All photographs by Meghan Plowman

I have decided to begin a series of posts called verge finds; documenting all the wonderful and interesting things we find on our adventures throughout Perth.Essentially this is what The Orchard is all about, celebrating a love of the found item and ways in which to use them for creative projects.

To give you a brief background as to how Dave and I became what we call ‘Pickers’ (Our American inspiration airs on Wednesday nights on 7Mate), I must admit it began long before I even knew what styling was, when I was around 10 years old. My Dad always manned the ‘trash and treasure’ stall at the school fete each year, bringing us home a box of goodies which he selected for us three kids individually. Be it a netball ring, an old cutlery set, dust covered books or even an intricately cut glass ornament, I found a real joy going through the pieces. They had a story, and often a lot of character. My Dad has a great eye for that, and maybe I inherited it from him. Now I think of it, at any fair or fete we attended when I was growing up, I would often find myself drawn to and easily losing myself at the second hand stall, patiently taking in piece by piece in the crowded displays in the hope of finding that rare trinket, and some history along with it.

This interest of mine was ignited a few years back when it was verge side collection in my neighborhood. I found an old dusty timber chair and instantly thought of what it could look like if painted and with bit of a spruce up, perhaps even a cushion in a great fabric. I asked my Dad to jump out and get it, and to my surprise his response -  yes the man who introduced me to and appreciates junk collection – was, “What are you going to do with that?!” I simply told him “You’ll see!” Since then, I haven’t looked back (except if we drove past something that caught my eye) and what Dave and I have also found is a shared interest which led to us quickly becoming pickers!

So, now onto one of our most exciting finds of the season! Last year we came upon what could only be a deceased estate, and I think that the story in the items on that verge collection was by far the most interesting we have come by, one that made me positively giddy with excitement. We gathered that the previous owner was a doctor back in the 30′s by the mounds of first aid kits and vintage medical equipment, medical history books and maps with dates and bookmarked with birth certificates! After picking up a few small items and watching afternoon turn to dusk, Dave came across this old Imperial typewriter wrapped in a garbage bag. After an impulse victory dance, we actually ran to the car like thieves we couldn’t believe our luck. I am so proud to own and display this rescued piece of history and sometimes wonder just how many prescriptions were typed out on this in days gone by….

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