There's an old junk pile behind our house, down in the woods, on family property. It's been there for over fifty years. Maybe more. A dump pile used by my husband's ancestors, who previously lived on the land, to dispose of their everyday trash and unwanted items. A heaping pile of lost memories and forgotten times. From broken soda bottles to discarded tires and hubcaps, there's a little bit of EVERYTHING there. And while most of it is only "junk", there are a few "hidden treasures" for someone who is willing to bend, squat, stoop and DIG through all the trash to get to the treasures!

Come with me as we explore this "dump of discarded debris", and search for JUNK PILE TREASURES!

A sample of findings from the junk pile

My mason jar "mine"

Although I'd seen the junk pile many times while walking our dog through the woods, it never really interested me - until recently.

One day as I was casually walking past, something caught my eye. An old Mason jar sticking half way out of the rubble. Recently, I had gotten into the "farmhouse" style of decorating, and noticed a lot of crafy farmhouse projects using Mason jars. I walked over to the pile, bent down and carefully uncovered the jar, thinking it would probably be broken, or at the very least, scratched and chipped. Much to my surprise, it was fully intact, with not a crack, chip or break to found ANYWHERE! Amazing that it had withstood the test of time after all these years! Excitedly, I took it home, cleaned it up and proudly displayed it in my kitchen.

Finding that jar got me to thinking about all the OTHER fabulous farmhouse-style treasures that could possibly be hidden beneath the useless rubble of that old junk pile. Sure enough, on my next visit to the junk pile, I found several more old Mason jars - one of which even possibly dates back to the early 1900's! It seemed as if I had stumbled onto my very own personal "Mason jar mine."!

My Mason jar collection from the junk pile!

Moonshine jugs, anyone?

Among my vintage finds in the junk pile, is this assortment of gallon vinegar jugs, including a brown glass Clorox jug. And just like with the Mason jars, these jugs were found in good condition, with the exception of being caked in dirt, having rusty caps and some half filled with dirty liquids.

In my attempts to determine an estimated value for these jugs, I found out their value ranged anywhere from $25 - $100 each, depending on condition. For now, these are still waiting a proper and thorough cleaning before either becoming part of my farmhouse decor, or put on the auction block!

An interesting side note worthy of mentioning: I'm not saying these jugs were used for storing moonshine, but my husband DID find crude remains of a "still" not far away from the junk pile! lol!

Gallon Jug Collection

Brown Glass Clorox Jug

the value of a treasure

Although nothing I've found so far would be considered "highly valuable", many of the items have "nostalgic value", meaning they take you back to an era when times were different. Simpler. Honest. Times that can never be lived again. They bring back memories of a time that maybe you were a part of yourself. Things that remind you of your childhood days. 

For example, I dug up an old porcelain door knob from the junk pile, and was instantly taken back to my grandparents old farmhouse. I remember the wooden frame doors to every room had a porcelain door knob. I closed my eyes and remembered how cold those knobs were in the winter time and how they squeaked when you turned them. As I opened those doors in my mind, a flood of sweet memories of visits with my grandparents rushed in. Memories like that may not hold any tangible value, but the personal value they hold is priceless.

Old Mercury, Buick, and Rambler hubcaps

FORD accessory, Minnie Mouse drinking glass and vintage beer mug

Old soda bottles, porcelain door knobs and glassware

Trash or treasure?

As you can see, I've dragged up many different things from the junk pile. Some might call it "trash", but again, as the old saying goes, "one man's junk is another man's treasure." I'm not an antique dealer or collector, and granted do not know if any of this stuff has any REAL value. Some of it may indeed just be JUNK. But I get pleasure out of finding things that have meaning to ME, and for that reason, it has VALUE. Whether the value is monetary or purely personal, I am sure there are many MORE treasures to be found beneath the rubble and remains of the junk pile.