I love this thread too!
If BF and I see an old appliance out on the curb with a free sign, we grab it! We see if it works, if it does, use it or give to one of the kids who can use it, if not, we take it apart and recycle the parts. We walk the country roads and pick up cans, and have found alot of other things, including a cadiallitic converter(sp) that I got 75.00 for at the scrap yard once! Weve found new tools, buckets, and a bizillion aliminum cans!
I have a huge garden, plus I forage for food....wild berries, nuts, wild plums, dandelion greens!