I live in Los Angeles, where water is scarce and costly.  My plants were looking thirsty, and I was advised to put down a three-inch layer of bark mulch to help retain moisture.  I have a very large front yard and a smallish back yard, so we’re talking mucho mulch.  One bag at the nursery is about six bucks and I needed about 30 bags.  

I went on Craig’s List and looked for freebies.  Several tree services would deliver, but you had to take an entire truckload.  This seemed risky.  I had a nightmarish vision of getting a huge mountain of pine chips dumped on my front yard which I would never be able to use.  Then I noticed another ad from a private person which said “A tree service dumped a huge mountain of pine chips on my front yard.  I will never be able to use it all.  Come and take as much as you want.”  Perfecto!

We filled our station wagon twice – which barely made a dent in the poor girl’s mountain – and our formerly parched garden is now thriving.  What a deal!