[/media-credit] Ryan Vansickle fixes a broken television at the White Salmon Library Repair Café
Toss it away? No way!
Most of us have something that needs fixing, usually many somethings. A vacuum cleaner that quits just past its warranty expiration, an espresso machine that gurgles and sputters but refuses to steam, a child’s Buzz Lightyear that no longer soars to infinity and beyond.
Without the skills to repair our broken goods, we might think our only option is to toss them–when, in fact, they may only require a minor fix to work like new again.
Toss no more.
Thanks to Netherlands resident and pioneering environmentalist, Martine Postma, we now have Repair Café , a free and fun neighborhood meeting place stocked with tools and skilled volunteers ready to help people repair their broken things, give them new life, and keep them from the landfill.
Ms. Postma organized her first Repair Café in her home city of Amsterdam as a way to bring community members together and save the environment, and it was a hit. The idea spread quickly. Holland now has one hundred Repair Cafés, and, as word got out, Repair Cafés sprang up all over the world.
[/media-credit] Turner Savard (middle) organized Repair Café. Ryan Vansickle (left) and Justin Black (right) make repairs
Until recently, the closest Repair Café for Gorge residents was Repair PDX in Portland. White Salmon librarian, Turner Savard, learned of it and thought it would be a great event for the Gorge. He looked to family and friends for volunteers. “Over there is my father-in-law, my wife, and a family friend. One member suggested another and that’s how we got going.” This team of skilled mechanics, a seamstress, and handy men and women held the inaugural Gorge Repair Café in the newly renovated White Salmon Valley Community Library April 30, 2016.
Mr. Savard greeted a stream of community members as they carted in: a broken lamp, blender, clothing, bikes, tent, and sleeping bags, and directed them to the appropriate volunteer table.
“We love having people in the library,” said Mr. Savard, “and creating space where members of the community can interact with each other that they wouldn’t necessarily see.”
[/media-credit] Eleanore Karlsson mends clothing
Pamela Zachary Morneault agrees, “This has been the most incredible day of connection.” Ms. Morneault, who came to the library to pick up a book, saw the Repair Café poster and decided to bring in her broken sewing machine, and a coat that needed mending. Sewing advice came from seamstress volunteer Eleanore Karlsson, a high-fashion seamstress. “Turner is a friend of mine,” said Ms. Karlsson. “He called and asked if I wanted to volunteer, so here I am.”
Across the table from Ms. Karlsson and her sewing machine sat Kelly Ryan of White Salmon with two favorite pieces of clothing. “One is a pair of jeans that needed a small repair and the other is a skirt that I have loved to death. Eleanore has a cool idea of what I can do with it.”
[/media-credit] Bob “Mr Fix-it” Merz repairs a broken lamp
To service appliances was volunteer Bob ‘Mr. Fix-it’ Merz, who brought along a cache of tools: wrenches, screwdrivers, drills, and even duct tape and baling wire, –a farmer’s fix all. Across the room Ryan Vansickle was fixing a television for Erika Villa from Odell. “It has sound but no screen,” she said. “I’ve been saving for six months to have it repaired, but when I heard of this on Radio Tierra I decided to come.”
Justin Black, owner of Dr. Roscoe’s Holistic Bicycle Repair, was on hand to help with bike repairs. “Flat tires, shifting, and breaks are the challenges. I brought tubes just in case, too. Basically getting things working again.”
Mr. Black’s sons, Isaac and Connor, manned a 3-D printer on loan from Fort Vancouver Library. It whizzed away, printing a plastic design the boys downloaded from their computer. “If people need certain parts, they can print them. They can design their own or find one online and download it.” Later that day the 3-D printer created a new toaster knob for a woman, so her appliance could toast like new.
Mr. Sevard would like to host more Repair Café events. The next one at the White Salmon Library is scheduled for September 24, 2016.
