Ever wonder what the world would be like if people could have the things they need and want without spending so much time earning the money it takes to get them?
Thanks to a new local connection with the global Community Exchange System (CES) through the Ozark Farmers’ Network, we can find out for ourselves. But… warning! Walking away from a deal completely satisfied without spending a cent can be addictive.
The idea is ancient and simple. Someone has the product or service you need, and you have an item, skill or service they need. You agree on a value and then trade. What’s new is the super streamlined technology that keeps track of it all.
In operation for a mere week, the local CES already offers products that vary from goat milk, produce, eggs, art, electronics and firewood to banana wine and lion’s mane tincture. Services run the gamut from cleaning, painting, construction, gardening and caretaking to business planning, podcasting and reiki for dogs. Offerings are varied and potentially endless.
Locally, sub-areas are being set up to help members find goods and services nearby. So far this includes the Fayetteville area, Harrison, Eureka Springs and Berryville. You name the area you’re in when you sign up but can trade outside your area.
Because OFN is part of the global CES network, one can trade with other exchanges around the world and obtain goods and services without using that country’s official currency. Conceivably, you could agree to write a business plan for an Airbnb in New Zealand in exchange for a two week stay in it on your next vacation.
Making CES available here was an idea that inspired Elle D’Coda about 10 years ago when she was doing research for a British agency, Open Intelligence, on the international economic future.
“We discovered that alternative currencies/economies would play a major role in future trade. The best practices and system soon narrowed down to CES and I launched one for our local area several years ago,” D’Coda explained. Unfortunately, internet access problems at the time kept it from thriving
Meanwhile, Michael Waters from Our Medicine Garden, Cole Lovis and other local small farmers, herbalists and farmhands were meeting as much as a year ago to discuss making their products available through some type of exchange plan but didn’t have the platform to launch it.
Then, happily, all the dots connected in a recent conversation between Waters and D’Coda.
“Michael told me he thought it was important for farmers to network together and support each other,” D’Coda said, “and knowing how the CES would easily facilitate that I created a spot for it in the FARM network on CES about a week ago. It’s obvious you don’t have to be a grower/farmer since support is community wide. Folks need food and botanicals, growers need goods and services from the wider community, so by working together the entire community receives the support needed. Everyone has something of value to offer and when we freely exchange goods and services we prosper.
“We’re one of more than 1,200 exchanges internationally on CES, which has been around 20 years or more. Members are not limited to trade with their home exchange and can trade with any other exchange.”
CES uses a variety of exchange methods: record keeping, time exchange, direct exchange, barter, swapping, gifting and sharing. Simply by keeping track of who receives what from whom, they can dispense with physical exchange media (like dollars) and the apparatus required to create, circulate and manage them and focus on providing and requesting what is really needed.
Signing up on CES
Register at community-exchange.org on computer or mobi.community-exchange.org on a mobile. Choose an exchange – look up Arkansas and choose FARM.
Start by making an offer of goods or service (see categories list for ideas). Decide on how you want to make an exchange: as a barter, trade, gift, sharing or in ARK currency. An ARK is equivalent to a dollar. For example, decide on the price and post it along with any details. For help email dcoda@protonmail.com.
There’s more information plus postings about new products, services and members on Ozark Farmers’ Exchange on Facebook.
In the meantime, D’Coda continues to run the Ozark Herbal Academy, which is relocating to Waters’s farm, and anticipates restarting classes this year. In the meantime, she’s focused on her YouTube channel, Ozark Herbal Academy and the Ultimate Herbal Database.