Bartering System
At Visio Dei, we believe that "we have all been uniquely created and gifted [and] this requires us to not only seek, but pursue our own talents, giftedness, and passions so that we can offer them back to the world." In part, I think this value is talking about spiritual gifts. However, I also think this could be expanded out into practical talents and skills.
In a book I read not too long ago the author wrote about his community and how they often operate on a bartering system. He gave an example of a mechanic who needed a quilt, an accountant who needed his car worked on, and an old lady that could make a quilt that needed her taxes done. Everyone had a need and everyone had a marketable skill. In this situation, there is no need for money. The people are bartering, using their talents, not their wallets.
I believe we could do something like this within our community. I'm not sure how it would play itself out. Maybe it would be organic. A system like this takes trust and accountability. You have to be willing to trust the other party that they are going to follow through on what they have offered as payment. So, if we could get past that, I think we have plenty of people with marketable skills that they could trade.
Here's one example...
My family needs...
...babysitting. We have an eleven month old little boy.
...to have our kitchen and stairwell painted.
...to get our backyard suitable for a little boy to play in.
...to have our house power washed.
Kim can...
...type faster than four birds pecking on a keyboard.
...edit content for spelling and grammar like your high school English teacher.
...bake some tasty treats.
...clean things that you didn't even know were dirty.
I can...
...build things made of wood.
...problem solve.
...meet practical needs.
...feel inadequate about not having marketable skills.
Here's another example...
The Smiths need...
...someone to look at the brakes on their Cougar.
...babysitting.
...a fence.
...to get our backyard suitable for a little boy to play in.
Daniel can...
...create web sites.
...edit movies.
...build sheds and such.
Mandy can...
...teach young children.
...organize things.
...plan/coordinate weddings.
Most of the needs that our two families have, we could meet ourselves. Or, obviously, we could pay someone to do those things. My point is that if we really believe that everyone is uniquely gifted maybe we should leverage those gifts more.
Here are a few other skills I can think of in our community. Scott Shackleton is an accountant extraordinaire. David Fish and Jenny Profet are architects. Nate Anderson paints. Alan Wilser does landscaping. Brandon Watkins welds. John Enzor is an electrician and licensed general contractor. We have several artists, musicians, and designers. Matt Rowe can teach your kids to swim. We have several teachers that could probably teach your kids to read.
I wonder what kinds of needs those people have that could be met by someone who needs the skills they possess?
What needs do you have and what skills do you have to offer up as payment? And would you ever consider bartering with those skills?
Let me know what you think.
Labels: community
posted by Shannon Smith @ 5/07/2008
12 Comments
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12 Comments:
what can i do?
You're supposed to tell me.
I know you can babysit. You've done that for me before.
I hear you are decent at making/selling medical software, too, not that there is a huge market for that in our community.
one job i was oddly good at as a teen was lawn maintainence. i took a lot of pride in a well manacured lawn.
before i quit there i was an artist with a weedeater.
i'd be willing to groom a yard as part of the bartering system.
Since we are on the topic of our skills, I noticed that Jeramie misspelled the words maintenance and manicured. Also, there should be a comma after "before i quit there" since there is a natural pause after that clause.
Jeramie, I can see you being "an artist with a weedeater" because you take pride in the things you do.
Jeff, you can marry people. That's pretty cool. And you can also make people laugh. Sometimes you make people laugh while you are marrying them. As a matter of fact, you did it to me. :)
we need:
-someone who can help us figure out the square footage in our kitchen and entrance area.
-someone who can help us replace the floors in our kitchen and entrance area.
-to borrow a GPS system for our trip to San Diego.
I can:
-sign (read carefully, not SING).
-babysit.
Dude, I know I'm not an official card-carrying member of your community, but I'm all over this...
I actually posted a very similar add on craigslist this morning.
I'm offering a whole array of computer/web design/blog design/anti-virus skills and I'm looking for a way to get a really nice SLR camera for my wife :0)
If you don't know the secret handshake, you're SOL. JK.
Why don't you post a link to your craigslist ad here. Maybe someone will take you up on it.
Hmmm... I'll have to see if I can find the handshake on youtube.
Speaking of which, what kind of camera did you use to make that last video?
Here's the link:
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/wan/672626317.html
Zach,
I made the video with the iSight on my macbook.
Everyone else,
What are your needs and skills?
I/we can be your personal trainers. I am a certified on and Mike is just a crazy workout dude. Mike know how to change oil in a car. I can teach line dance classes and aerobic classes. And I like theme parties, not sure how that plays in.
We need....someone to help build a kitchen island and help baby our grass. We could also use a dog walker.
This is a fun, yet resourceful thing!!
shannon,
enjoy your blog. we are moving to raleigh. i'm an architect + a musician (no worries, jason knows this) and my wife teaches english.
we're moving on the 25th of June and need a house. we attend visio when we are in raleigh. i play drums with mr. patricio downing in silver so you may have seen me round. jason's wife diana says i look like jesus (whatever that means) so i should be easy to pick out.
so there's an introduction.
we'll see ya soon.
keep posting!
I can help make decisions about house stuff. (what color to paint, how to fix it up, etc.) I can even draw it out and plan it. And I can babysit.
What I need is people who are stronger than me and have a bigger car to help with all of my own house stuff.
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