Barter and Trade

What happened to the good ol' days of barter and trade?

Well, that depends on who you ask.  Some people might say that it was to loose of a system and thankfully was replaced by our current monetary system where we all agree on the value of the form of payment.  Others might say that it is a system we need to return to so that the individual is not required to give a portion of said payment to the Federal Government.

There is however a third group of people who instead of just talking about returning to a barter and trade system, have actually done so.  These people include members of time banks and the teachers and students at the Trade School.

Time banks are so simple but they are changing communities all around the world.  You can find them in 22 countries and on six continents.  Once you are a member of a time bank, every hour that you spend helping someone else earns you an hour of help from another member.

The Trade School idea is another very unique system.  At this school, the students and teachers trade items and/or services for education.  So if you want to take a class on composting, maybe you would bring the teacher a loaf of homemade bread.

Check it out, bring it home, change the system, and save the world