05-04-2008, 04:58 AM
A suggestion:
I don't know how much we want to get into the straight up barter situation, as that sort of thing can get out of hand, and some are made uncomfortable by the process and I want this to be very inclusive. I would suggest a better way might be to monthly agree on exchange rates for various products, post it, see if anyone really gets worked up about the whole idea, revise if necessary, and work with it. Of course if you simply don't WANT my brussel sprouts, for example, you've got the right to say no, but I think many like the idea of having a basic idea of what their stuff is worth. I don't mind stewarding the process, and it engenders in some ways a local currency, which we might call a "Puna" or some silly such.
For example:
Say one meal sized taro mammy is worth 1 "Puna"
A papaya is declared worth 1 "Puna"
Apple Banana worth 1 "Puna"
A "handful" of Basil spigs worth 6 "Punas"
A loaf of bread worth 2 "Punas"
A dozen eggs worth 1 "Puna"
etc. you've an idea of what you're bringing to the market and what it's worth, and what it might be more or less valuable for you to provide.
Anybody like that idea?
I don't know how much we want to get into the straight up barter situation, as that sort of thing can get out of hand, and some are made uncomfortable by the process and I want this to be very inclusive. I would suggest a better way might be to monthly agree on exchange rates for various products, post it, see if anyone really gets worked up about the whole idea, revise if necessary, and work with it. Of course if you simply don't WANT my brussel sprouts, for example, you've got the right to say no, but I think many like the idea of having a basic idea of what their stuff is worth. I don't mind stewarding the process, and it engenders in some ways a local currency, which we might call a "Puna" or some silly such.
For example:
Say one meal sized taro mammy is worth 1 "Puna"
A papaya is declared worth 1 "Puna"
Apple Banana worth 1 "Puna"
A "handful" of Basil spigs worth 6 "Punas"
A loaf of bread worth 2 "Punas"
A dozen eggs worth 1 "Puna"
etc. you've an idea of what you're bringing to the market and what it's worth, and what it might be more or less valuable for you to provide.
Anybody like that idea?