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About OSU Repair Fairs

Repair Fairs are an event series sponsored by the student group Waste Watchers, a joint group of Campus Recycling and the Center for Civic Engagement.

Details for each fair vary, so stay tuned to this page for information about upcoming fairs.

Why Repair Fairs?

We believe in providing a space that allows us to exchange ideas rather than dollars, developing people into fixers rather than consumers, and reusing materials rather than wasting them. We offer Repair Fairs to realize this vision. We believe you will benefit by: 

  • Save Money: Score free repairs so you don’t have to buy more stuff.
  • Gain Skills: Connect with others to learn new skills or share your own.
  • Reduce Waste: Save your beloved belongings and conserve natural resources.

Spring Repair Fair

When: Wednesday, May 16, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Where: OSUsed Store, 644 SW 13th St.

Bring your broken items and volunteers will help you learn how to repair your belongings, attend demos to learn more skills, and swap garden seeds and starts! Free and open to all.

A clothing station at a past Repair Fair Repair Skills Offered:

  • Bicycles
  • Clothing
  • Computer Diagnostics
  • Electronics and Appliances (small items, please)
  • Housewares (lamps, furniture, décor, etc.)
  • Jewelry
  • Woodwind instruments

Note: We don’t have spare parts, but will do our best to repair what we can and/or refer you to where you could find the parts you need. If you have parts already, we may be able to help you install them.

Drop-In D.I.Y. Demonstrations

Demonstrations will be drop-in style - come by anytime in the listed timeframe for a hands-on demo.

  • 5:30-6:30:
    • What’s for Dinner? How to Build a Meal Plan: Do you get home often with no idea what to make for dinner? Do you feel like you spend too much on food? Come learn how to meal plan with us in a guided activity that helps you save money! And not only does meal planning have budget savings, it is also environmentally friendly because it reduces wasted food. (Leaders: Matthew Bucy & Tiga Evans, OSU Waste Watchers)
    • Flat Chance: How to Fix a Flat Bike Tire: If you own a bike, but don’t know how to do bike repairs, come to this activity where Dixon Bike Repair shop demonstrate how to fix a flat! (Leader: Adventure Leadership Institute staff)
  • 6:30-7:30:
    • Lookin’ Sharp: How to Sharpen Your Own Knives: Keep those knives looking sharp by coming to this demo that shows how to safely keep your knives in good shape. We will show you how to use a whetstone and a honing rod so you can take care of different types of knives. (Leaders: Cristina Riani & Jasmine Vasen, OSU Waste Watchers).
  • PLUS 5:30-7:30:
    • Seedy Underground: Garden Start & Seed Swap: Have some seeds laying around that you are not going to use, yet you still want to garden? Or do have or need plant starts to get a jump on the season? Come bring your seeds and starts to swap for the ones you desire for your personal garden! (Leaders: Shiana Ramos, Student Sustainability Initiative)

Additional Details

Directions: We are located at 644 SW 13th St. in Corvallis; see a map of the entrance and parking here; view our building on Google Maps here. Please enter through the warehouse gate on 13th Street, between A Ave. and the railroad tracks. City buses 3, 6 and 8 stop within 2-4 blocks of our building while routes 1, 5 and 7 stop 6 blocks away at 11th & Monroe (view full details on the Corvallis Transit System website or use Google Transit to find the best option for you).

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For questions, accommodation requests, or to volunteer, please contact Andrea Norris via email or at 541-737-5398.