new expat member in Chile | New Member Introduction | Forums

Hola!

I'm Heather from the States, living in central Chile, and looking forward to contributing to and being contributed to by this by group of homesteaders and homesteading hopefuls. I'd put myself more in the latter, as I'm an aspiring urban homesteader "light". I'm very off-shelf (as in I don't shop at grocery stores, nor buy prepared foods of any kind) when it comes to the kitchen, though I've not done a lot of food preservation. I've got only a little gardening experience, but am already looking forward to prepping our yard in the new house (moving this month) for a great spring start. We're on opposite seasons from the northern hemisphere, so just heading into winter now.

I've got a project budding that I'd like to share with you all and get thoughts/feedback/resources for. I'm very interested in alternative economy systems. I'm pretty inspired to help facilitate an alternative monetary system in my town in Chile. I'll work up to it slowly, and with others, when the time is right. On the way to this bigger goal, and also separate from it, I'm initiating a bartering circle with some friends. There are five of us that get together a lot, and we're all similarly-minded. We all make a lot of the basics for our families, or buy them from neighbours (bread, seed milks, nut butters, yogurt, organic veggies and fruits, jams, etc.). I've invited them to consider using our circle as a sort of sharing group, as if we all lived together in community (which we fantasize about on a regular basis). I've dreamed up some ideas on how a point system could work to facilitate ease and relaxation (fairness), and even imagine how we could also operate as a buying club for the things we can't/don't want to make. We would meet with our things weekly and swap, using a point system for money spent on ingredients and time on task - not based on going prices in the outside market. We're not business opportunities for each other, we're sharing work. We'd focus on necessities so that there is constant movement in the system, with room for more luxury items once we're established (gluten-free chocolate chip cookies, for example). For example, one person would do the bread for all, someone else the seed milks, someone else the nut butters, another the yogurt, etc. etc. and we'd organise for a more or less equal input and output per person, while enjoying our tea and coffee during these weekly swap meets.

Do any of you have experience doing this sort of organized work swap? Can you point me in the direction of any resources, articles, or blogs that address this smaller alternative system. I an organisational/systems mind and can dream up a lot, but I'd adore connecting with others doing the same/similar, or just reading about it more. Googling hasn't turned up much. 🙂

Thank you all and may spring be treating you well up there!

Warmly,

Heather from Chile