The Trade ‘N"‘ Post
A Gift Economy Experiment - Sept 8
by Sophie Baliff
Sarah posts her ask on the board
“The currency in a gift economy is relationship, which is expressed as gratitude, as interdependence and the ongoing cycles of reciprocity.
A gift economy nurtures the community bonds that enhance mutual well-being; the economic unit is “we” rather than “I”, as all flourishing is mutual”
- The Serviceberry, Robin Wall Kimmerer
Over the next few months we will be conducting an experiment in facilitating community relationship building. The goal is to allow for people to connect with others through the act of giving with no expectation of receiving nor monetary compensation. As Transition workers, this concept will act as a building block in striving towards creating a participatory community involving all. When the individual begins to form reciprocity-based relationships, one feels a sense of belonging and care. When we all work towards this place of being, everyone benefits.
Our experiment consists of a bulletin board that people can post notes on asking for something that they need or want – no matter how big or small. If someone can provide the item or service, they take the note and contact the person asking. Simple but effective.
We noticed on the first day of the booth that people were eager to give, the first thing most did when they approached was scan the board to see what they could offer. On the other hand, people were slow to think of things that they wanted to ask for themselves. This reflects the conundrum that our society faces in the (time period in which we wait for things??). Because we are indoctrinated to consume as fast as possible, we have lost the ability to wait for things as they come. We can go to the store and buy whatever we need almost immediately, and if we can’t in person we surely can online. This makes it difficult to find ourselves in a place of waiting for things or searching for something over time. Even us, the facilitators, had to take a second to come up with something decent to post on the bulletin board.
But everyone eventually thought of something to ask for, whether it was a small material item they had been wanting for a while or a huge trip to another country. Through this process of brainstorming, we find ourselves grounded in the things we truly desire. We don’t want to have to search for items online or spend hours traversing a megastore. The magic in the gift economy shines when we learn that the things we want already exist and are ready to be shared. Our neighbors want to help and provide. We just need an opportunity to connect.
Instead of operating on the capitalist assumption that resources are scarce and must be hoarded, a gift economy views the earth as naturally abundant and generous.
Sophie adds her ask to the bulletin board
Our next Trade ‘N‘ Post will be at the King Street Market in downtown Boone on October 6.