Introduction.
The next two chapters are part of the same topic of a ‘community- centred future’. This chapter
is Part One, and will continue with the subject of farmers’ markets and some important topics not
already covered, which are directly related to such marketplaces. The next chapter is Part Two and
will briefly mention some larger scale topics, related to a community marketplace.
A: Farmers’ Markets in the United Kingdom
+Lost and found
Surprisingly, here in the UK, most farmers markets have been trading no longer than 20 years. In
1999 a young American lady started a farmers’ market in London, having grown up on her family farm
in the US that sold at farmer’ markets, and not being able to find any comparable farmers’ markets in
England. From humble beginnings in London, a modern-day US inspired ‘Farmers’ Market’, championed the
idea of buying direct from local producers again in this country. Hundreds of farmers’ markets were
started, over the next few years. There are now over 600 farmers’ markets in the UK. The majority
of markets, especially outside large cities like London, are monthly in this country. It is mainly
only large city communities that are able to support one each week in the UK. For all the virtues
of buying direct from a farmer, and even after the success of modern farmers’ markets – it is still
a very uncommon way to shop in this country for the average household.
What a contrast it is, comparing how people shop in other countries- especially in Europe- to the
United Kingdom. Buying fresh food from local producers at weekly- even daily- town markets, in many
European countries, is still part of many peoples normal lives. Local and regional produce is used in
local and regional cuisine, which changes with the local seasons. Classic food traditions like this,
are proudly continued, sometimes improved upon, but are less affected by fads and fashions.
We seem to have lost many food based traditions, that are central to the lives of so many of our near
neighbours: why?
One reason may be that, the United Kingdom was the first industrialized nation in the world. Our
society changed from a farming/village based society, to an industrial/town based one. Our rural/land
based culture, was replaced by a brand new urban/industrial culture, one that was occupied with a
new trade and commerce, that now spanned the globe (more than a quarter of it , the largest Empire
the world has ever known).
Another reason for loosing so much of our food tradition in the UK, is because of the Second World
War. Many of us may be quite surprised at how near to starvation our population was, only for the
draconian measures the Ministry of Food were forced to use, due to our Island’s isolation from mainland
Europe at the time. Rationing of food and other items, lasted for over a decade after the end of
the war. What we ate changed forever, with cheaper substitute ingredients for those traditionally
used. Our food tradition was broken and a new generation grew up without ever knowing anything but
cheaper, and new industrial made ingredients, which became the norm.
Most of us have no access to the land, and so no knowledge of growing our own food. (also we have
lost the passed down knowledge of common wild plants that are good to eat, that heal and keep
us healthy…) Where once we depended on our knowledge of the natural world for survival, we now
depend on the cogs and gears of the industrial world. Our long hours, on the factory floor of modern
life, may have robbed us of our right relations, with the natural world we still actually live in.
Whatever the reasons, our European neighbours seem to have kept many of their land based traditions,
and our connection to the land, in the main, has been lost.
A farmers’ market, especially for an urban community in a large city, and even most towns and villages,
is one of many ways of regaining a connection to the land. We can also learn more of the, land based
crafts and traditions, that are still relevant even in today’s modern world.
+Options/ Welcome back to a local market-place.
For me the reasons to shop at a farmers’ market are compelling. Above all though, i would like
to see the average ‘person in the street’, have the opportunity to buy locally made products and
produce, and so help create a sustainable market-place for such products and produce, and physical
market-place venues at the centres of our communities, accessible to all. The next generation, is
already growing up in an ‘out of town’ world, where the traditional community centres are at risk, and
where many will need to own a car to have access to even the basic necessities of life. In a modern
world, sustainable local community-markets, should be an option for everyone. We should have more
choices instead of less. We should resist the urge -by some- to abandon traditional ways of life in
their entirety, when technology brings new choices. Do we want a world with no real currency/cash,
no paper books, no pen and paper skills/ handwriting, or mental arithmetic- just because we have
calculators; word-processors; plastic cards and internet banking? Is it a desirable option to live
without independent shops, or real market-places?
It might be a good idea, to stop and think of the amount we spend by the options/categories listed
below, each week or month.
Our options in a modern world:
Internet shopping
Out of town shops
Local supermarkets and high street chain stores
Independent local shops (incl charity-shops which upcycle locally)
Local market-places, for farmers *, artisans, and craftspersons
( *including: small-scale/smallholdings, urban and micro producers.)
Remove any one option and think what a future without it feels like.
(See chapter 6 ” High Streets and Community Centres”, for a more in
depth discussion, of the loss of independent shops.)
+A market-place in each town?
The industrial revolution built much infrastructure that our urban society still relies upon today. Much
of the sewerage systems of our cities and towns, the majority of the train network ( even if the once
mighty canals are neglected, unlike in Europe where old and modern canals still carry freight )
were built in Victorian times, aswell as vast swathes of elegant brick-built suburban housing. One
other thing that most towns and cities had in those times, were purpose built public market venues,
where small traders from the surrounding area sold everything you can imagine. One advantage of a
purpose built marketplace is, they are usually covered in some way from the elements- so shoppers
can shop in all weathers, and just as important, a farmers’ produce, is protected from the wind,
the rain, and the sun.
It might not be practical to build a market hall, or adapt a public square in every town today,
but existing venues can be retrofitted with many different types of coverings to suite the site.
(This sounds like a good exercise for, say, an engineering student, or class, to come up with the
best solutions. )
Nothing beats a purpose built venue though, one with a specific main use. If new housing developments
& communities, had the expectation or provision for a farmers’ market, built into their plans in some
way, even as part of a multi use facility, it would be an asset to any brand new community. With new
housing, why not new multi use spaces, that can be used at least once a week for a proper farmers’ market?
If we want more market garden farms, we need more markets for their produce- near to where they
grow. Why not a future where each town, or city borough, has a marketplace at its heart? One where
local farms and smallholders, and community gardens (even small private gardens) can supply organic
produce in their own area, once a week (or more?) at a dedicated market-place?
B: Community initiative and CSA (CICSA)
+Introduction
One day an organic/sustainable agriculture may be the norm, and it would not only seem a good idea, but an
essential next step. While we wait for the conditions to arise which will bring forth such a revolution
in mainstream agriculture, we can do much ourselves to create such an organic/sustainable agriculture,
on a smaller scale/ community basis. On a community level, by supporting local organic and sustainable
producers, we not only create a sustainable food system outside of the mainstream/supermarket system;
we act as inspiration for others to follow our example – including mainstream farming. A demand, not
only for organic produce, but also for a sustainable market-garden farming model, that produces such
produce, will mean more people going into this type of farming. More opportunities to sell direct to
the public, means farmers and producers themselves profit from the fruits of their harvests.
+CSA
Community Supported Agriculture/CSA, is- as the name might suggest- a coming together of farmers and
communities/customers* (*i hate the word consumers), to form beneficial relationships. The concept is
also known as ‘crop- sharing’, which describes better the way a traditional CSA works, where people
subscribe with a farm (or group of farms), for a whole season’s crop. A farmer gains capital to invest
at the start of the season, and subscribing customers gain a (usually) weekly box of fresh produce from
the farm. The idea is people know where their food (veg and meat) is coming from, which is usually an
organic farmer in their area, and the farmer gains help when they most need it, both financial and –
instead of money – from subscribers helping out on the farm. Trust is built between farmer and customer,
regarding quality of produce, and the methods in the process of growing. Local people support local
industry, and so gain not only the best quality, but also the best value a farmer can offer – whilst
the farmer is gaining a fair price, as their is no ‘middleman’ to pay by selling direct to the public.
Vegbox schemes may be run on the original CSA/crop-sharing model, or on a monthly subscription basis –
where one months payment will mean a weekly delivery of seasonal produce, to be delivered or collected
in your area, and no commitment to a whole or part season’s harvest (you can cancel at any time). The
vast majority of vegbox schemes here in the UK are run on a monthly subscription basis like this,
and we will likely create such a veg-box scheme at Parson’s Green. A vegbox scheme whether part of a
cropshare or on a monthly subscription, is a valuable guaranteed income for a farmer, and reduces
waste. A farmer only has to pick exactly how much produce has been ordered, and may plan with more
confidence what and how much to plant each season, rather than driving to market with a full selection
of the harvest in the hope of selling everything. CSA is good for farmers, good for customers, and for our
planet by vastly reducing waste.
+CICSA
Community Initiative and CSA (CICSA), is a term i will use to describe things including non-agriculture
related community projects, the likes of which a community market may get involved with, or create.
I will divide the projects into small/medium sized community projects, and larger scale projects.
++Community Projects affiliated to a Community Market
I have previously said our market would have two sides: A) market-day, and, B) community projects. The
first three small/medium scale projects include the main ones we can directly get involved with or
try to organize from the start as a community market, namely:
1) workshops
2) a vegbox scheme
3) community growing projects.
There is one other small/medium scale project, i will list: LETS, Local Exchange Trading
Systems/Schemes. A community market ‘can’ get involved in such schemes, and could definitely champion
any in the local community; we have to bear in mind though, a great deal of additional organizing
would be needed to setup and maintain our own scheme. It would be nice to think we might, one day-
have a large enough, dedicated, community group to do so.
4) Local Exchange Trading Systems/Schemes ( LETS )
++CICSA small/medium-scale
+++1) Workshops (Learn, Mend and Lend)
The first project, is actually a grouping together of three types of community initiative, and i have
included this first – as all of these can be included on community market-days, aswell as on other days,
and also in other venues by other community groups.
Learn: i have already spoken of the workshops we will offer on market- days, and through the market. The
scope for community learning projects is endless. There are types of ‘practical’ workshops which are
‘hands on’, and everyone can get involved with, and there are types which ‘showcase’ a skill or subject
where you can watch/listen and learn. Many of the skills and subjects for workshops at a market are
old skills we should all know, like growing and preserving food, repair of household items, clothing,
garment construction, and other simple repair and maintenance tasks. There are also many ‘high tech’
skills; electronics; engineering; computer programming and robotics, that can be taught and learned,
and a whole movement of ‘makers’ around the world who meet at venues such as schools and libraries to
share and ‘learn by doing’ both traditional and very modern skills. Why not a makerspace for your/our
community space, school or library? The next project, the art of mending and fixing, is closely related to learning workshops. Some
learning-workshops may include any number of skills needed to fix and mend and maintain. There was a
time when every town had a dressmakers/haberdashery shop, aswell as an electronics shop. It was part
of our culture to fix our electronic devices, like radios, and to repair our clothes rather than throw
away. Many people not only fixed and patched things they owned, but also made their own from scratch,
either with cloth and thread or circuit-board and soldered components. Links:
https://www.makerspaces.com/what-is-a-makerspace/
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/libraries-and-makerspaces
https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/
Mend: refers to mending things rather than throwing them away. Clothes sometimes only need a seam
sown or a patch, electrical items may only need a fuse or a small fix, footwear may need only a new
heel or sole. A community initiative like ‘repair cafe’ would be a good fit for any community, and
any community market could be affiliated in some way, such as hosting (practical)repair workshops or
learning workshops, from other community groups.
Links:
https://www.repaircafe.org/en/ (one is at St Mary’s Putney)
https://therestartproject.org/
https://manchesterdeclaration.org/
Lend: refers to a concept such as the ‘library of things’, where things like tools, household items,
whatever you can think of, can be shared within the community. We might buy a drill, which gets used
once a year maybe, why not help someone else who needs a drill for a day? Also things like musical
instruments would seem a good fit, especially for young learners who would like to play music but have
not decided what instrument exactly to play. A market can partner with a nearby ‘library of things’
(or music-shop, in the last example) or create their own in some form, even if small or specific,
for example a market having a library of books about: cookery, arts/crafts, the environment, natural
world, gardening and volunteering… Or a having a small selection of tools that people need use only
occasionally, for gardening, preserving, arts and crafts and repair work (or musical instruments).
The scope of such a library is only bound by the needs and interests of the community it serves..
Links:
https://www.libraryofthings.co.uk/
++++A farmers market as a community space/noticeboard
The above three initiatives are all related, and highlight the role a community market can play
as a community hub, a space for various activities and services for all ages. A market can act
as a community space for any of the above, or as an information hub, where notices can be left for
community related things. As a non- profit community project, we could have a non-profit community
noticeboard. Such non-commercial things that can be advertised could include: bandmates, dance
partners, language learning buddies, lip/speech reading partners, volunteer opportunities… any
clubs or community projects like the three above, and jogging/training partners. The list really
is endless, and a community-market noticeboard (both physical and online) would reach many people
at the very heart of the community, of every age.
+++2) A box scheme (small scale)
A ‘small scale’ box scheme is where customers subscribe on a monthly basis, for one box of produce
each week, and can cancel at any time (as opposed to subscribing to a whole or part season’s harvest ).
A community farmers’ market is in a very good position to organize a community (veg, meat, eggs…) box
scheme. Having direct contact with locally made quality produce and producers, we can serve our
communities not only on market days. To actually organize our own scheme, directly with farmers and
producers, we would need a team of volunteers to staff a central drop-off point, and sort and pack boxes
ourselves from the farm deliveries. Customers may pick-up boxes from the point they were assembled, or
possibly we can deliver to customers directly, or to other established pick-up points in the community,
where boxes can be safely kept for a day or so. Running our own scheme is allot of work, but a way
to keep the costs down for community subscribers. We could alternatively partner with an existing
box scheme, if there is one in our area, and act as a pick-up point for pre-sorted and packed boxes.
(There is a lack of a box scheme in the Parson’s Green and Fulham areas, aswell as the whole west of
London, but we are within reach of one already established vegbox scheme, so could start a pick-up point
in Parson’s Green. We would need a central location to store the vegboxes until collection, or for a
small fee you can organize a delivery directly with the vegbox scheme. If we had the volunteers, we
could eventually create our own scheme and deliver boxes to our own pick-up points in West London,
and so cover a large gap in the London market.)
Exotics
All of us use things in our everyday lives which are not grown or produced in our own communities,
or even our own countries. We drink tea, coffee, and orange juice. Our bowls are full of dates,
bananas, citrus and tropical fruits. Many famous wines, cheeses, cured meats, and seafoods, are
produced in countries far from our own. So what are our best options to buy these things not made
here? Let us list our options next:
Box schemes: some source high quality or organic produce from
abroad, known provenance, not as expensive as specialist grocers.
Farmers markets: if allowed, normally high quality, much organic,
known provenance, not so expensive as a specialist grocer.
Sailed cargo: quality high, carbon footprint lowest, expensive
but competitive, bulk quantities available aswell as small.
Supermarkets: large selection, some quality, not much organic,
much of unknown provenance, good value, some very cheap.
Online retailers: selection vast- including organic, not so much
fresh produce, expensive, includes shipping charges.
High street greengrocer: sometimes more variety than supermarket,
not much organic, unknown provenance good value.
Specialist greengrocers: high quality, much organic, provenance
known, very expensive.
Buyers clubs (small scale)
One other option is buying wholesale, either direct from a producer and shipping in bulk or, more
realistic, from a wholesaler in your own country and buying in bulk. This last option is suited
to groups of friends who want to save money and source organic produce in bulk, or for community
groups like a community market or a community run box scheme. You could call this last option a
‘buyers club’ (see also LETS later in this chapter) and buying from a local trusted wholesaler
would be a ‘small scale’ buyers club, as opposed to ‘large scale’, like shipping a lorry-load
of produce direct from a farmer in another country.
Links:
https://betterfoodtraders.org/find-a-better-food-trader/#find
(see above link for box schemes and zoom in on map for
pick-up points)
https://vegbox.suttoncommunityfarm.org.uk/
+++3) Community growing projects (small/medium scale)
The very best way to ‘grow your own’, in this country- whether you live in the middle of a large
town or city, or a small village in the middle of the country- is to find your nearest allotment
garden site, and put your name down for an allotment plot. The section on large scale Community
Growing talks in more detail about allotments. There are many hundreds of sites, with hundreds of
thousands of individual allotment-garden plots in this country. Why not find out more? [see the
end of this sections for links] Why grow plants: flowers, shrubs, trees, fruits and vegetables, ourselves from seeds? Why not just let
others grow things for us? Both good questions in a modern world, when we can buy flowers, shrubs,
trees, fruits and vegetables from a shop. One reason might be because we can save ourselves alot of
money buy growing things ourselves (seeds are very cheap, we only need the time to water and care for
our plantings). Another good reason might be, that knowing how to grow things, especially for food,
is still precious knowledge. If for whatever reason, even for just one day, there is no food in the
shop, we will realize it is not the end of the world if we know we can grow something ourselves. It’s
also fun, to have the magic of the natural world unfold before us, merely by watering a mysterious
grain of dust. Growing things, especially the production of food, was once what occupied a large part
of many peoples daily life. It seems strange to think, a good percentage of modern people might not
know how to grow food themselves. Also when we grow our own food, we can be certain it is free from
harmful chemicals, and will be fresh, not stored or transported vast distances, or picked early and
ripened artificially. Fresh food is better for our tastebuds aswell as our bodies, and homegown –
better for our budget. Why ‘don’t’ we all grow, at least some, flowers, shrubs, trees, fruits and
vegetables ourselves from seeds? When we learn to grow food, we learn to feed ourselves, and become more self reliant/resilient. When
we teach our children to grow food we sow the seeds of sustainability in our communities, and of
‘food security’ for a future with maybe more young people farming, and more food grown locally. It
is very common for schools these days to teach in some way food growing with a school garden of
some kind, aswell as a general knowledge of our natural world, especially the environment of our own
community. As a community market, growing projects that involve schools and children, are very much
a part of our aims. Both as part of: a school curriculum, at home with parents, or in the community-
there are many opportunities for children to get involved, hands on with growing, just as there is
for adults. At home we can all grow things like urban greens or herbs, try sprouting or care for
container plants in or outdoors. At schools children may well be able to get experience growing
vegetables, even fruit trees in container gardens (most playgrounds seem to have something edible
growing in beds or containers) or in a proper garden in the ground. Many families take on an allotment-garden for maybe one season, to try for themselves, and let their
children have the experience of growing food. And a public allotment garden site, which is usually
run by a local authority, is one of many good options to grow food in our communities. Others
include growing in our own private gardens, if we have one. Or even sharing a part of our garden
with others in our community to grow something; for instance if we have not the time or are unable
to do so ourselves for whatever reason. There are community groups and charities who will organize
such schemes, so many gardens/parts of gardens (maybe just a small bed, or pots…) add up to a
large space for collectively growing food in a community. A community market is ideally placed
to get involved with such schemes. (the same kind of collective growing scheme would work on an
allotment garden site, if the plot-holders thought it a good idea.) If we are lucky, we may find a
plot of land in our community, of whatever size, that we can turn into a proper ‘community garden’,
a vegetable or even fruit garden/ ‘community orchard’. If we are ‘extremely’ lucky, we may have
enough volunteers, and support, and a large enough plot to create a ‘community urban-farm’, which
might be able to grow enough food for a large number of households in the area. (Getting back to growing trees for moment. It is very doable to grow quite large and productive
fruit trees in containers, which is ideal for an urban garden or space. If enough people grew fruit
trees in an area, (with a bit of encouragement and support from the likes of a non-profit community
farmers’ market), we could create lots of micro-orchards, and have home grown fruit in the heart of
the city. Maybe once a year we could arrange for as many container trees as we can, to be moved
to a location in our community – to show- case the art of fruit tree growing and create a real,
small urban (container) orchard for the the whole community to see. (The braeburn gathering? 🙂 )
Growing is useful, and fun. It is both life and art. It is hard to deny, life ‘is’ beautiful.)
Growing opportunities in our communities:
*at school,
*indoors at home,
*public allotment-garden,
*outdoors at home, in your own garden,
*many shared gardens/a collective growing project,
*a community garden/community orchard,
*a community urban farm. In each case, whether: a raised bed at a school; pots on a window-cill; an allotment plot; garden;
community-garden; orchard; or an urban farm- think not only of the amount of food that can be
grown, but the amount of people who will learn to grow their own food. The more people ‘know how’
to grow food, the more people will be able to aspire to be the market-garden farmers, of a future
sustainable agriculture- and world. In chapter 6, the next, i will expand on these ideas- in the
section on ‘large scale’ community growing projects- including more on allotment gardens.
Links:
https://www.gov.uk/apply-allotment
+++4) Local Exchange Trading Systems/Schemes ( LETS )
LETS, are Local Exchange Trading Systems/Schemes, and rather than relying on the national currency
and financial systems to support the exchange of goods and services, create their own system of
exchange in local communities. For members of a community, the lack of money (traditional currency)
does not prevent the exchange of goods and services which are essential to community life. The schemes are a kind of barter, a direct exchange with an agreed upon list of exchanges- for
both goods and services- and an agreed upon value for each exchange. Some schemes may use ‘time’
as a unit of currency, and use an agreed upon hourly rate. In all cases a scheme will create it’s
own unique local unit of currency and an account for the group and for all individual scheme members. It is quite a task creating and keeping going, an independent local financial system, but that is
what communities in the UK and around the world, have been doing for over 30 years. Here in the
United Kingdom, the LETS economic model has been pioneered, and has inspired many LETS community
groups around the world. Here national Government has endorsed LETS including Prime Ministers, MPs
and Government departments, as a way of boosting local community development and regeneration. Many
local authorities have also joined LETS groups, or provided support and funding. There is actually an established LETS scheme/system, already running in Hammersmith and Fulham, (the
district Parson’s Green is within), and so this would be our first point of call in getting involved
in a LETS. I will however briefly sketch out a fictional story of a LETS group in our area, just to
illustrate the concept of LETS in action. Thanks to RamLETS, Ramsgate’s LETS group, who cover the
whole Thanet area of Kent in England, for the inspiration for this story, and for the quote at the end.
Parson’s Green LETS (a short story)
The Parson’s Green LETS group, GreenLETS was formed over two years ago from a group of around a
dozen core member, all living in walking distance of the centre of Parson’s Green: the Green itself.
The founding members were a diverse bunch: three builders, an artist, a mechanic, a software engineer,
two retired people, a van driver, student, full-time mum, shopkeeper and school teacher. Most had one
thing in common, apart from living in the same community, they were customers of – or had friends, or
contacts, who were – of the weekly community farmers’ market, in the area. Now the membership of the
group has well over one hundred people, from every walk of life, who ‘offer’ services like building
and home improvements, gardening, car mechanics, clothes repair, cookery, ironing, window-cleaning,
and bed and breakfast and vastly more. The group maintains a list of ‘wants’ and offers, which can
be accessed online, and at various community noticeboards.
The system works pretty smoothly, with a team of eight taking care of running the group, including the
group, and personal, accounts, which everyone in the group has access to. Our LETS currency is the
‘gem’, which started life being called a ‘green’, then an ’emerald’, and some- how ended up being a
small lettuce. It’s not a hard currency though thankfully- even though most of us quite like a little
gem lettuce on occasion- it only exists in the records of our transactions, and as figures in the
balance of the group, and our personal accounts.
Here is a snapshot of how it works:
Maureen (balance 30 Gems) is offering her services as a painter & decorator. Gwendolyn (balance 20
Gems) is an old lady, who needs a room decorated. She agrees with Maureen, she will pay 50 Gems for
the work, and £50 to buy the materials (wallpaper and paste). When the work is completed Gwendolyn’s
balance is -20 Gems and Maureen’s balance is 80 Gems.
John (balance 75 Gems) is a plumber and registered gas fitter, he wants a babysitter for his two
young children, so he and his wife can have a night out. He finds Gwendolyn who offers babysitting
and they both agree on a price of 30 Gems for one evening’s babysitting. The next day John’s balance
is 45 Gems, and Gwendolyn’s balance is 10 Gems.
Maureen needs her dog walked, and fed, once a week, as she has to work a very long way from home
on those days. She finds Charles (balance -5 Gems) who offers dog walking (and feeding) for 10 Gems
per hour. She agrees to pay Charles for an hour and a half in the morning and an hour and a half in
the evening on those days, and for peace of mind books and pays for 4 weeks of dog-walking. Maureen’s
balance is now -40 Gems, and Charles’s balance is 120 Gems.
“The system works because having some members with a negative balance is necessary, since if everyone
were in credit there would be little incentive to trade” (RamLETS)
Like double entry bookkeeping, all transactions balance each other out. The total balance of the
whole group account, is always zero. The possible ways to trade are endless, and cover everything
you could ever buy with money, and much that you cannot. Exchange currencies are not money though, no
interest can be charged, and nobody outside of the local community controls the value or use of your
chosen currency. The only way wealth can be created, is by doing something for someone else. Rather
than a central bank printing, and controlling money- people create the currency when they make an
exchange. If people do things for each other, there is always enough to go round. Everyone has access
to wealth at all times (as long as, at some point, they do something for someone else).
Every LETS is unique, so are run in any way the local community it serves thinks best. Aswell as
offering a very wide variety of services from group members, a LETS may be setup- and run to offer very
specific services, or a smaller agreed upon list. There is no one ‘right way’, for you or a group of
any size, to run a LETS. LETS are all about a ‘fair exchange’, without the need of traditional currency.
LETS boost local economies without the use of money, and create wealth from within the community,
which is used and stays in the community. A dedicated team is required to start and run a LETS,
and there is much work maintaining such a system, and a membership, who possess a diverse range of
skills (with which to exchange), to keep it all going. The benefits a successful system can bring
to a community though, are potentially massive.
Links: