This is a topic I have thought about a lot over the years and one that seems even more relevant now as prices skyrocket and wages don’t keep pace. I certainly am no expert on what it is or how it should work, but here are a few ideas to get you thinking. If you are aware of other gifting culture models I would love to hear about them. So now to the topic at hand…
What is it? How do we incorporate it into our lives? It is easy to think that a gift and exchange culture would require a complete overhaul of our current capitalist system before we can even begin, but what if there were small noticeable steps that each of us could take right now to begin to shift our mindset into one of a giving as well as receiving gifts with complete strangers.
You know the expression “one person’s junk is another person’s treasure”? I think it is very true. Just because you are done with an item it does not mean its usefulness is also done. There are so many items available in the world that can be reused by another, I believe a genuine and heartfelt gifting culture could significantly impact the current retail sector, to the benefit of the citizens of planet Earth, as well as the Earth herself.
Let’s take a look at some of the options that are already being utilized and could be used to greater benefit with awareness and a little bit of planning.
Wishes & Gifts
One of my favourite things about my adopted community of Esquimalt, other than the proximity to the ocean and forest; is a group called ‘Buy Nothing’. It is a simple Facebook group where people can post Wishes and Gifts. Wishes are the request for items and Gifts are the offering of things you have to give away. Over my time in the group I have wished and gifted, and both have felt so good. I love nothing more than seeing something go out the door to someone else who will truly make use of it. And I deeply appreciate the gifts I have received usually within 24 hours of posting a request. A side bonus is that over time I begin to get to know these lovely people with whom I am exchanging and as a result, I feel a part of the community.
There are Buy Nothing groups around the world and each group is limited to a location so exchanging with others is easy. These groups are part of the resurgence of the Gift Culture and also foster community involvement. They create an environment to freely share our excess while also allowing us to receive what we need and desire, allowing the abundance of the Universe to be in action in our lives.
Donations
Offering services by donation is another aspect of the gift culture. I have tried a few different approaches on this one with varying success. Some people become quite agitated as they do not know how much to donate, others chose nothing, and others donate more than the service would have cost if I had charged for it. To me, donation for services is an investment in yourself, more than in the person you are donating to. It is a recognition that you have chosen to receive a service of value, even when there is no fixed amount associated with it, and you are willing to invest in receiving that service.
So far, a suggested donation seems to be the most comfortable model for the services I provide by donation, however, a true gift society leaves the donation amount entirely up to the person donating. There is a mentality among some that donation for service is equivalent to asking for a handout which can create an interesting dynamic between giver and receiver whether you are the giver of the service or the giver of the donation. This view of donations must shift before a ‘donation for service’ model will truly flow, as it smacks of the premise that people asking for donations are somehow disadvantaged (think fundraising for a non-profit), or it is being used as a marketing ploy (I will give you things until you feel obligated, then ask for payment when you feel uncomfortable saying no). The former is a misconception when it comes to gifting culture, and the latter is a commonly used marketing manipulation. Neither of which fits with true gift culture.
Time Bank Groups
While I don’t know much about this one, I like what I have heard and it piqued my interest. This is a process of each member earning credits or banking time for services provided and the opportunity to cash them in for services from another member of the time bank group. Example. Each time someone in my local group chooses to have a one-hour session with me, I would bank one hour or receive one credit. If I wish to obtain a service from another member I could use one of the credits I have accumulated to ‘purchase’ that service. Although there is a direct one-to-one exchange of services for credits, there is no monetary exchange, therefore no loss of value of the credit used to pay for that service, and since no money is changing hands, these exchanges are not taxable. I see this as also levelling the playing field where each person’s contribution is of equal value, a step out of the hierarchy and into a circle. Another benefit is that the groups will be local to be most effective which helps to build a local community I find this idea intriguing and I see the possibilities as endless.
Co-ops
The original concept of co-ops was based upon a coming together where each person contributed to making things easier for everyone. Think of a group coming together for a barn raising or threshing day at the neighbours. All of the local farmers gathered together to help one person, knowing they would receive that same level of cooperation and assistance when their time came to need it. There was a great deal of honour and trust in these groups. Everyone knew if they helped their neighbours, the neighbours would return this assistance in kind.
This was also the basis of what is now known as national co-ops. They were started by a few people pooling resources to support each other, and I am sure none of those early co-op founders ever dreamed their small group supporting each other would one day grow into national for-profit businesses – that was not the point.
One place I see the original co-op concept still at work is Co-op Housing Projects, where the housing is tenant owned and run, with each person contributing based upon their own strengths and abilities. I know these are not without their challenges, but what a great concept to create community and interdependent support for each other.
What Else is Possible?
As I mentioned at the outset, I am certainly no expert in a gift or exchange culture or community model, but I am curious and invite others to be curious as well. What are the possibilities for how we can build stronger communities as we
support one another?
Ref. Buy Nothing Project https://buynothingproject.org/ (note that not all communities are listed on this website, you may yours by searching on Facebook)
Ref. Timebanking https://www.timebanks.org/what-is-timebanking/
Ref. Co-op Housing Federation https://chfcanada.coop/about-co-op-housing/
