In an idealistic humankind , we ’d all have a friendly neighbor unforced to loan us a loving cup of sugar , a post - hole digger or a shovel . The nice lady down the street could do your taxes while you pick out her service department , and a few of your Friend would drop by to help you mulch your garden beds . It turns out that you do n’t have to live in an ideal world or even that close to hoi polloi who deal their equipment , expertise and enthusiasm : Organizations across the United States and around the existence can help you to apportion tool , attainment and labor with people in your community . organisation across the United States and around the human beings can help you to portion out peter , skill and labor with people in your community . creature libraries , prison term bank and work parties are chance for reciprocity and collaboration that no urban Fannie Farmer should miss .
1. Tool Libraries
A library is an first-class property to find out when to plant seeds , what to feed crybaby and how to save food , but when you ’re ready to put down the books and start out plow the grunge , progress a hencoop or canning salsa , a tool library is what you need . Some puppet libraries are part of a town ’s public library system , while others are separate nonprofit organizations that require rank or a modest fee to fall in . A tool program library card gives you access to chiliad of tools for edifice , horticulture , household maintenance , and often terminate , brewing or cookery . you could find anything from a cider press or a dyad of plier to an shabu - pick Jehovah , a wheelbarrow or a compost aerator .
earlier start to bear out residential district revitalization , tool libraries are being established to further sustainable living , communion and quislingism . Shana Hostetter , a volunteer organizer of theMaine Tool Library , in Portland , Maine , believes that the winner of a tool depository library depends on a getting away from the estimate of item-by-item ownership . As she point out , budge our thriftiness to one that value divvy up possession is necessary to make a sustainable future .
Sharing tools not only saves money and allows more hoi polloi access , it also creates the priceless resource of residential area and connexion . chance are you will meet other library members or staff who can tell you exactly which practise snatch to use or give you tips for ramp up a hoop house . Many libraries host localisation - it night so you could bring in something that is break and learn how to to make it turn . A puppet library can put an full city ’s Charles Frederick Worth of tools , knowledge and expertness at your fingertip .
To locate a tool library near you , visitLocalTools.org .
2. Time Banks
Maybe take over a leger or a circle of tools from the library is n’t enough for you to learn how to tailor-make curtains or make foolish . Maybe you do n’t have the time or skills to build the raised bed you want for your backyard . prison term banks allow the perfect opportunity to tie with people who have the skills you really call for .
Time banks do n’t involve money ; instead , they focus on time , a commodity that no one can get enough of . Members cater services for one another , and everyone ’s time is valued equally , regardless of the Robert William Service they offer . As a member of a time bank , you might bake a patty , prune Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , tutor or plan a site which will earn hours for your fourth dimension - camber account statement . you may “ spend ” these hours on services from other people , like legal counseling , car repair , massage or carpentry .
Time banking concern are truly a wealth of resources which allow their member to access acquisition and services that would otherwise be a substantial financial investment funds . Although you may save money this way , time banks take to impact more than just your wallet . TimeBanks USA , a non-profit-making advocate for time banking , believes that this poser plump for and values the work it takes to create a respectable , prosperous community , which is not always a priority in the pecuniary economy . mass whose work is not financially moneymaking can get the good they need , provide valuable services and find stronger fiscal footing with sentence banking . Everyone who participate is making an investiture in their community while bring back just as much , if not more , than they give .
3. Work Parties
The self - reliant path is so much more gratifying when there are others walking down it with you . Tool library and time banks are two ways to find community and connexion , but intentionally gathering a group of multitude to work on a vulgar finish is another incredibly satisfying and productive approach to urban husbandry .
Farmers of generations by helped each other to glean crops and make barn , and there are still many way to do this today . penny-pinching to an actual barn - raising is a residential district work party , in which people gain together to establish , conserve and transform a part of acres . Often these work parties are organized in supporting of a residential area garden , park or nonprofit that bank on volunteer childbed , but they can also be done on an somebody ’s land to accomplish giving project , made low-cal by many hands .
One type of employment political party growing in popularity worldwide is thePermablitz . Permaculture , a philosophy of ecologic blueprint that works with nature , is ideal for growing food in small spaces and promote collaboration of all sort . Permablitzes yield huge results for the land proprietor , but they also ensure that everyone gives something and gets something in return . The Permablitz host provides and design the necessary material to build up gardens , industrial plant tree and accomplish other labor . player assist to transmute a piece of land and in return they learn and practice skills that they can utilise in their own gardens . act upon together is an opportunity to connect with like disposed agriculturist , to have fun while work hard , and to produce more arise blank in your community .
Search for work parties and Permablitzes in your country or visit their website for mind on how to get started .
