Hi everyone!
It's an unusually warm sunny February day today, and while that is getting me motivated to get work done, it's also reminding me of the changes we are experiencing on our planet. I understand this may be a difficult topic for those of us who care deeply for our physical collections. As a holder of a Masters in Environmental Studies however, it is not something I can totally tear myself away from.
But fear not, friends, I'm not here to tell you that you can't collect things! Today I'd like to talk about some of the ways we can increase sustainability in our hobby practices. We alone cannot change the outcome of the world, but by changing a few habits (or maintaining those already in place), we can set our own personal comfort level and feeling of morality surrounding a hobby that is quite consumerist by nature.
One of the things that I'm sure many of you are already doing is re-using shipping boxes and materials for second hand purchasing/selling/trading! Keeping as many boxes and supplies as you have room for, especially if it matches up well with your selling/trading volume will save you additional costs buying new materials. (Though there are sometimes ways to get new/like new packaging for free, depending on what resources you have available.) One of the biggest recommendations I can make is reinforcing boxes that are in less-than-ideal shape so they can get at least one more use. This is particularly helpful if you don't have the exact right size box. Boxes can be reinforced by adding other packing material to stabilize, such as extra layers of cardboard, styrofoam, or other types of sturdy foam. This re-establishes some of the box's integrity to protect against crush damage.
If you need to buy new, try to look for material that's already been recycled, or has a high chance of being recycled/reused by someone else. We've all had the older foam packing peanuts at some point, which cannot be recycled and don't break down. The newer style made from essentially the same materials as corn puffs can be melted and washed away in the sink when they are not longer needed (and they're also less dangerous if a pet gets into them). I know not everyone likes packing peanuts in general, but if you do end up with some, please pass them on, whether that's in your shipments or giving them to another local collector who will use them.
Try to use up your art supplies/hobby crafting materials, and if you no longer have a need for something, I suggest donating to a local hobby event's raffle, trading them for models/supplies you will use, etc. This goes for models as well. If you are left with horses you cannot sell, the best option is to donate them to a local kid's charity, library, elementary school, or other program which will give them to kids to play with. Unless you have a completely unsalvageable project or irreparably damaged model (massive fire damage etc.) I don't recommend throwing them out as a first option. However, the cellulose acetate Breyers (Traditionals, most Classics, and old plastic Stablemates & Little Bits) are plant based plastic and WILL decompose at a significantly faster rate than oil based plastics. Even if they are not shrinkies - we have seen evidence that models left out in a garden, for example, will succumb to the elements over time. I take comfort in the fact that while my models CAN outlive me, it may not be terribly long for them to return to the earth once they are no longer needed by someone else.
Display and storage options (shelves and bins) can absolutely be bought second hand. If you're looking, also mention your needs to friends/family (even if you don't want to tell them why) as someone might have what you need! Shelving is honestly almost as tempting to me at flea markets as horses - but I less often have space to bring it home. Several of my shelves have been flea market/antique finds over the years! The best option for maximizing your display/storage options is to custom build, but not everyone has the materials, knowledge, or space to do this. It may also be a less efficient option for folks who move around frequently or are otherwise not currently in a space they plan to remain for long term.
Similarly to the other notes above, if you are moving spaces and any of your shelving doesn't fit your new plan, plenty of other collectors may be interested in taking it off your hands!
Buying local! Whether this is supporting your favorite local Breyer dealer, flea markets/antique shops/thrifts, or hobbyist run swap meets, saving money and energy on shipping is a huge win. However, this is definitely not practical for anyone who is isolated without a lot of options or other hobbyists nearby. There is also the consideration of your spending on gas/travel fees vs. the money & energy spent for an item to be shipped to you.
Re-purposing old clothing into model storage! A great option for old clothes that you still love, but are too worn to continue wearing is to turn them into travel pouches for your collection. If you have some basic sewing knowledge (or a family member/close friend who does), this is a great way to upcycle old clothes - particularly soft t-shirts or pants. Any materials really can be used as long as you have a softer, more protective inner layer and you (or a sewing machine) can get the stitching done. For just a t-shirt or socks for example, they don't provide a ton of protection on their own, but are great paired with another layer or two. The only clothing I would personally not use for upcycling purposes would be underwear. Unless it's the bottom of boxers or something, most underwear is pretty obvious as underwear 😂 It could be a conversation starter at your next show I suppose, if you find it amusing!
Upcycling can also be useful for other fabric items, such as towels, bedsheets, etc. Pillow covers are great because you can cut them in half, leaving a 3 sided bottom and the other piece will just need one side sewn.
Lots of items can be re-purposed into horse accessories/photo props! Some well known examples include metal cans (barrel racing/rodeo), craft wood pieces to make fencing, and foraged items from nature (like moss to attach to a photo set). The DIY spirit has always been alive and well in the hobby, and it's so much fun to see people thinking outside the box to find creative new uses for items not originally designed for hobby use.
Borrow supplies from friends if you will only need something for a one-time or short use project, rather than acquiring new/used goods to keep OR to test supplies you aren't sure about. Maybe you want to try a painting technique or a color you've never worked with, but you aren't sure how you'll like it or if you'll use it again. That's a great excuse to have a hobby day/afternoon/etc. with a friend who has what you'd like to try! If you absolutely love it, and you want to use it a lot, now you know and you can go get your own. Who knows, maybe your friend will consider parting with it if it's not something they use frequently or have too much of!
Make your own/locally source event awards! Commercial awards can be cool, but so are handmade items you've worked on yourself or have ordered from another hobbyist/family/friends! I like to have a mix at my show. My flat ribbons and rosettes are still commercial silk, but I make all of my own fun class awards and Stablemate trophies! These days, one of the hottest commodities for awards are horse travel pouches. Pretty awards are nice, but functional awards are a cut above (hmm, maybe I'll make pouches for my show's overalls if I have time...or contract a friend!) I am also a fan of those tiny model-sized rosettes that I think at least a few people make.
For show hosts - do NOT put dates on your awards, at least the ones you expect people will return to the show (they probably will not return things like travel pouches) Recycling awards from previous shows, especially if you have an annual event, is a great way to cut costs and prevent waste. Some shows (like the GLC No Frills show series out in the Great Lakes area) run entirely on re-used awards from previous shows. I am not so good about this myself, I don't really encourage ribbon recycling at my show because it's a novice show. For a lot of folks it's their first time and it's still exciting to win the awards! By the time people advance to Open, not everyone keeps awards (or they might only keep champs, 1sts/2nds, etc.) and willingly donate any unwanted awards back to the show to re-use.
Of course there are also people like me who keep every award a horse has won and has dedicated pages in albums for each winner. I still like having that physical reminder of good times with my ponies! The awards usually go with any horse I sell that has them (I've rarely forgotten and it does actually pain me to recycle them when I do) and the new owner can decide whether or not to keep them. I write on my ribbons to keep track of who won what, so I cannot donate back to shows. Might be a little selfish I guess, but overall I'm not a huge keeper of "stuff" in general outside of necessary or sentimental items (and the amount of that I have outside the hobby is fairly limited compared to the average person). So what I do keep hobby wise doesn't feel too overwhelming or unnecessary.
If the idea of contributing to the volume of newly made items in the world is not one you support, there are plenty of existing models to collect! I know plenty of people who only buy second hand and/or collect solely vintage/older items for various reasons. It's a lot of fun to explore secondhand shops, tag sales, etc. looking for models who have a past and a story and will have a good home with you (or with a friend). A knowledgeable shopper can still find good deals, provided you don't live in a "horse desert" of nothing really to find, which I'm aware some people do. It can also feel good to save items that may have otherwise gone to a landfill before their time.
Whenever possible, spend a little time thinking about purchases so that you do not end up with those you find less joy in outside of the initial rush of the sale. There are some items where a quick decision is necessary in order to get them for a price you're willing/able to pay, but most will come up later at some point in your budget if you are patient. The reality for most people is that they will not complete their wish lists (unless their taste in horses and budget matches...if that's you, that is awesome - I think that's not realistic for most of us!) Deciding which models to prioritize is really important, as well as your philosophy behind buying and the avenues you pursue.
I buy new models from Breyer, local dealers, and on occasion from other hobbyists in person if I really want to hand pick. I try to limit most of my secondhand purchases & trades to in person - from resale shops (flea markets etc.) or other hobbyists at events, BUT I do once in a while purchase or trade online. For events like swap meets or evaluating Breyers I come across flea market hunting, I still try to prioritize items higher on my wish list, but I'll also consider the opportunity factor along with condition, cost, etc. Opportunity/proximity has led me to getting some horses that may have been further down my wish list (or kind of on the fringes of it), but are HERE right in front of me and may be well priced for condition. As long as I know I will enjoy them, or they can easily be traded/sold to get other models and I have space in my budget, they'll come home with me. I usually stay away from FB Marketplace, eBay, MH$P unless I am REALLY looking for a specific model (which doesn't happen often) because those (especially the first 2) make it a lot easier to quickly acquire a lot of horses that I probably don't have room for (display wise or budget). I think it would be fun in the future if I can afford it and have more space to work with.
In closing, I don't think it is a bad thing to have a physical collection, even one that is often purchased new and takes a lot of resources to come to "life". Our culture in general is filled with the promotion of overconsumption, but our participation in the hobby doesn't have to be. Everyone can join in within their comfort zones. I know especially in the last 10 years, with the increase of social media use for hobby purposes, it is harder to not look around and feel like you can't compete, can't keep up, won't be as good. And it's really difficult to resist internalizing those feelings. Especially in an economy that continues to spiral and may lead to things feeling consistently out of reach (I know it is for me! Like no matter how much I improve my financial ability to participate, what would have been had easily 5-10 years ago in the space I am now, some things are still going up and stay beyond my means). By making (scalable) changes to be more sustainable, we'll not only save ourselves some cash we COULD be spending on ponies 😎, I hope we'll also re-discover feelings of joy and purpose.
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