More and more, people are turning to Craigslist to sell, buy, barter and give away myriad categories of goods and services. Following is a verbatim sampling — typos and all — of some of the posts we found in the "free" category this past week. Many of the posts are the usual stuff - slightly broken old televisions, furniture and exercise equipment - but it seems post-Thanksgiving is the time to give away pianos, just in time, we guess, for Christmas caroling with family and friends. And the used cage/crib post should be cause for conversation around dinner tables!

Cage / Crib (Gray)

Used quad crib. Front grates roll up. Could be used for animal cage or something else. You must disassemble and remove.

Free Encyclopedia Set (Kennebunkport)

The world book year book encyclopedia set. Covers years 1964-1983. Also an A-Z set. Great shape, come with a shelf. Great for a collector or library. Also, i am getting rid of the coffee table in the picture.

1995 VW GOLF Owners Manual - $1 (Richmond)

Complete owners manual for a 1995 VW Golf.

Boots (Biddeford)

These are size 8, like new.

Cut Wood needs splitting (Scarborough)

Come and get all of it. Want it all gone. Dried wood needs splitting. Been sitting for a a bunch of years.

chickens (Kennebec)

I will be moving out of the State and I have 15 chickens that I would like to get rid of. These chickens are currently laying eggs. They are Rhode Island Reds and are very friendly.

Fireplace doors (Waterboro)

Glass fireplace doors and surrounding gold-colored piece. there are chain doors behind the glass ones. In great condition; works fine and has no broken pieces. We replaced it with a woodstove insert so no longer have need of it, but hopefully someone else can use it. Free for the taking, not very heavy. The picture shows a weird reflection at the bottom, the gold part is all one uniform color.

1850-60 Square Grand Piano (East Corinth)

Arlington Piano Co. Boston, Square Grand piano with rosewood case, soundboard, bridge and all hammers, felt etc completely restored. All ivory keys intact, no chips. Please give this great instrument a good home!

3 Free roosters (Swanville)

Have 4 Roosters but only have space for one. Free for the taking. They were hatched this spring. Available are a large Barred rock and two mid sized multi colored roosters. Slaughter OK.

Free Refrigerator & Dishwasher (South Berwick)

Offering free Whirlpool refrigerator (white) and GE Triton dishwasher (black). Both items are used but in great condition. Only offering the items for free as a combo, so both items must be taken together. Also, I have a hurt back, so the person wanting it needs to bring their own truck and have at least 3 people total to move the items. The fridge is heavy and will require 3 people to move it.

46" Sony Rear Projection TV (Gray)

46" Rear Projection TV. Has Quirks But Works. Does Not Have A Remote. Heavy Will Need Truck Or Trailer To Pick Up

Moving Boxes-excellent condition (Yarmouth, Maine)

Lots of moving boxes for the taking! Book boxes, dishpaks, medium and large boxes-excellent condition.

Bed sheets and blankets (Lewiston)

Got used blankets and bed sheets that I don't need and would like to donate to someone in need.

Football pads, adult/teen thigh and hip (South Portland)

2 large boxes of good condition thigh and hip pads for young adult/adult.

Peg Board (Kennebunk)

4 foot by 8 foot peg board (at least I think that's what you call it). Perfect for organizing/hanging tools in your garage. Excellent condition.

Twin Size mattress, box, bunk frame (York)

Twin Size Mattresses (two); box spring; mattress frame; bunk frame with side rails, and bunk ladder, (one bed frame only). Very clean stored in a clean dry basement.

Fridgidaire Range & Microwave, as is (Windham)

This range was working when moved outside but Hurricane Sandy blew the cover off so it has been rained on. Same for the microwave. Restore if you wish or use as scrap metal, I just need them gone.

Loading dock bumpers (Oakland)

We have a used set of cushions/seals for a loading dock door. In decent shape. They are for and 8 foot by 10 foot door. Also have 2 heavy rubber bump stops that go with it.

grill (Wells)

Free grill

free couch great for wood to burn bug free!!! (Biddeford)

Free couch/wood great wood to burn with arm is broken

entertainment center (Wells)

Free

Small Desk missing one wheel (Windham )

Free desk , missing a wheel but other than that in great shape

Crockpot- No lid (Brunswick (Cooks Corners)

I have a rival 1 gallon crockpot. It has no lid but I just used one of my pot lids. Works great. Off/low/high settings. Cooking pot comes out for easy washing.

FREE BABY FOOD (Bath)

I have two large totes of free baby food. My daughter never got around to eating it all, and I hate to see it go to waste, but did not want to have to move it all. If anyone is in want or need of it please feel free to pick it up! It is out on the porch, will have to be a first come first serve as I am no longer there and wont know when its gone.. sorry! If someone wants to bring it to the food bank that would be amazing as well, I just ran out of time yesterday! Thank you!

Piano-antique (Mechanic Falls)

Free to a good home antique piano.

Free Piano Merril, Boston You Move (Rumford)

Can't go wrong for the price, bring plenty of people to move it and it is yours. Plays well, just need the room. Only one ivory missing a small piece.

asst priority mail boxes (Yarmouth)

If anyone local needs priority boxes for the holidays I have the following extra. Let me know how many you need. These are some that you need to order and cannot get at the post office. We can meet somewhere so you can get them. 12"X12"X10" priority 7"X7"X6" priority 11"X11"X14 priority regional rate C 12"X10"X14 priority regional Rate B1 12"X12"X12" APO/FPO/DPO 11"X12"X12" medium Flat Rate 12"X12"X12" Large Flat rate.

Free piano (Portland)

Behr & Co (New York) upright. In tune, nice bright sound. A low C doesn't work. Three or four ivories could be replaced. Ground floor. One flight of stone steps. Take it and it's yours.

free bag of toys/take all (Bath)

free bag of toys great shape,mixed ages.

Panasonic 42" plasma broken screen (Buxton)

I have a few yr old tv with a damaged screen. it wont turn on etc. It is dead so dont ask q's about it. just come get it

love seat and chair (Winslow)

old love seat and chair. Perfect for hunting camp or dorm room. Needs slip cover. Clean, does not smell.

18 feet long plastic pipes (Wells)

18 feet long x 1 dia. plastic pipes for underground wire or gas lines protector

Free hot tub (Portland)

Good shape, take it away.

Free SONY 32 inch trinitron (Wells)

Free Sony 32 inch trinitron television. Works great, just don't need anymore. Come take it away. Heavy but works good.

junk tires good for covering silage (Saco)

I have about 100 junk tires I got to make bunkers for an Airsoft field I was trying to start but it didn't go through now I have about 100 dump truck and different tires in my field just sitting there if your within reasonable distance I will even bring them to you.

Free desk and office chair (Biddeford)

have a great desk and chair that I would like moved out of my office today! Nothing wrong with them, I just have another set to move it... That's the catch... I also need the persons that receive my older desk to help move my newer one in! The measurements are 55" wide x 57" high and 21" deep. Really is a great desk. After years of use the only flaw is some discoloration on the top shelf which I have taken a pic of.

Glaspar (Scarborough )

Free boat hull only I need out of my yard. 12' or 14' fiber glass good project boat . Good windshield and floor needs work on transom ( i am giving away the boat only )

Free Couch (Lewiston)

Free 7' couch in good condition. Must pick up.

ladies apparel-new stuff added (Porter)

Come take a look maybe you might find something you like, that fits you or that she can use....  There are now satin gloves, matching thigh highs , cotton patel panties and a halter top, etc.... a lot of stuff there and also two closets full and three dressers full of other stuff.... There is also makeup and body sprays.... maybe some costume jewelry....

large Banquet Table (Sanford)

Large Banquet Table. dimensions are 60 inches long x 30 inches wide x 33 inches tall. Too heavy and too big for me to handle anymore. Free for the taking, as long as you come pick it up.....

Nice Couch & Chair (Albion)

Very nice couch and chair. Good color, good condition. Pics look like the couch is different color, but it is the same as chair, just different lighting. Second floor so need to people to carry it away.

Oil (Tenants Harbor)

Barrel full of used oil - she's heavy - come 'n get it!

Pullout couch (Bangor)

Free pullout couch from a non-smoking, dog and cat friendly house. Has held up well, just moved and bought a new couch. Come pick it up!

carpet and padding (Readfield)

carpet and padding I tore out of a 250 square foot bedroom. I had to cut it up into a couple pieces to get it out.

Trash bag of toys - some broken (Bath)

Was going to donate them but it would take too long to sort the broken from not broken and I had limited time while the child was sleeping and didnt see me tossing his toys! There are some solid wood building blocks, some melissa and doug cardboard castle pieces, some train tracks, a tamborine and flute, a stuffed barney.....and etc. 50% are broke, 50% arent. The ones listed are not broken. Must take the entire bag.

Sleeper Sofa (Kittery)

Free Sleeper Sofa - good structure, bought used several years ago, one corner with torn fabric. We've never used the sleeper.

USB Modem 4g by Verizon (Manchester)

I have a Verizon 4g modem with 6 months left on contract. If you want to take over the data line it's yours. Reply with # & we can figure out where to go from there.

FREE good sized desk (Scarborough)

This is an excellent desk in great condition. It's about 2 feet deep and 3.5 feet wide.

Magazines (Portland)

FREE Magazines including the following and some other misc:

-Bottom Line Personal -Family Circle -Ranger Rick
-Muscle and Fitness -Elle -Dog Fancy
-Health -Self -Cat Fancy
-More -Consumer Reports -Working Mother
-INNY -Caribbean Travel and Life -Ladies Home Journal
-NY Times Style -Country Living
-Rolling Stone -Country Life

free wood must take all (Freeport)

take all wood ( not shed) take everything or don't bother you load good for burning picnic table good to use or burn

Olympus Super Zoom 90 Camera (Corinna)

Olympus Super Zoom 90 35mm film camera with battery, works fine, can ship, you pay shipping cost.

Tile Stuff- leveler, grout... (Scarborough)

Leftover tile setting materials. 3/4 of a bag of floor leveler, most of a bag of tile adhesive, almost a full bag of grey unsanded grout. 10+/- 4x4" tiles, some edge and corner tiles. No Calls, no fuss.

straight skis, beach chairs (South Portland)

2 pairs of skis are out of date and both have old bindings. great for a fence or bench! beach chairs have just a little more life in them, especially if you are good with ducktape. one is short, one is regular height. matching set! leaning against chimney. free for the taking.

Free Chair (Portland)

Free chair. Must pick up.

Scrap metal (Dennysville)

Free 200 to 300 lbs metal

Huge Panasonic TV 52" (Lincolnville)

1996 Panasonic TV 52" PT516OU model with remote, works great, come and get it

FREE Firewood if you cut trees! (North Monmouth)

We have two HUGE trees in our yard that need to come down. If you can cut them, you can have up to 3 cords of wood from them. These are big, old maple trees. Both trees need to come down. EXPERIENCED AND INSURED TREE CUTTERS ONLY! Must show proof of insurance before anything is done and references perferred. Sell the wood and make some money or keep it for yourself.

exterior French door (South Paris)

6-0x6-8 low e insulglass french door with rolling screen. We took it out for a client this summer. Replaced with a top of the line Anderson slider as client wanted to change to a slider because they didn't like the door swinging into the room. It is far too good to trash. I'd keep it but I have too much of that stuff around already! Hope to find it a good home with someone who can use it. Sorry, I do not have the key.

Potbelly Pig Feed and Supplies (Arundel)

FREE pig feed, vitamin E and selenium, harnesses and 4x4 box for a minature pig.

Mini-Fridge (Limerick)

Worked a few months ago, probably still does today

Nordic Ski Machine (Sebago)

Working condition nordic ski machine.

Pill holder (Gorham)

Red, gold, and star shaped pattern, with three compartments

Award placques (North Yarmouth)

These are solid wood placque awards with inscrptions on the front plate. Don't know if they can be repurposed by removoing the front piece but if you want them they are yours –

FREE RECLINER (Raymond)

This is an extra large recliner that has been puppy chewed... cover up and/or stick in a man cave!!!!!