A Flourishing "Free" Market

--by ChakaRuna, posted Apr 26, 2009

We are a small town of less than 4,000 people in the mountains of Ecuador . Recently our new organic farmers cooperative started hosting one afternoon a week to exchange our produce and seeds among ourselves...no money changes hands.

As of this past week we started to lay our stuff on wooden tables set in a portal on the main square, we hold hands around the table to give thanks to our ancestors who used to do this in ancient times in this country, and we pray in thanks, either out loud or silently according to each one's own spiritual beliefs. Then comes the fun... each person around the table tells and shows what she brought. Each one, in turn, goes around picking and taking what he NEEDS to either feed him/herself and family, and to add to their garden that which is missing.

This last Thursday was one such day and some town children saw us preparing the tables and asked what was going to happen. I told them in detail. Half an hour later, while we were in the midst of the "exchanges", two girls of about ten showed up with 6 lemons and one large camote and said "we don't put any chemicals on these" and placed them on our tables. They then picked and placed into their basket what they needed for their mom: 4 scallion, a small bunch of watercress, 2 lettuce, a few carrots, some swiss chard.

By the time we were cleaning up, two boys of about 12 walked by curiously looking at the remains of a party in a public space and asked what took place. I told them in detail and they said, "Trueque?! (Spanish word for barter) We learned about that in school...I'm gonna tell my mom for next week!"

We are planning on establishing this as a weekly routine in our town in order to spread the spirit of generosity and reciprocity. Whoever comes and does not have anything to contribute can still take if they need, as long as if/when the person returns eventually they will contribute something for someone within the group.

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Posted by ChakaRuna
Apr 26, 2009
Comments (21)

Readers Comments

DebraE wrote: Dear chakaruna,

Your eloquent telling of the market exchange in your town gave me the feeling that i was standing off in the corner and
Observing the afternoon, yet here i am thousands of miles away.

The joining of hands in prayer, how wonderful.

May you all be blessed with abundance.

Thank you for sharing.

ngeneto wrote: ) every single moment has a particular rhythm to it, and we have the capacity to expand or contract an individual moment as appropriate. One way to shift what's going on in our world is not to try to rush to do more, but to allow ourselves to go deeper into that moment of being present. Our ability to shift gears, to shift our rhythm to meet that moment and be present in it, is what allows us to experience the fullness of life. (geneto)

joanna wrote: I live in a fairly small town in the se part of the us. I, too, am very interested in building community connections especially as the world around us becomes more chaotic.

myfbil wrote: What a wonderful way to share, help those in need, and meet great people! Thank you for sharing this wonderful event with us.

LOAS wrote: Amazing! I would love to see this down in all communities around the world, big and small. What a different world that would be.

Loas

Jimpa wrote: A most excellent enterprise and worthy endeavor.

Many blessings and prayers,
Lama jimpa

Maggie wrote: Thank you for sharing this beautiful experience of giving and receiving. You blessed me. Yes, if we could all take what we need and leave the rest for those who do not have.

Blessings!

Gagan Verma wrote: What a wonderful way to help those who are in need but cant get the desired things. It shows that still humanity is alive on this earth. Can somebody share the pics of this moment on my mail id gaganv@tulip. Net.

Blessings!

cabbage wrote: Wow. This is truly inspiring. Thank you for sharing this with us. It is the same spirit that moves neighbors to help each other and share what they have.

Ginny wrote: With times like they are right now this story made feel happy. Its nice that people like you help people out no matter what or even why.

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