Make it, Fix it, Borrow it, Share it
Cultivating community and reducing consumption in Roseville
Many people long for closer connections with their neighbors and deeper sense of belonging within a community. One way to create more interconnectedness is to learn to make, fix, borrow, and share stuff instead of buying new or throwing things away when they break. Reducing consumption requires people to rely on one another by sharing expertise, exchanging goods, making things by hand, and cultivating an economy of care.
Below is a list of opportunities in the Roseville area for making, fixing, borrowing, and sharing in the community.
1. Make It
Craft Nights
Makwa Coffee hosts craft nights every first Thursday of the month from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Bring the craft of your choice and make stuff with your neighbors.
Adult Makerspace
Ramsey County Libraries offer opportunities to learn how to sew and mend, create using a 3D printer, digitize older technologies (i.e. 8mm and Super 8 film, cassette tapes, photos, slides, negatives and VHS tapes), design and make stickers and cards with a silhouette cameo machine, and edit photos and videos. The Adult Makerspace is located at the library in Roseville and you can attend events and classes by topics to use equipment and learn how to make specific items. Check it out here.
Community Ed Classes
Roseville Community Education offers courses on cooking and art and a wide variety of other topics. Learn how to make egg rolls and sambusa, fondue or cake, air fryer vegetables, and even an online class on advanced vegetable gardening. Course are available on painting, creating greeting cards, ceramics, drawing, and other arts and crafts. Check out the available offerings here.
Gardening
The City of Roseville has 120 community garden plots at Oasis Park. New gardener registration is open for one day on March 25.
Rice Street Gardens is a community garden for “new immigrant gardeners and established community members to come together, learn from each other, and grow fresh and healthy produce.” Registration for new gardeners opens on March 15.
Volunteer with the Arboretum Green Team to plant, water, rake, weed, and other tasks to help maintain the gardens in the Muriel Sahlin Arboretum in Central Park off Dale Street.
2. Fix It
Ramsey County offers Fix-it Clinics to learn how to fix broken household items for free. Electronic items like blenders, DVD players, flashlights, lamps, and toasters. Clothing and textiles for mending. Toys and tools.
Fix-it clinics have been rotating to different libraries in Ramsey County, but starting April 26 the permanent location will be at the new Ramsey County Environmental Service Center at 1700 Kent St. in Roseville.
Previously mentioned, the Adult Makerspace at the Roseville Library offers an occasional Basic Mending Skills class. Participants can learn how to repair clothing and gain mending skills. Space is limited to 6 participants. The next class with openings is scheduled for April 8.
3. Borrow It
Tools
The Minnesota Tool Library is located near Roseville, at 1010 Dale Street, Saint Paul. An annual membership fee opens up access to the 8,000 item tool library, makerspace, and classes to gain DIY skills. As a nonprofit, volunteer-driven organization, the Minnesota Tool Library seeks to build community, reduce waste, and reduce the amount of tools cluttering individual homes and garages.
“Instead we share tools and trade skills with one another to empower each other and help create a more resilient and equitable community. MTL'ers enjoy low-cost access to the tools we need to repair and maintain our homes, build our businesses, and invest in our communities—by borrowing items from our shared library,” the website states.
There is also a location in northeast Minneapolis. Learn all about the Minnesota Tool Library here.
Household Items
Ramsey County Libraries also have a collection of kitchen items, tools, games, crafts, and more called the Library of Things. Using your library card to borrow things like crochet and knitting supplies, an ice cream maker, cookie press, a bamboo steamer, Fold N Go Propane stove, cookie cutters, board games and card games, yard games, gardening and home repair tools.
Toys
Borrow slides, riding toys, puzzles, games, and other toys for young children from the Roseville Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) program. Membership is free and open to all individuals and child care providers! The Toy Lending Library is located at the Early Childhood Center at Parkview School, at 701 County Rd B West. Check out the website for more information and hours of operation.
4. Share It
Buy Nothing Groups
Did you know that there are Buy Nothing groups on Facebook where you can give and receive items with your neighbors? You would be amazed at what people are willing to give away for free and what they are interested in receiving! Buy Nothing Groups are managed by community members and are set-up for specific regions or cities, to help facilitate easy sharing and community building.
Books
Share books with your neighbors by leaving them in a Little Free Library or donating to the Ramsey County Library Friends.
Bridging
Donate furniture and household furnishings in good condition to Bridging, a nonprofit organization located in Roseville. Bridging provides quality furniture and household goods for people pursing housing stability. Drop off items at the Roseville location or schedule a pickup service for $150. Learn more about what items are accepted online here.
Roseville Citywide Garage Sale
Meet your neighbors by buying and selling household treasures at the citywide garage sale, happening May 29-31, 2025. Register with the city to get on the map for $10.
Kids Yard Sale
Kids are invited to sell their stuff during Rosefest at Central Park Dale-West, on June 25, 2025. Register by June 17 for $10 per table.
Every Meal Food Donations
Donate non-perishable food to Every Meal, a nonprofit dedicated to fighting child hunger. Through their Weekend Meal Program, children in Pre-K through 8th grade experiencing food insecurity receive weekend food bags directly into their backpacks at schools across Minnesota, including schools in Roseville. Every Meal is located at 2723 Patton Rd. in Roseville.
What are some other ways you’re connecting with the community by making, fixing, borrowing, and sharing? Let’s chat about it in the comments.
On the Saturday of the City Wide Garage Sale, Do Good Roseville always hosts a "No Garage Garage Sale" where people who don't have a garage (e.g. apartments) or otherwise can't have a garage sale, can reserve space to bring and sell their things. It has been at Calvary Church. It's free. Usually I have a sign-up by early April.