Hints for the home: A lending hand 

Eager to change up your space? Art Lending of Ottawa will lend you artwork from their collection starting at a three-month term and all at an incredibly low price. Photo by SUPPLIED

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Are you counting the days until you can dig in your garden, tackle those springtime chores, and add a little seasonal fun to your life? You’re not alone. You’re also not alone if you’re fretting about the cost or worried about where you’ll store all these new supplies. 

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Chances are, you don’t have to. If you need a tent, a sewing machine, a piece of art, a circular saw, or a toy train set, Ottawa has a library that can help. Here are some of the best. 

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Ottawa Outdoor Gear Library Want to spend more time outdoors this spring, but are blanching at the cost of supplies? You can borrow what you need from the Ottawa Outdoor Gear Library, which is dedicated to making the outdoors more accessible and welcoming. 

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The Dementia Society Lending Library Many health care organizations offer their clients specialized equipment loans to help offset costs. Perhaps the most unique example of this is the Dementia Society’s Lending Library. They lend an assortment of activity packages, companion toys and dolls, technology, and other items. 

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Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library Eager to make this year your garden’s best? The Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library will make it happen! This grassroots organization promotes gardening with native plants, hosts seed-and-plant giveaway events each year,and offers a wealth of online information and resources. 

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Art Lending of Ottawa Eager to change up your space? Art Lending of Ottawa will help you do just that, at an incredibly low price. You can browse their collection online, make your selection, and pick it up at their next art show (or just pop by the art show to see what inspires you). Lending terms start at 3 months. If you fall in love with a piece, you can lease-to-own. 

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Leslie Firth is co-chair of Art Lending’s board. She praises the organization’s commitment to making art accessible for everyone, including children, saying: “If parents are thinking ‘how can I add another dimension to my child’s life?’ Well, art is a perfect one and it’s so easy to do and we make it easy at Art Lending.” 

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Their next art show is Saturday, May 30, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Jim Durrell Recreation Centre (1265 Walkley Road). 

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If needing a circular saw, a power washer, or even an ice cream machine, the Ottawa Tool Library has you covered. Photo by SUPPLIED

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Ottawa Tool Library Who do you turn to when you need a circular saw, a power washer, and an ice cream machine? The Ottawa Tool Library has you covered! They have everything you can possibly need for a springtime DIY project, from hedge trimmers to car wash brushes. 

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Bettina Vollmerhausen is the Tool Library’s co-founder. She emphasizes that you don’t need to be handy to use the Tool Library. A team of “Tool Wizards” are on hand to help patrons. She says: “They are people who know how to use tools, from the trades, retired, engineering students. They really know their stuff.” And more often than not, the Tool Wizards tell people what they don’t need and redirect them to a more appropriate choice.