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The Somerville Trading Post is free and open to all. Any items you bring can be
traded or bartered for the other items available that month, or you can
donate your item. It is up to you how much your
item is "worth." There are no restrictions on what you can bring, and
you do not have to bring anything to attend. It is an opportunity to
get rid of all that butternut squash
you have stored away or share your hand-knit scarves, and get something
else exciting in exchange, or just help out a neighbor who needs some
fresh produce that week.
Sample
of goods exchanged at the TP:
pickles
<--> bok choy
bike pedal clips <--> 2 tomato plants
felted soap <--> raspberry jam
bread maker <--> Chia Pet
second hand sweater <--> used tool kit
houseplant <--> parsley
used book <--> vinegar
compost <--> knit scarf
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The Trading Post was inspired by a
desire to share our garden harvest, especially when we had way too much
of one thing. Realizing that an incredible variety of items are found
right in our neighborhood eventually led us to hosting monthly trading
hours when everyone could come together to exchange items. The Trading
Post provides an
opportunity to distribute abundances and find new homes for unused
goods. It also
encourages reusing and
recycling, and puts an emphasis on the production and consumption of
local food and other goods, while keeping valuable materials out of
landfills. Moreover, this system aims to
bring the exchange of material goods back to a familial level and
foster strong community relationships.
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