anything usable out.

[@Nwladylaura369]

Once it is in the trash it is fair game! It is legal to dumpster dive in the US, unless posted not to do it.

[@lauries6517]

I know. That is what makes it so absurd. We even checked with city hall to be sure. We still do it. @@Nwladylaura369

[@JudyMcFadden-j3e]

I cleaned out my childhood home, and I left the good stuff on the curb. Cars would be stopping and taking it, and it would make me happy. Less for the landfill and a new life for this stuff I can't take. Win -win. I donated, and gave away most of it. I miss my parents, not the stuff!

[@redtrunkrelics]

New subscriber from the GTA in southern Ontario. Your house purchase came up in my feed on KZbin and I love it! Editing and posting videos takes time, keep up the great work!

[@isabelledescarries5593]

I took part in the MMF (Montréal moving festival) 6 times over 15 years, until we left for the subburb. You are making me nostalgic!...

[@ShannonMakes]

Nice! 💪

[@jillmadigan9841]

This is similar to the end of the winter/spring semester at the U of Wisconsin Milwaukee, but for the date. Good pickings, including countless unused waste baskets, my very-first immaculate 3" feather mattress topper, art, books, cookware, etc. Not all were chosen, but most were admired. It's been too long; gotta remember to make a run next June!

[@robinbarnett1706]

in our state and in our city, Anacortes, wa, we simply put our things curbside, and if we want to we put a notice in a place on line, called Your from Anacortes when (I think) and moving boxes, amazon boxes, children clothing and everything in between is snatched up reallyt quickly, and then the left overs are loaded in the back of my short bed pickup and taken for recycle. i one time had a giant black bag of yarn, and it was gone in less than 30 minutes after I put it out. I like the idea of curbside pickup being once a year, you could really find great stuff.

[@ShannonMakes]

That’s so great!!

[@rhondaroland1079]

I got one of those singer boxes with an old singer sewing machine table once. I still have the box the table was a wonderful and sturdy table but space didn’t permit me to keep it. The box I have but to date I haven’t found a good use for but since I love it I’m convinced if I keep it long enough I will find a good use for it, I’m 75 now and I’ve had it for about 20 odd years 😂

[@ShannonMakes]

That is awesome!

[@2020Dumpsterfire]

If I was there I would find some way to get that orange lamp home, obsessed

[@ShannonMakes]

It’s becoming the unexpected superstar of the video!! 🧡🧡🧡🛋️

[@jenneehuichan4843]

Where i live we just have a routine bulk pickup for Trash, but a lot of people leave really good stuff out and it's normal to see someone with a trailer going around picking stuff up

[@ShannonMakes]

Nice!

[@anymoose6685]

I remember the treasure finds from college moving days. Good times.

[@ShannonMakes]

YESSSS!! Living next to a campus is SO good on at the end of the school year... I go out trolling around with my friend's dad, cuz we both love sifting through all the discarded dorm/apartment debris (and it's a private uni, so lots of good stuff)!!

[@lorettavalmorbida7793]

Great video

[@ShannonMakes]

Thank you!!

[@dawsie]

My Moms old machine uses the disk, I still have that machine, it’s the forerunner to the electronic embroidery machine😹😹. Lol during the summer time I can change up to 4 times a day😹😹😹what a clever little lady your pup was getting the water park working. When I lived in Sydney we would have 2 free council cleanup days a year, when I first left home to live on my own my parents told me to wait for then to move out, I setup my very first apartment using cleanup day, got a wardrobe, chest if draws, bed frame, I decided to buy a new mattress, a lounge suit, coffee table, dinning table with 4 working chairs 2 were broken. Best place to look for furniture that was still in good working order was the rich side of Sydney, that’s where I got the bedding and towels from and I’m talking about the luxury sheets 1000 thread count 🙀🙀 oh man the rich folks sure know how to waste stuff😳😳😳 even got a good working dishwasher and a sideboard. My parents were right once we found everything I needed they stored it in the garage for me so I could then go looking for a place to live. That was 35 years ago 😹😹 once I no longer needed the items I gave them to one of the many good will places that up cycles so others could use them. I still check it out when I am in the city and if I find anything I take it to the good will places as most times they get put into land fill. Not so much now as council have set aside an area for items that can be used still. Just not sure if all councils do this.

[@ShannonMakes]

Love that you find things for the sole purpose of taking them to the Good Will... sounds like something I could see myself doing too!!

[@mmegraham]

Our city's downtown does this on August 14-16 every year. Come on over to Madison, WI, USA.

[@lutgardedh]

Watching from Belgium, here we have to call the city for picking up big furniture or other big things, we are supposed to go ourselves to recycling parc in the city, one free section and for wood, stones, household non electric we have to pay, based on weight, bridge car weight before and afther, no curbside findings here, no dumpsterdiving possible here, all is locked up, here i always have go to thriftstores or facebook marketplace, i was happy to see a little of your city❤ good luck

[@dotcorbeil6266]

I live in the USA and i do the same thing here😊

[@ShannonMakes]

Love that!

[@Craftythrifter]

Our small town has a “bulky pick-up” day in the spring. You just put stuff that can’t go in a regular trash can on the street and the city will pick it up. Before they do tho peeps go around and grab a lot of it. Which is great cuz then it doesn’t go in the landfill. 👍🏻

[@ShannonMakes]

Love that!!

[@bettymunguia2136]

Hey there, we lived not far from an Air Base and when they got orders, they would put things on the curb, and when I was young I would always bring things home and my dad would always tell me not to bring juke home 😅😅😅

[@ShannonMakes]

😆😆

[@asilverfoxintasmania9940]

I would be out looking because the thought of all of that just going to landfill upsets me. That trim is gorgeous! and red velvet is always a good score!

[@ShannonMakes]

Yes, the thought of how much of that stuff is still good and useable (a LOT of it) and how much of it will end up in the landfill (a LOT of it) is really frustrating and sad.

[@VictoriaVlogz]

Twice a year there is a town near us that has what they call Bulk Days. Anything that can't fit in the trash can will be picked up only on those two weeks. So I start my hunt the day before and always score a lot of great things. A lot of my home is furnished with my finds. And I sell the rest. It is loads of fun.

[@ShannonMakes]

Love that! And yes, our apartment is almost entirely furnished with free things from the streets!

[@creativeplum]

We have one weekend a year in our town (US) when people leave stuff they are getting rid of out on the sidewalk and register with a map on line and anyone who wants it can grab it and what ever is left gets picked up by the trash company….some great finds!

[@ShannonMakes]

That’s so fun!

[@liav4102]

If you are in the US finals week of your local college/university or August 1st weekend those can be almost as fun. Probably a lot less on the quality but definitely worth a try if you are also a member of the dumpster diving club

[@ShannonMakes]

Yes, so true!! In other areas, it's early September... the timing depends, but campuses are SO good for this kind of scrounging!

[@lapoppy4801]

What a beautiful city! I want to visit it.

[@ShannonMakes]

You should!

[@SuzyTurner]

WOW what a fabulous opportunity to find some real gems!

[@ShannonMakes]

Truly though!

[@susanodell7224]

I’m shocked you don’t have asbestos siding. Glazing the windows is not difficult to do, my mother and I glazed the windows in my parent’s house pre- KZbin. I’m sure there are how to’s on KZbin. Water has been the Bain of my existence in my home. You mentioned adding skylight windows to the attic space… they tend to leak… just fyi. Insulation is one of the easiest thing to save you money, and not difficult to do for first time home owner. Water…. Put some cat liter or charcoal out will also help with moisture.. as running the dehumidifier can be expensive. You are both doing a great job…. Sending you good thoughts!

[@catpawrosales4265]

You betcha I'd be out looking for treasure! I've never seen anything like it anywhere, BUT historically, as a genealogist I have seen these moving days, sometimes moving week, the week farm workers etc left one position for another, had time to visit family etc, either around mother's day, or after the harvest. I don't know if t is to be considered good or bad that there's nothing of the kind here. Stuff left on the side of the road really is trash, things that can't be repaired or salvaged. Your glimpses of Montreal makes it look so pretty and make me want to visit it and see what goodies I could find.

[@ShannonMakes]

Oooh, I love that idea of moving days/weeks/seasonal worker migrations, etc.... such a lovely parallel to the QC Moving Day tradition!

[@ragnkja]

In Norway, the traditional moving days for farm workers were Summer Day (14th April, traditionally the first day of the summer half of the year) and Winter Day (14th October). Those were also the days when the runic calendar was flipped to the summer and winter side, respectively.

[@bravehearticus]

We don't have this in the UK. I wish we did, as I have a living room of trash I need gone but can't afford a removal guy at the moment. Also, I appreciate the doggo fun 😂

[@ShannonMakes]

Doggo fun is the best!!

[@heatherwolmarans8287]

Look for Freecycle on the internet for the UK.

[@kyliehaberl943]

Love this. I am from Melbourne Australia and we have 'Hard Rubbish' where your suburb is allowed to leave unwanted items out on your nature strip for an allotted week. It allows for scavenging and then the rest is collected by the councul Rubbish collection.

[@ShannonMakes]

ahhhh, I love that! Seems like a great compromise between allowing for recycling, and just letting all chaos reign!

[@rachelboersma-plug9482]

I grew up in Perth, where hard rubbish collection day is known as "Bring Out Your Dead". Unfortunately it doesn't seem to be a thing in Tasmania.

[@ShannonMakes]

omg, not only is that amazing, both in concept and in naming, but also, now I'm having flashbacks to Monty Python 🤣

[@reginafinan2819]

I'd have been hard pressed to leave that green couch behind too. 💚💚💚💚 Moving day sounds intense, both glad I haven't experienced it and very, very curious to experience it. 😅😅

[@ShannonMakes]

Right?! 💚💚💚💚

[@rachelcampbell6147]

Yes!! We called it Allston Christmas in Boston!Aug 31-Sept 1st, when all the college students move in/out. I furnished my entire apartment from curbside finds. Bed frame, bookcases, chairs, lamps, an electric kettle! It’s amazing! It always surprised me that you could just leave any pieces of furniture on the curb, any time of year, for the garbage truck to pick up (if the neighbors hadn’t snatched it up first). Didn’t have to pay to haul anything away.

[@ShannonMakes]

Love that! I also have furnished nearly our entire apartment from the curb… and literally ALL of our living room, including the TV!

[@LisaOuwersloot]

While we don’t have a collective moving day here, we have a thing where one person calls for the garbage truck to haul away large things and as soon as others see the first person put things out, they all add their large stuff (we mostly all have separate wheely bins for regular trash, paper, and compost, the glass, plastic, and chemicals are communal bins). And many people will leave the still useful things stacked nicely, so others can take it if they want. Also, at the glass bins people usually put nice things on the ground or on top so people can take it (I have taken many glass sheets from picture frames to use as palettes for paint). We have clothing, shoes and linens bins (only good things are allowed) but the stuff needs to be bagged so no rummaging there (plus it’s for charity, feels a bit wrong to take it). I love finding treasure, and have found a few good ones. In my teens (in the 90s) I found the most perfect 80s leather jacket I wore until it literally disintegrated.

[@Kimella777]

❤😊wonderful. This is so fascinating 🧐 and yes if I was there. I would be looking for treasure 😊

[@lauragibbons1951]

Yep I would absolutely be diving into that stuff if we had similar here. Occasionally I come across a skip here where someone is having renovations or my partner saves me vintage curtains from the places he works on as he is a carpenter. But there isn't a lot in the way of trash diving. The closest we get is the local car boot, there is a house clearance person there and at the end of the day they just shout free to get people to clear as much as they can before they leave. I've found my partner so many lovely clothes for free from this one trader, a shirt worth around £50 and looked brand new! Last time I found myself a beautiful selection of shibori fabric squares, bound together but they have different patterns. Almost like a sample book! Not sure what I'll use them for just yet! People here just take stuff to the household recycling center and unfortunately you're not allowed to take stuff out unless it's outside of the skip, for safety reasons as they have crushers they put on every now and then. But otherwise I'd even be there diving for treasure 😅 I only ever take what I need but so many people throw so much useful stuff away

[@ShannonMakes]

oooh, there's so many things to do with those fabric squares - patchwork fabric that can become curtains or clothing or bags, pillow cases... the list is endless! And yes, people throw away so much still-usefull stuff 😓 Kinda great for scavengers like us, but also sad that it's not more accepted to recycle and continue to use things that are still good, have a system for passing them on to others if they're not needed, etc!

[@lisagrafton2529]

In America, at the end of a community wide garage sale, people go out to pick through the "trash" that was placed there by homeowners who decided, if it didn't sell, it wasn't going back into the house! Some donate to thrift stores, but they know it's become custom to just set it on the curb for anyone to take. That brings me to something I never can understand. When a customer asks for a lower price, why do some homeowners refuse to budge on pricing, then end up putting it on the curb for free, or for the trash? I can see if it's the first morning of the sale, if they tell them they aren't lowering prices until a certain time, but there should be a point when one decides a little money is better than no money! It also depends on how a customer approaches the homeowner.

[@TheLonelyGod42]

Commenting from Wisconsin, USA. Which happens to be the home state of Patrick Rothfuss who wrote The Name Of The Wind. I also despair of ever getting the last book in that series. Our usual moving day is August 15th to coincide with the start of the school year on September 1st. People often do a lot of curb shopping during moving season here as well. Where I live people tend to call it hippie Christmas. 😆

[@ShannonMakes]

I'm sorry you're also in Patrick Rothfuss Pergatory... it's the worst 😩😩 I found the first book in the KingKiller series a couple years ago, ordered the others second hand, and then discovered (to my horror, and continuing a trend that I seem to have started) that the last one wasn't released and MAY NEVER be released, and I'm so bummed.

[@annh.8290]

We used to love coming to Montreal just for this day!!!