Really Really Free Markets Are A Really Really Great Idea!

--by LeeFae, posted Sep 3, 2011

I started a Really Really Free Market in my town as a way to bring the community together.

A Really Really Free Market is like a cross between a farmer's market and a garage/yard sale, except everything is free! People show up with stuff to give away and take what they need from other people's abundance.

It took a little while to catch on but now it seems fairly busy and I am trying to make it bigger and more fun so that more people have access to the wonder that is giving without expectation of reward and receiving without being judged.

It runs once a month on a Saturday afternoon and there are clothes, books, plants, biscuits, pasta, fruit, furniture, ornaments - and lots of other stuff. The kids all play together (it's at a park) and sometimes one family brings playdough, beads and colouring-in pictures for the children to play with.

I think it's so important to give people an opportunity to give because everyone, deep down, wants to share and help and give to others - but they don't think of it, or they think it's too hard, or weak or silly somehow. I want the people of my town to realise how awesome sharing with other people is. I also want the people in need to have a fun place to go where everything is free. This way there isn't the social stigma of soup kitchens or charity because it's just people sharing and no one needs to say, "Hey, I'm poor and I need help." They can turn up and go home with food and new clothes and having had a good time.

This was a big thing for me to do because I'm not really that comfortable around lots of people. I have to psych myself up for the week before every market so that I can cope with it all, and sometimes I still panic but I'm getting better.

I thought it was worth the effort because it's such a truly great concept, just like this site! If you have a Really Really Free Market near you please go check it out. If you don't have one then why not look it up online and start your own!

4244 Reads

Posted by LeeFae
Sep 3, 2011
Comments (28)

Readers Comments

faye wrote: Ur article become our test£¡
They took off a few words and make us choose the correct word from four words! It's really difficult! Caus we hardly know this kind of market! I am a teacher and have to google it!

ilonka wrote: Hi lee fae,
What is the name of your town?

Many blessings,
Ilonka

zmansmom16 wrote: I love this idea. I am going to get some friends together and see if we can't get one started here in pa. Amazing way to pay it forward.

angel wrote: This is an awesome idea

Patricia wrote: I live in central switzerland, and here, these free markets are already an establishment. The authorities organize it once a year to encourage re-use instead of disposal. I went to one recently, and the amount of stuff and how quickly things came and went was amazing.

LeeFae wrote: If you want to see some pictures, you can find our blog at www. Rrfmwaroona. Wordpress. Com , which actually has no pictures, but it has a link to our facebook site, which does. :d

derrytresk wrote: I really really love this idea - i dont know if it would work where i live but i'm thinking about making ago of it. Thankyou for sharing.

Leahlee wrote: This really free market sounds like an
Amazing idea. People go there to give things away. These people are generous with their things and their time. Wow.

Thanks so much for telling us about this
Market and a place where there is much kindness. :)

Patti wrote: I would love to see some pictures of what this looks like.

Kathryn wrote: Dama giving louisville- find us on facebook! We've been doing this for about 5 years or so here and it's an awesome way to spend a saturday morning! Just start and it will grow and grow and grow as more just show up! My favorite morning of every month for sure!

Stories of Kindness from Around the World