By Lucy Nieboer

Free sign near the Haines Harbor. (Lex Treinen/Chilkat Valley News)

As the equinox approaches, community members are eagerly preparing for spring. For some this means starting seedlings for greenhouse gardens. Others are finalizing plans for summer building projects. For a select few, spring means one thing – Free Piles.

As travelers make room for newly-acquired souvenirs, and homesteaders discard clutter for more efficient months ahead, the inevitability of a bountiful Free Pile…