Connecting the Rural Folks

[Judy Henry]

Judy Henry said…I am interested in connecting with foks in the West Carleton/Kanata.Arnprior area to discuss how the rurals will manage.
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[Lise Lillian Nickerson]

I live south of Ottawa and my daughter is living in Orleans. I come from Ottawa origionally and have a network of connections still in Ottawa. I would like to create a way to create a local economic system that helps us to exchange our skills and gifts and reduce our dependancy on the money economy. I would be happy to focus such an effort.
Lise

[Kaia Nightingale]

Hi Lise,
This would be a great asset. Many towns and cities have an alternative way of exchanging services, but we currently have nothing here in Ottawa. Thank you for spearheading this.
Hugs to you, and welcome to TransitionOttawa.
Kaia

PS Are you related to Mike, or do you just share the same family name?

Lise Lillian Nickerson said:

I live south of Ottawa and my daughter is living in Orleans. I come from Ottawa origionally and have a network of connections still in Ottawa. I would like to create a way to create a local economic system that helps us to exchange our skills and gifts and reduce our dependancy on the money economy. I would be happy to focus such an effort.
Lise

[John Eastcott]

What about the LETS (Local Economic Trading System) in Ottawa, is that still functioning??

[Kaia Nightingale]

The LETS system folded a few years back, I believe partly because a key organizer passed away.

While humanity still needs exchange systems (as opposed to organically sharing together), there are three main options as far as I have come across. One is to print alternative notes, like the Totnes pound or Toronto dollar. Another is to have an online electronic system, such as the linux based freecycle software developed in New Zealand. Another is tarriff books like the Mon Jeu system that came over from France.
They each have their merits and inconveniences. Notes are expensive to print, limited by the number of notes printed (what if you wanted to buy some land?), and we would need 'banks' to store the money, but notes are very convenient to use. Digital is unlimited - great for large money transfers, but we don't generally have a computer with us at the market when buying some tomatoes. Tarriff books are a little slow - you are filling in figures and doing math every transaction, but it's portable, inexpensive, and unlimited.

One possibility is to set up all three, and have them use a common unit system that is interchangeable with each other.

[Jenn]

Hi Lise,

I just joined the Transition Ottawa network the other day and I am trying to navigate around the site and see what everyone is up to and what ppl are talking about. In my reading, I noticed this posting and I thought I would let you know about a site, justfortheloveofit.org, that has an Ottawa based group. Basically, you join up and are put in contact with ppl in your local neighbourhood (I think the radius is 10 or 20 kms if I remember correctly) that are willing to share tools, skills, land, and even space. My boyfriend John (who just recently joined Transition Ottawa as well) and I joined justfortheloveofit recently. Although the members on the site do not seem to be very active, we are trying to change that and have put out a request for a potluck at our home so that ppl can meet face to face ... anyway, just thought I would let you know that there is something in Ottawa focused on a local economic (free) system ... it just isn't too active, but I suggest you look into it :)

Cheers!
Jenn

[John Eastcott]

Hey Kaia, I just discovered your reply, quite a while after you posted it! I don't remember being notified of your message. So sorry for dropping the ball, and I'm feeling it's a little late right now to pick it up again!

Bon soir!
John