General Economy Exquisite Exchange

Trade Items by Cubicle

2012-01-09T13:54:00.000-08:00

Winter in the Rooftop Tomato Garden

2012-01-09T13:42:00.000-08:00

Self-Watering Containers for the Holidays

2012-01-09T13:39:00.001-08:00

Holiday Trades

2012-01-09T13:31:00.000-08:00

Holiday Cookie Exchange

2012-01-09T13:17:00.001-08:00

Ornament Exchange

2012-01-09T13:08:00.000-08:00

Waste Equals Food

2012-01-09T12:34:00.001-08:00

As we were watering and shifting plants, the top of a basil plant broke off. We decided to put it in water to see if it would root. It did.

We are encouraging people to bring in clippings from houseplants to trade.

Setting Up the Recipe Exchange

2011-12-27T06:35:00.000-08:00

Roasting the Final Tomatoes of the Season

2011-12-27T06:32:00.000-08:00

Self_Watering Container Centerpiece

2011-12-27T06:29:00.001-08:00

GEEEcycling Self-Watering Plant Container

2011-12-27T06:21:00.001-08:00

GEEEcycling: Plant Pot with Saucer

2011-12-27T05:35:00.000-08:00

Holiday Cookie Exchange Sunday December 11th 2-3PM!!!

2011-12-08T11:05:00.000-08:00

Please join us for a Holiday Cookie Exchange this Sunday, December 11th, from 2-3PM at the Hyde Park Art Center!

Several people have already confirmed to bring cookies, bars and sweets, so warm your oven and start baking!

We recommend that participants bring 2 dozen of each kind. We will set aside 6 for tasting and trade in multiples of 6. Either pre-pack your cookies by 6, or bring containers to bring your selections home.

We will begin promptly at 2 so be here on time to get the best selection!

If you'd like to participate in our recipe exchange, bring a copy or more of your cookie recipes. We'll post it on our blog:

geeethatsagreatrecipe.blogspot.com

Wall Street Occupies G.E.E.E.

2011-11-20T08:23:00.000-08:00

An economy that includes neighborly trade has driven Wall Street to protest...

GEEE Recipe Exchange

2011-11-08T12:13:00.000-08:00

We at GEEE are pleased to announce the launch of our recipe exchange. Donated and traded seasonal recipes will be available at our Hyde Park Art Center location and at our new blog, geeethatsagreatrecipe.blogspot.com.

Come check it out. We'll be talking it up at this Friday's Clay and Cocktails event and this weekend's Second Sunday event at the art center.

What's Up for Trade Now

2011-10-23T15:10:00.000-07:00

G.E.E.E. is Going to Seed

2011-10-21T13:02:00.000-07:00

As the time has come to return seeds to our gloriously depleted Seed Library, we are asking not only Library members to bring back seeds from their bounty crops, but also for the rest of our community to donate seeds from our gardens.

To do so, we have a few recommendations on how to collect and save the seeds from the plants that have fed us all summer.

How to Save Seeds

All across America, American gardeners are growing plants and saving seeds. If you have grown produce this year, you too may want to consider how to save seeds from your plants and vegetables so that you can grow more next year. Even if you did not grow them yourself you may find vegetables on a farm market or even in your local supermarket, and you can save seeds from these too. Learning how to save seeds from your plants will allow you to grow and enjoy a much wider variety of vegetables than if you have to buy the seeds or plants each year and it will be a lot cheaper too!

The first step to saving seeds is to make sure that the seeds are ripe. This is likely to be when a tomato is perhaps past its best for eating and slightly mushy; or the zucchini is past the small tender stage. This is clearly much easier to do if you are growing and monitoring the produce in your garden, than it is when you are relying on the supermarket to sell over ripe vegetables. If you do buy the vegetables, particularly peppers and tomatoes, let them come to full ripeness on the counter rather than store in the refrigerator, where the maturing of the fruits is delayed by low temperatures.

The next step is to identify and extract the seed. For peas and beans this is obvious, and it is easy to take the seeds out of the shells. Dry these seeds and store them until next spring. For tomatoes and other messy seeds that are in a gelatinous coating, rinse the seeds thoroughly in a sieve and rub the seeds gently to remove the gel. Dry the seeds on a paper towel before storing. For very tiny seeds such as with lettuce, let the plant go to seed and pick the seed head. Cover the whole thing with a brown sandwich bag, or plastic bag, and shake the seeds out. Sort out any chaff or debris that is among the seeds before storing them.

These simple steps will ensure that the plants you grew this year can be grown again next year. By learning how to save seeds, you will also be able to share the seeds with neighbors and other vegetable lovers, so that more can be grown again in North American Gardens next year. Saving seeds also promotes the variety of vegetables that you eat and helps to preserve some of the strains of plants that were in danger of being lost forever.

http://kate-copsey.suite101.com/how-to-save-heirloom-seeds-a5722

Saving Seeds For Tomatoes in Particular

Fermenting Tomato Seeds
1. Choose a heathly tomato from a healthy plant – While you’d rather save the best-looking tomatoes for eating, sick fruit from sick plants pass on… well, sickness. And remember, you can always scoop out the seeds for saving and eat the rest.
2. Scoop the insides out of your tomato (seeds and all) into a plastic yoghurt container. A lid isn’t critical but it helps with the smell.
3. Label your container with the variety name and set it somwhere warm but out of direct sun. You can prop the lid on but don’t seal it shut. Remember you’re fermenting here so this is going to stink. Find an out-of-the-way spot if you can.
It’s READY!
4. Stir your container once or twice a day until a “nice” layer of white mold forms on top. This usually takes a few days. Don’t leave the fermented goo sitting for too long after this stage or your seeds will start to germinate in the container.
5. Your seeds are now ready to harvest. Thankfully you do not have to dig around in this mess in order to fish them out. All of the good seeds will have sunk to the bottom with all the useless stuff left floating in the mold. Separating the good from the bad is as easy as scooping or pouring off the moldy layer from the liquid. Remove as much as you can without losing any of the good seeds.
6. Fill the container with water, stir, and repeat step five. Repeat refilling with water and scooping until all the bad debris has been removed.
7. Rinse off the remaining seeds in a strainer and spread them out onto a pad of newspaper.

8. Set the seeds out to dry for a few days. Don’t forget to label them if you’ve got more than one variety on the go. Take it from me. I always think I’ll remember what I’ve got but I NEVER do.

9. Package your dried seeds, label, and store for next year.

http://www.yougrowgirl.com/2006/09/14/saving-tomato seeds/

"There is something to be said for letting a garden go to seed..."

2011-09-26T11:05:00.000-07:00

"There is something to be said for letting a garden go to seed. In fact, I have never quite understood such figures of speech as "gone to seed" and "looking seedy." Metaphorically, they are used to imply stagnation and decay, but in nature, seediness is a condition of ripeness and fruition. Where, after all, would we be if nothing went to seed?"
the first paragraph from Robert Finch's essay, "Going to Seed" from his book Common Ground: a Naturalist's Cape Cod (1981)

Our dear friend Chuck offered this essay as a point of view for which to embrace the change of season. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

http://books.google.com/books?id=E31Z2yrfVJUC&pg=PA44&dq=Robert+Finch+Going+To+Seed&hl=en&ei=jb6ATvCjO6jH0AHP8Mz_Dw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDMQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Robert%20Finch%20Going%20To%20Seed&f=true

Ruth's Circle Event at Hyde Park Art Center

2011-09-21T11:15:00.000-07:00

Exchange Table

2011-09-09T13:10:00.001-07:00

Documentation of Time Spent at HPAC

2011-09-09T13:08:00.001-07:00

Marketing

2011-09-09T13:03:00.000-07:00

Tomatoes Available for a Donation to the HPAC

2011-09-09T12:59:00.001-07:00

"Leave Us a Note" Works

2011-09-09T10:50:00.000-07:00

New Items That Have Come In On Exchange... Including a Ceramic Plant Pot

2011-09-09T10:43:00.000-07:00

"How Long We've Been Here" at Night

2011-09-06T11:32:00.000-07:00

Clay and Cocktails Event

2011-09-06T11:10:00.000-07:00

New Layout as Harvest Season Begins

2011-09-06T10:59:00.000-07:00

First Tomatoes

2011-08-31T11:01:00.001-07:00

The Big Picture... June 3rd, then August 1st

2011-08-01T13:58:00.000-07:00

Tomato Garden August 1st, 2011

2011-08-01T13:50:00.001-07:00

New Signs and Sights at G.E.E.E.

2011-08-01T12:55:00.000-07:00

Tomato Garden on June 3rd, 2011

2011-08-01T12:31:00.000-07:00

Before planting the seedling tomato plants in the boxes and buckets, we hardened the plants by keeping them outside. We grouped them in bags to allow rain and sunlight, but give them some protection from the high winds we've been experiencing.

We wrapped twine around the vines for support. At this time of the season, we're mostly concerned with winds. Later, these will support the thick vines and heavy tomatoes.

We've installed earth boxes unde the main trellis, and a similar design out of 5 gallon buckets.

One Person's Waste is a Pot at G.E.E.E.

2011-08-01T12:20:00.000-07:00

Of course, we have pots to grow arugula and basil in.

Seeds from the Chicago Honey Co-Op

2011-08-01T12:14:00.000-07:00

Sprouting

2011-08-01T12:04:00.000-07:00

Some of the seeds that the volunteers planted at the Big Dig Gig were checked out immediately, but others we have incubated and they are now sprouting.

Allium

2011-08-01T11:48:00.000-07:00

Allium is a monocot genus of flowering plants, informall referred to as the onion genus. The variety that Marie grows are characterized by their stunning explosion of purple flowers. She brought them in not only to share their beauty, but also to ward off insects in our rooftop tomato garden.

We Are So Bad at Sports

2011-08-01T11:26:00.001-07:00

http://badatsports.com/2011/add-a-little-g-e-e-e-to-your-garden/

Claudine Isé wrote about us at the website Bad at Sports: Contemporary Art Talk. If you're watching our blog, Claudine, thanks for the kind words, and come back often, especially when the tomatoes are ready to be picked.

Here's the text from her article:

ADD A LITTLE G.E.E.E. TO YOUR GARDEN

If you’re a avid (albeit amateur) gardener like me, this might be up your alley: G.E.E.E. (aka General Economy Exquisite Exchange 2011) is currently in operation at the Hyde Park Art Center (thru October 1st, 2011). Billed as “a post-retail museum shop and rooftop tomato garden where neighborly value has become the operative currency and creative bartering has become the dominant mode of exchange,” G.E.E.E. is in essence a trading post, where you can bring your own plants, seedlings, or gardening materials to exchange for the ones that are available there. What you exchange doesn’t necessarily have to take the form of physical goods — also welcome are what the folks behind G.E.E.E. (the Cream-Co. Collective) describe as “immaterial support (dialogue, advice, recipes)” — this could take the form of information exchange or even just a good story.

I stopped by G.E.E.E. several weeks ago, and was completely charmed by every aspect of its homespun display — the handmade, hand-lettered signs, the multi-colored array of seedlings, the little ceramic pig where you can leave money for things you want to purchase at cost. I traded a number of gardening books for a chocolate mint plant, which now sits in a pot in my back yard and which I compulsively sniff every time I go outside. All of the offerings are seasonal, so expect the plants, seedlings, and other good stuff to be changed up on a roughly weekly basis.

The thing about G.E.E.E. is that, if you garden, and if you’re even remotely friendly, you already get what G.E.E.E. is all about. I have plants growing in my garden that were given to me by at least three different neighbors on my block, and it’s common for us to swap stories and advice and the occasional embittered gripes about our gardens having too much shade. But what I find most valuable about G.E.E.E. is the way in which it highlights extant social relations, particularly those that occur neighbor-to-neighbor, whether you live next door or call across to each other from your balconies.

Despite the shitty, depressing, grey, cold, seemingly neverending, and did I say shitty? winters in Chicago, I think there is something so truly lovely, and deeply hopeful, about the act of gardening here. I’ve written about my love for the different kinds of gardens you see in this city before. For some reason it’s always the tiniest efforts that seem to make the biggest impact – you know damn well that if Spring and Fall are short-seasoned, you’re not going to get to enjoy the fruits of your labor for all that long, but still you pull the weeds and breathe in the dirt and try and make a happy home for the worms, and you do it because most of all it’s fun, but also because you’re bringing color and scent and texture and order and chaos to life, after so many months of grey, frozen dormancy.

Can you tell that winter hit me kind of hard this year?

At any rate, give G.E.E.E. a visit. I promise it will lift your spirits if you’re feeling low – it made me think of how grateful I am to have nice neighbors, and most of all a garden that’s more than willing to work with me.

This Friday, May 20th, from 3pm – 7pm at HPAC G.E.E.E. will host the grand planting of the Center’s rooftop garden – and you can pick up a trowel and pitch in. The planting also double’s as the exhibition’s official opening. On Friday, your efforts will be rewarded via barbecue, and on the next day, from 10 am – 2pm, there’ll be a garden party to celebrate. Bring stuff to swap or donate – if you have questions or plants to swap, contact geee@creamco.net. For more info, check out the GEEE blog.

Saturday at the Big Dig Gig

2011-08-01T10:52:00.001-07:00

People were lined up at the "circulation desk" to check out seeds from our Seed Library.

Meanwhile, outside were were getting all of the donated plants into the ground.

Volunteers were planting some of the seeds in newspaper cups ready to be "checked out!"

Kids liked our piggy bank and and the mint plants the best.

And yes, (score!), someone brought in banana bread to trade for plants.

The tomato seedlings are growing into plants.

We recommend that plants to be outside until the end of May. Unseasonably cold and windy weather can ruin a crop. Noneless, we let people take the plants home to care for them inside.

Moments from Friday's Big Dig Gig Barbeque

2011-07-24T20:23:00.000-07:00

We fired up the grill to celebrate spring and the beginning of outdoor gardening season.

We made a sign to designate a location for people to place plants that they intended to donate to the HPAC garden. The master griller interpretted it another way and used it to start the coals.

People gathered on our make-shift roofdeck made from shipping pallets carefully selected with smaller gaps between slats and free of splinters and nails sticking out.

We opened the roof top tomato garden and people brought in plants from their yards that had propagated and needed to be thinned. The goal was to tap into the abundance we have and use it to trade with other peoples abundance or donate it to HPAC's garden.

Dan had planted Mesclun greens, kale and spinach for the spring. He planted the seeds close together, then as the seedlings grew into plants, he thinned the rows and brought the excess plants to be traded for arugula sedlings.

The potluck barbeque was a huge success. Fo many of us it was the first griilled hot dog of the season.

The wild ginger Chuck brought in was already blooming.

Starting a Rooftop Tomato Garden

2011-07-24T20:02:00.000-07:00

We located the the trellis Bob designed and built to maximize the sun exposure, and transplanted the tomatoes into Earth Boxes.

Dolemite and fertilizer were added to the soil mix.

BIG DIG GIG 2011

2011-05-14T13:17:00.000-07:00

It’s the 2011 BIG DIG GIG
a Plant Swap and More
at the Hyde Park Art Center
5020 S. Cornell Avenue  Chicago, IL 60615 

Celebrate and be a part of the GRAND PLANTING of the Hyde Park Art Center’s garden and the GRAND OPENING of General Economy, Exquisite Exchange (GEEE): a post-retail shop, rooftop tomato garden and seed library.

Potluck Barbeque: Friday, May 20, 3 -7pm
(If you don't have anything to bring, please just come and share our abundance)

Garden Party: Saturday, May 21, 10am – 2pm

See what plants can do! Visit our post-retail shop where neighborly trade is the operative currency. A wide variety of heirloom tomatoes, herbs, succulents and perennials will be available for sale at neighborly low prices or exchange.

Become part of Hyde Park Art Center’s living future! After you dig up your yard for spring maintenance, donate the surplus plants to establish a vital HPAC garden. Or, exchange plants, home-made gifts, re-giftables, gardening books and cookbooks, recipes, or any other thing you’d be willing to share with a neighbor.

Check out our Rooftop Tomato Garden.
Borrow free seeds from the GEEE Seed Library.
See how local abundance supports an open economy.

Special thanks to the Rebuilding Exchange and Seeds of Change.

If you have questions or plants to swap or donate please contact geee@creamco.net.
want more info? check out the GEEE blog at:
http://generaleconomyexquisiteexchange.blogspot.com/

Plants Currently at G.E.E.E.

2011-05-07T13:43:00.000-07:00

This is a rare scented geranium that also flowers.

Fuchsia

Nasturtium

Shrimp Plant

Fig Tree

Fuchsia Blossoms right before they bloom

Fuchsia Bloom

Oxalis

A jungle of Heirloom Tomatoes

The G.E.E.E. Honor System

2011-05-07T13:39:00.000-07:00

If no staff is available at G.E.E.E., trades can be made through an honor system. Traded items can be left on the Exchange Table or cash can be deposited into our Piggy Bank.

Seed Library

2011-05-07T13:16:00.001-07:00

As part of the Seeds of Change Sowing Millions Project, G.E.E.E. is the recipient of what is estimated to be 2500 seeds. With these G.E.E.E. is opting to begin Chicago's first Seed Library for the purpose of developing higher quality plants with higher yields that are regionally adapted. Participants check out seeds, grow the plants, and return seeds from the healthiest plants.

There are 61 varieties of seeds to be checked out from herbs and medicinals to vegetables and flowers. If you leave a note or contact us at GEEESeedLibrary@creamco.net, we'll be happy to send you seeds through the mail.

Recent Trades

2011-05-07T13:02:00.000-07:00

Seville Orange Marmalade and Green Tomato Chutney

Jacob's Ladder

Various Plants from a Neighbor's Yard

Handmade Drinking Glasses

Plants Arrive and G.E.E.E. is Ready to Trade

2011-05-07T12:34:00.000-07:00

Green Roof System Exchange

2011-05-07T10:41:00.000-07:00

Part of our trade with the Rebuilding Exchange was facilitating the donation of a green roof system from HPAC to the RX. The system was installed for the opening of the art center's new building 5 years ago. Either maintenance was required that they were not prepared for or the plants were mis-selected for the partially-shaded roof.

The Rebuilding Exchange is the ideal organization to find the system a home. They are entrenched in Chicago's green building community. With planning, the system could be installed on a green building, potentially attaining points for the USGBC's popular Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program.

The 3 guys loaded about 650 square feet of the grid system onto dollies by hand, and then loaded them into the elevator and out the door to the truck. The process took about 4 hours.

Fun For All Day at HPAC

2011-05-07T10:30:00.000-07:00

About 50 kids and parents stopped by G.E.E.E. during HPAC's Fun For All day.

We demonstrated how seeding pots could be made from rolled newspaper, then planted pansy and marigold seeds.
.

We explained how our neighborly trade system worked. By sprouting and growing the flowers, they would be adding value to the seeds they's just planted. We encouraged them to bring back the flower plants and trade for other plants in the shop.

How It Works - First Attempt

2011-05-07T10:21:00.000-07:00

Neighborly trade is very simple. Exposing this economy requires establishing a framework of common values, explicit steps and some guidelines that confirm that the trade is fair and satisfying.

The First Configuration

2011-05-07T10:03:00.000-07:00

Trip to the Rebuilding Exchange

2011-05-07T09:33:00.000-07:00

Meagan of the Rebuilding Exchange enthusiastically helped us select salvaged building materials to be temporarily re-purposed for our displays.

Bob, both Cream Co.'s CFO and Chief Handyman, had made a stealth reconnaissance mission to the RX the weekend before and found some window shutters that we could consider for plant shelving. In chatting up the RX staff, he revealed that he was also delivery a load of art books to Goodwill. The staff selected some of the books for their break room which has elevated the lunch conversation exponentially.

This solid wood door with crafted obscured glass caught our attention.

The hall space at HPAC has a nook that could fit a large table. The previous year, we had used a glass French door for the seed table. These arched windows showed great potential.

We were debating about creating our own G.E.E.E. currency (possibly living seedlings) requiring a "Currency Change" paired with an honor system so trades could occur while we were not there. The cabinet above with 3 glass doors promised options on how we might access plants as both a shopkeeper and participant.

The Raw Space

2011-04-21T08:20:00.000-07:00

Announcement: Residency at the Hyde Park Art Center

2011-04-08T06:28:00.000-07:00

The Hyde Park Art Center and Cream Co. (Chicago) welcome your participation in General Economy, Exquisite Exchange (GEEE, 2011), a post-retail museum shop and rooftop tomato garden where neighborly value has become the operative currency and creative bartering has become the dominant mode of exchange. GEEE brings to life a local culture sustained by the give and take of neighborly ritual, by the surplus of seasonal gardens and local kitchens, and by the exploration of post-retail systems of value.

GEEE provides a site for the exchange of homespun, indoor and outdoor gardening materials (seeds, trellises, houseplants, &c.); immaterial support (dialogue, advice, recipes); inanimate pleasures (collectibles, homemade favorites, books). Knowledge might be exchanged for seedlings, and seeds for a good story, zinnias might be exchanged for tomatoes, and a glazed pot for some cucumbers or for a rusty but still worthy trowel.

Bring plants, home-made gifts, re-giftables, gardening books and cookbooks, recipes, or any other thing you’d be willing to surrender to, or share with, a neighbor. Enjoy an evolving array of plants and neighborly gifts including, during April, seeds, seedlings, houseplants, herbs, Amish Friendship Bread starter and homemade tomato soup, and, during May and June, shrubs, perennials, annuals and herbs. In August and September, weather-permitting, pick your own black cherry tomatoes.

Everything will be available for sale at cost, or for exchange (like-for-like or by GEEE-change). Our costs are our costs (yours and ours); free to us is free to us: anything GEEE receives for free you can receive for free (including seeds from the GEEE Seed Library and seeds donated by Seeds of Change through the Sowing Millions Project).

Discover how local abundance can support a general economy.

GEEE operates on an honor system and exchanges can be made whenever HPAC is open. If you’d like to have a person-to-person exchange, Patrick will be available during April and May: Fridays and Saturdays 11-4 or by appointment.

Special thanks to The Rebuilding Exchange and Seeds of Change.

questions? plants? contact: info@creamco.net

check out the G.E.E.E. blog at: http://generaleconomyexquisiteexchange.blogspot.com/

The Final Days of G.E.E.E.

2010-06-11T06:03:00.000-07:00

The Seed Starter Wicking System

2010-06-03T09:30:00.000-07:00

I found these photos from weeks ago and just realized I hadn't posted them. We replanted the tomato seedlings into the coconut pots. The roots readily grew right through the weave. The black mats are actually a wick that pulls from a reservoir below.

Some of the roots grew to be 3 or 4 feet long.

The Final Configuration

2010-06-03T08:54:00.000-07:00

A large portion of the furniture and props were packed up and moved away, so we've arranged one final design for the space.

The beginnings of the new table of exchanged items.

Black cherry tomatoes sunning themselves under the G.E.E.E. sign.

BIG teeter totter display.

A nasturtium taking a drink in the middle of the wagon.

Very temporary art installation.

Sod Donation

2010-06-03T08:48:00.000-07:00

Someone left their leftover sod pieces at our door, so we made a sign so it could find a home. It was gone the next day.

Holanda aka the Gene Simmons Plant

2010-06-03T08:27:00.000-07:00

Marie, and I do credit Marie with this, picked this flower on her last trip to the greenhouse. We've had good luck selling chocolate-colored plants like the cosmos, so I'm not surprised she chose this.

Wednesday I came in, and it blossomed with dozens of tongue-like appendices. Creepy. Thanks, Marie.

Big Dig Gig Party People

2010-06-02T15:06:00.000-07:00

The trellis sculpture garden has replaced the compost pile.

Patrick and Frida.

Marie and Bill.

Marie and Melissa and a basket of traded Madeleines.

Chuck and Marie.

Leah and half of Bob.

Exchange plants posted.

Barbara and Kurt.

Lindy and Judith.

Henry and Lindy.

Hyde Park's First BIG DIG GIG

2010-05-29T16:32:00.001-07:00

The Perfect Reception Table

Marie brought in the most gorgeously blooming Climbing Hydrangea from her yard for the centerpiece.

We imported donuts from our favorite Humboldt Park bakery. I learned that "Kurting" a job involves an indecisive approach, irreparable action, and tons of laughter before the inevitable successful outcome.

The exchanged items were all "posted" and ready for trade.

Chuck's celebratory dig delivered Nasturtium, Red Currant, Lemon Balm and Plenaria.

Melissa and her daughter spoke with Bob after exchanging a basket full of Madeleines.

The ladders were full of plants and cook books.

A group of exchanged items included Day Lillies, Sedum, Hens and Chicks and Japanese Eggplant seedlings.

Matthew and Dierdre Rock It at G.E.E.E.

2010-05-29T15:40:00.000-07:00

$6 Foot-Loooooong

2010-05-29T15:34:00.000-07:00

The Kula Ring

2010-05-29T15:15:00.000-07:00

Duff took a break from studying general economy, only to be confronted with it again at G.E.E.E. He traded one of his Golden Delicious Apples with one of our brownies, just to enthusiastically participate.

Duff explained the Kula circle, a ceremonial exchange system conducted in the Milne Bay Province of Papua New Guinea.

Participants travel at times hundreds of miles by canoe in order to exchange Kula valuables which consist of red shell-disc necklaces (veigun or soulava) that are traded to the north (circling the ring in clockwise direction) and white shell armbands (mwali) that are traded in the southern direction (circling anti-clockwise).

Bob realized that the circle of trade is similar to how we diagram our trades.

New Arrivals from the Greenhouse

2010-05-28T13:08:00.000-07:00

Madelyn and Carolyn Get Gardening 101 from Marie

2010-05-28T12:52:00.000-07:00

Sprucing Things Up for the Big Dig Gig

2010-05-28T12:32:00.000-07:00

Sign of the End Coming

2010-05-28T11:11:00.000-07:00

Preparation for the Big Dig

2010-05-27T11:31:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend, I got permission from noted environmentalist, former Hyde Park resident and friend Lee Botts (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Botts) to scavenge her abundant Miller Beach yard for plants to bring to the Big Dig Gig.

She has been transforming her yard into a native plant refuge since 2007, so she was pleased to both donate both plants foreign to the region that she's working out of the yard and some hearty plants that needed to be thinned.

I scored with Ferns, Lilly of the Valley, Day Lilly, Wild Ginger, Sunflowers and Fake John's Pulpit.

Mark Your Calendars for the Big Dig Gig May 28th

2010-05-22T14:40:00.000-07:00

HIP HIP HOOREE

A BIG DIG GIG with G.E.E.E.

Friday, May 28th

4-7PM

Cream Co. presents

A Garden Party

and A Big Dig Gig

1530 E. 53rd Street

Hyde Park

Chicago, Illinois

Embrace and participate in a neighborly exchange.

Dig and bring a plant, or bring a recipe, or a baked good.

Or drop by for a spot of tea,

a biscuit, a clever word and a viewing

of Hyde Park's first Big Dig Gig.

All plants and a wide variety of heirloom tomatoes will be available for sale or exchange.

Another Use of the Verb "Marie"

2010-05-22T14:31:00.000-07:00

In a busy moment, the latest book of exchanges was Marie'd.

A Trade with a Cream Co.-hort

2010-05-22T14:23:00.000-07:00

Barbara, a member of Cream Co., and her dog Angel came in to trade the oregano and thyme seedlings she's been starting.

As you can see, EVERYONE was excited by the trade.

A Plant Donation

2010-05-22T14:11:00.000-07:00

Burt came in yesterday and suggested that a family who had donated plants to the Garden Fair might still have more: they're moving back to India. It ended up being a truckload.

We brought them back to the shop. In the spirit of neighborly trade, we priced them for what we paid: free. We left them outside so people could just take them after the shop closed.

The next morning, only 1 was left.

Peonies from Great Gramma's Garden in Alabama

2010-05-22T14:00:00.000-07:00

Taylor came in one afternoon on her bike with a backpack full of plants. She had dug up lillies and peonies from garden, full of buds yet to burst. Originally the plants were from her great gramma's garden in Alabama. Years ago when her family moved to Chicago, they brought some of the plants with them.

Taylor chose a lot of herbs and vegetables to start her family garden. She interned at Charlie Trotter's restaurant last summer and learned to appreciate fresh ingredients so this year she'll grow her own.

A Recipe

2010-05-22T13:54:00.000-07:00

So a customer came in the other day. She was looking for our compost, but the pile had been totally removed. We found a bag of Vermont Compost that had been donated. She offered to pay with $3 and a recipe. The recipe was written watching a neighbor make spanakopita. The neighbor had recently passed away. One might say this was a memorial or just a means of not letting the recipe die with her.

The Corn Plant Finds a Home

2010-05-22T13:22:00.001-07:00

A week or so ago, a young couple traded a tropical corn plant for some herbs. We didn't have any plants remotely similar, so we were pleased that this gentleman bought the plant for his home. We wrapped it up and wagonned it right out to the car.

Time to Update the Exchange Guidelines

2010-05-22T13:10:00.000-07:00

The way it works as of May 15, 2010

Our goods are available for currency or trade. We've opened the typical retail situation based on dollars to include trade.

Y Please no rummage Y

We've put a neighborly value on everything and ask that you put a neighborly value on the things you'd like to trade.

This is not a barter system.

We trade like neighbors, with trust, transparency and Y.

The Act of Turning a Noun Into Verb

2010-05-22T13:05:00.000-07:00

One customer traded a loaf of banana bread for for an oxalis. The loaf was then Marie'd into 2 portions.

We ordered more Compost because it was a hit. Instead, all we got was a big pile of...

2010-05-22T11:37:00.000-07:00

A new order of compost arrived on Thursday May 13th. It was very ripe with horse manure, still very hot and cooking. After letting it air out overnight, the odor was still unbearable, so we covered the pile with coffee grounds and brought in fans to dry the pile out overnight.

Saturday morning we covered the pile with plastic, expecting the smell to dissipate.

It did not dissipate.

Bob and Henry came to the the save the day, moving the offending material out of the building, one bag at a time.

They stacked the bags in the parking lot.

(no caption required)

Nasturtium To Go

2010-05-20T12:36:00.000-07:00

Patric has been in several times. This day he traded a hearty jade clipping to pay for part of a collection of several plants. He's been collecting shoes he finds and plants vines or herbs in them as part of project called "Lost Soles." He came back for his Nasturtium (no, this is not for a size 20 shoe), packed it into his messenger bag and biked it home.

Viburnum Plicatum var. Tomentosum Mariessi

2010-05-20T12:08:00.000-07:00

It was a gorgeous Saturday morning, May 8th, and Marie chose to share some flowering branches from her yard to add to the gorgeousness.

Spring has finally arrived.

A Memorable Trade

2010-05-08T13:46:00.000-07:00

Jason Lazarus (http://www.jasonlazarus.com) brought in a photograph for trade. As both an artist and plant lover, he understood what we are trying to do immediately. He brought in a photograph he shot in January of Eric Becklin, first human to see the center of our galaxy.

Before trading, he stated that he had also brought cash. Marie responded that she had cash also. After some discussion on values and honor, we all chose to avoid currency if possible. There was an exchange of knowledge about plant care, appreciation of different plants, tasting the nasturtium flowers and a final trade with mutual respect and joy. To be quite honest, the exchange had a tribal feel to it as Marcel Mauss and Georges Bataille write of.

Jason left with a ladder to store and display plants, the nasturtium, a scented geranium, a clipping of another scented geranium, a begonia, a black cherry tomato seedling and a fig tree.

Marie showed Jason how to select the healthiest seedling by the leaves, height and stem girth. Then she explained how to transplant the tomato.

It was a sugar fig tree which produces small, edible fruit.

The nasturtium is an edible plant that tracks the sunlight. The flowers have a fresh flavor with a radish-like aftertaste. Marie enthusiastically ate the first flower then Jason tried one.

A Planter for Sue Packed To Go

2010-05-08T13:31:00.000-07:00

It's Not Too Late to Start Your Own Seedlings with Our Heirloom Seeds

2010-05-05T13:47:00.000-07:00

In addition to selling the seeds that we started the seedlings from, we are also selling other varieties of heirloom tomatoes and greens. It's not too late to start from seeds if it's done in the next couple weeks.

SWEET PEA CURRANT

Organic. These accurately-named currant-sized tomatoes harvest firm and juicy. Renowned for flourishing with copious fruit, the vine continues to grow and grow through the season. She's a joy to watch in the garden and a pleasure to serve at the table in salads or on a picnic blanket by the handful.

SPUTIK ARUGULA

Organic. Sputnik is a mild-flavored arugula, very fast growing 8-10 inch green leaves. This century-old plant has a wide diversity of leaf shapes ranging from smooth and strappy to finely-cut lobed. Ideal for bunching, use this winner in salads or lightly braised. It can be planted early or late in the season.

RIESENTRAUBE

Meaning "Giant Grape" this variety yields sweet and fruity tomatoes with hints of lemon. Each plant will yield numerous fruit with exceptionally beautiful yellow flowers.

PURPLE RUSSIAN

Representing the Ukraine of Russia, go figure, this beauty queen is known for her aubergene color, plum-shaped fruits and firm skin. Producing an early abundance of fruit, her flavor is characterized by a bold taste, both sweet and meaty.

MESCLUN

Organic. From the French term, "mescla" meaning "to mix," these 4-8 inch plants are a selective collection of greens (Arugula, Osaka Purple Mustard Greens, Garden Cress, Red Russian Kale and Tres Fin Endive) complemented with an assortment of lettuces (Brune, D'Hiver, Rubens Red Romaine, Pirat Butter, Formidana, Simpson's Black Seeded). The end result is a memorable palette of colors, shapes, tastes and textures. It can be planted early or late in the season.

JAUNE FLAMME

This apricot-shaped heirloom from France, known simply as "Flamme" by friends and family, can be identified by its deep orange hue. The fruits develop in clusters weighing about 2 to 3 ounces each: larger than a cherry, but smaller than a sandwich tomato. Its unique flavor is often described as "bitey," the sweet-tart of the vine.

HUNGARIAN HEART TOMATO

Soft, juicy and ready to eat, this tomato will steal your heart. With its huge, pink "oxheart" shape, this lady is also great for canning and is superb in sauces.

GREEN ZEBRA

This is a reasonably firm tomato with sweet lemon lime flavor, spicy and zingy. Rich, gorgeous and bearing fruit early in the season, she is great for slicing and shines in salads.

GREEN GRAPE

The product of crossing the Yellow Pear with the Evergreen, this wonder is sweet and fruity, firm and juicy. Virtually seedless, cherry in its size and yellowish-green, she is ready to eat right off the vine in clusters of 6 to 12. This productive and bushy plant fruits early.

CHEROKEE PURPLE

Chocolate in color, often with green shoulders, this tomato's flavor rivals Brandywine. Not only extremely sweet, she is also bountiful.

BROWN BERRY

This mahogahany-colored cherry tomato is a beautiful addition to your dinner canvas. Originally from Holland, it has a semi-sweet, rich flavor with a slight bit of acid finish over its fruity sweetness.

The Seedlings are Ready

2010-05-05T12:23:00.000-07:00

In March we started seedlings of basil and 3 varieties of heirloom tomatoes. They are finally big enough to be sold, but should remain inside until we have 5 consecutive nights above 50 degrees Fahrenheit, which is typically after Mothers' Day or mid-May.

LETTUCE LEAF HEIRLOOM BASIL

Organic. This plant explodes into large lettuce-like basil leaves. Growing up to 2 or 3 feet in plant height, the leaves are fragrant and flavorful, ideal for salads or pesto.

ROSE TOMATO

Organic. An exceptional tomato, this gorgeous, rosy-pink beefsteak is thin-skinned with a succulent, balanced, complex flavor that's as intriguing and delicious as its name. Originally from the Pennsylvania Amish, this is a strong, leafy plant. She is the perfect sandwich tomato.

BLACK CHERRY TOMATO

The only true black of the cherry tomatoes, this variety is firm, juicy, rich and complex. Irresistibly delicious, this is a unique addition to the color palette that fruits early in the season.

AUNT RUBY'S GERMAN GREEN TOMATO

This is a sweet, juicy tomato with a piquant bite. This heirloom is a large beefsteak-type that is a pale-green color with a hint of yellow striping. The large tomato often weighs one pound or more. She has the wetness of a melon and can give a deep flavor explosion. It is generally used in salads, but is also a wonderful tomato to fry.

Transplanting the Seedlings

2010-04-15T09:56:00.000-07:00

Once the second set of leaves grow to be the same size as the first, it is time to transplant the seedlings to a larger pot.

Jade and Sasha line up the new pots.

One seedling transplanted and many to go.

Marie Designs Arrangements for 4 Planter Boxes in a Shaded Courtyard for a Very Animated Neighbor

2010-04-15T09:23:00.000-07:00

Economy, Ethics, Abundance, Surplus, Gifts and Obligation

2010-04-13T14:50:00.000-07:00

"I will simply state, without waiting further, that the extension of economic growth itself requires the overturning of economic principles—the overturning of the ethics that grounds them. Changing from the perspectives of restrictive economy to those of general economy actually accomplishes a Copernican transformation: a reversal of thinking—and of ethics."

"On a whole, a society always produces more than is necessary for its survival; it has a surplus at its disposal. It is precisely the use it makes of this surplus that determines it: the surplus is the cause of the agitation, of the structural changes and of the entire history of society. But this surplus has more than one outlet, the most common of which is growth. And growth itself has many forms, each one of which eventually comes up against some limit. Thwarted demographic growth becomes military; it is forced to engage in conquest. Once the military limits is reached, the surplus has sumptuary forms of religion as an outlet, along with games and spectacles that derive therefrom, or personal luxury."

excerpts from Georges Bataille, The Accursed Share, Volume 1: Consumption, trans. Robert Hurley (New York: Zone Books, 1991)

La Part Maudite is a book by Georges Bataille, written between 1946 and 1949, when it was published by Les Éditions de Minuit. It was translated into English and published in 1991 with the title The Accursed Share.

"In the systems of the past we do not find simple exchange of goods, wealth and produce through markets established among individuals. For it is groups, and not individuals, which carry on exchange, make contracts, and are bound by obligations; the persons represented in the contracts are moral persons -- clans, tribes, and families; the groups, or the chiefs as intermediaries for the groups, confront and oppose each other. Further, what they exchange is not exclusively goods and wealth, real and personal property, and things of economic value. They exchange rather courtesies, entertainments, ritual, military assistance, women, children, dances, and feasts; and fairs in which the market is but one element and the circulation of wealth but one part of a wide and enduring contract. Finally, although the presentations and counter-presentations take place under a voluntary guise they are in essence strictly obligatory and their sanction is private or open warfare."

exceprt from Marcel Mauss, The Gift, trans. trans. Ian Cunnisson (London: Cohen & West 1954)

Mauss's original piece was entitled Essai sur le don. Forme et raison de l'échange dans les sociétés archaïques ("An essay on the gift: the form and reason of exchange in archaic societies") and was originally published in L'Année Sociologique in 1923-1924.

Book Donation with a Special Treasure

2010-04-09T11:59:00.001-07:00

Burt just donated some garden and flower specific books to G.E.E.E. yesterday. They are very nice books with illustrations and diagrams.

This flower guide is pretty amazing.

It was published in 1926 and is small enough to fit in a pocket for hikes.

Roberta wrote her name and her Whiting, Indiana, address inside just in case she lost it.

The incredibleness is not only the color illustrations, but that she took notes about where she found the different flowers.

Seed Starting Tips

2010-04-08T10:00:00.000-07:00

We'd like to credit Tomato Bob with putting into words the methods we use when starting seeds.

http://www.heirloomtomatoes.bizland.com/seedstarting.htm

Seed Starting Tips

Use the following tips for cherry tomatoes, yellow pear, boxcar willie, yellow brandywine, black krim, mortgage lifter, amish paste, brandywine, beefsteak, costoluto genovese, caspian pink, and many more heirloom varieties. Some of our most popular varieties include Green Zebra, Brandywine, Mortgage Lifter, Red Pear, Caspian Pink, Yellow Pear, Soldacki, San Marzano, Cherokee Purple, White Wonder, Amish Paste, Black Krim, and Costoluto Genovese.

1. Seeds can be started indoors 6-8 weeks before the last anticipated frost in your growing area. Starting seeds directly outdoors will produce plants but your yield will be limited.

2. Obtain some seed starting mix at the local garden store. Kmart and Walmart have this available at reasonable prices. The mix should contain peatmoss to help retain water during seed germination as the seeds should be kept moist for proper germination.

3. If you are starting many varieties of tomatoes or other seedlings, you should have a separate starting container for each variety. We use 1/2 gallon cardboard milk/orange juice containers that are cut down their length with the ends stapled to hold them together. These are a very economical means of separating seeds. Be sure you mark your containers with seed type. We use a piece of clear plastic (cut from a milk jug) and put a number on it then have a cross reference list with the number and variety.

4. In a old bowl, bucket, or other container, place some of starting mix and add water while mixing to moisten the mix.

5. Fill the trays with 1-1 1/2" of the moistened seed starting mix and distribute seeds over surface. Cover seeds with 1/4" of starting mix and gently firm the surface.

6. Check seed trays every 2-3 days to make sure they stay moist. We cover ours with a loose fitting piece of plastic wrap to help retain water. Seeds will usually take 10-14 days to germinate (depending upon variety). Once the seeds have sprouted, they will need a light source. We start our seedlings in our basement and use fluorescent grow lights which works very well. If you start the seeds on a window sill make sure you turn the seeds daily to keep them from bending toward the light. If starting under a grow light, make sure the grow light is within 6" of the seedlings or they will become tall and leggy. Seedlings need 12-16 hours of light a day. An inexpensive timer works well to control grow light time. If you use grow lights, make sure to keep plants within 6" of the light or they will become leggy.

7. Once the seedlings are showing a second set of leaves, it is time to transplant them from the starting tray to individual pots. We have found that the best pots are plastic as they retain more water. The peat pots work well if you make sure to keep them moist...they work great for transplanting as you do not disturb the root structure of the seedlings. Gently loosen the soil in the starting tray and separate individual plants. Fill the transplant pot loosely with moistened starter mix and use a pencil to make a hole in the starting mix. Insert the seedling into the hole up to the second set of leaves...this may require the slight twisting or bunching up of the plant's root as they can get pretty long. Gently firm the soil around the seedling and moisten once you have finished transplanting.

8. If you start your seeds very early, you may need to transplant some of your biggest plants again as they will outgrow their pots. For our healthiest plants, we transplant them into 1/2 gallon milk containers that have been cut off about 6" from the bottom...these work Great!!!

Transplanting Outdoors

9. When it looks like it is time to plant your seedlings outside, you will need to harden off the plants. This is simply getting them adjusted to the changing conditions outdoors. When you begin this, make sure the plants are kept in the shade for the first few days of hardening so they don't get sun-burned. Plants should be returned inside at night...this seems like a lot of work but it will yield stronger, healthier plants. Hardening off usually takes 7-10 days.

10. When planting your seedlings in the garden, make a shallow trench and lay the seedling in on its side. Bury the entire plant up to the first set of leaves,,,all of the stem up to these leaves is capable of producing roots. This will greatly improve your plants ability to obtain water and nutrients resulting in greater yields!!

Plant Care in Your Garden

11. Once the tomato plants are in your garden they should be watered daily for the first week. They should be supported as they grow with wooden stakes or metal cages. We use old nylons cut into strips to tie plants to supports through the season as they do not bruise the stalks. Many commercial plant ties are also available.

12. Caution!!! Plants are very susceptible when young, to cutworms which will cut the plant off at the surface of the soil. To avoid these without chemicals, simply take a piece of aluminum (cut up a pie plate into 2' strips) and fashion a collar that slips around the plant and gently place in the soil around the stalk.

13. Tomato hornworms will more than likely be a problem when your plants start bearing fruit. They devour the foliage and in some cases even eat new green tomatoes. The easiest way we have found to get rid of these is to put a bounty out on them at ten cents a piece and have our kids pick them off. A natural bacteria is also available in plant stores that works.

New Plants Have Arrived!

2010-04-07T13:27:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd share some of the new plants that have arrived.

The lavender phlox and the periwinkle vinca have really brightened the space with color. Eventually these will be great in planters and window boxes, but with this cold streak, they might be happier at your desk or on the table for a few more days.

Oxalis is a fun plant, opening its leaves in the day, then folding back up as it gets dark.

The Sedum Sexangulare is typically a groundcover, but its juicy, mossiness makes for a great texture in planter arrangements.

These chicks and hens are a great red color with aubergine undertones.

This photograph doesn't do this jasmine justice. It is covered with buds and ready to flower.

We had some larger pots of this variegated artillery plant last week. This bite-sized version is still a joy.

The shrimp plant is, well, bizarre. It blooms into these segmented, scaly, prawn-like things. It's an exquisite conversation piece for sure.

How We Document the Exchanges

2010-04-07T12:48:00.001-07:00

We are documenting the exchanges in a book with diagrams.

This diagram illustrates a complex exchange. Dan was focused on getting seeds to start his own garden. As a neighbor would, he brought in some banana bread with its recipe (the secret ingredient is yogurt to keep it moist), 2 mineola oranges which he discovered to be exceptionally delicious in spite of this autumn's ice storms that ruined crops, a reusable shopping bag, and a promise to share the vegetables he grows from the seeds.

Darlene was visiting from Manhattan. She bought some tomato seeds for her mother in Syracuse. With a little prodding and encouragement, her mother reluctantly plants seeds each year, but really enjoys the tomatoes as they fruit later in the summer. Darlene went to college in Ithaca, New York; she spoke of an alternate economy there based on trade and vouchers.

Thelma now lives in an apartment, but spoke fondly of the big garden she used to have. She got one of the flowering orchid cacti we had, a real beauty.

Opening Night

2010-04-07T11:34:00.000-07:00

Opening night was March 27th. The kids were very excited to check out the seedlings under the grow lights.

People checked out the items for sale. There was a lot of buzz about appropriate trades, values and some misunderstanding that this was a barter system, which we cleared up quickly.

Friends, family and curious neighbors showed out to see what this was all about.

One reveller dove into the compost pile for some fun.

Bill and Marie contemplate G.E.E.E.

Grow Your Own Salads

2010-04-07T11:22:00.000-07:00

G.E.E.E. Extra-Deep Salad Table

Inspired by tips from the Maryland Cooperative Extension and marthastewart.com,

the G.E.E.E. Extra-Deep Salad Table comes in two sizes and includes a chicken wire top. May 15 delivery.

Small Salad Table with wire top (33” x 33”) $199*

Large Salad Table with wire top, as is (36” x 58”) $375

*Maximum Price. You may receive a rebate depending on the number of orders G.E.E.E. receives. The greater the volume, the greater the rebate.

Want to build your own salad table (instructions for a shallow salad table, excluding the wire top, at marthastewart.com; instructions for Salad tables and salad boxes, excluding the wire top, available at http://www.hgic.umd.edu/content/documents/HG601SaladTables_SaladBoxes.pdf

Tomatoes Grown on Your Patio or Balcony

2010-04-07T11:15:00.000-07:00

G.E.E.E. Conduit and Twine Trellis

No garden, no problem, garden structure!

G.E.E.E. introduces the Twine Trellis. Each trellis is reusable

and can be custom built to fit one, two or more containers.

We recommend Earth Boxes (sold separately, approximately $45 per box).

Small Twine Trellis can accommodate two plants (32” x 18” x 84”) $89.95*

Large Twine Trellis can accommodate four plants, (32” x 32” x 84”) $159.95*

*Maximum Price. You may receive a rebate depending on the number of orders G.E.E.E. receives. The greater the volume, the greater the rebate.

Open for Business and Trade

2010-04-04T07:47:00.000-07:00

G.E.E.E. has a variety of items for sale and trade.

Found objects are used for display as well as for sale. The first shipment of plants went quickly. A mixture of plants trimmed back and ready for spring renewal, some select houseplants, some early bloomers, some mosses and some herbs brought the space to life. Although the flowering orchid cactus (on the chair) was the most sculptural, the segmented leaves on the tapeworm are unspeakably gorgeous (there's still one left...).

We have a fascination with hydrangea at Cream Co. So when the video store's old display case came available, we jumped at the chance to display part of our collection of dried hydrangeas. Yes, this is only part...

Fuchsia, Dame's Rocket, Oregano, Columbine, Queen of the Nile and Scented Geranium

Ziggurat of Compost

Garden books for reference, sale and trade

We offer tomato trellises to order. The trellises are designed for urban conditions to be installed over hard surfaces requiring little land for tomato vines to trail up and down.

We are offering the seeds that we have tested ourselves. They grow well in our climate with exceptional color, shape, size, abundance and/or taste.

We've started our own seedlings from those very same seeds. They will be ready to leave the nursery in a week or 2.

We also offer salad tables by order.

Temporary Space

2010-04-03T12:56:00.000-07:00

General Economy Exquisite Exchange ready for action

We are operating in the old Hollywood Video space at E. 53rd Street and S. Lake Park Avenue in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago for the month of April.

With help from our friends Marion, Laurie and Rochelle, we transformed the space. We've borrowed some doors from the Rebuilding Exchange (one with a spectacular recessed bevelled mirror), and installed a 5 foot tall ziggurat of compost from the Resource Center.

The before shot (the green wall is the same for reference)

Welcome to G.E.E.E.

2010-04-02T10:00:00.000-07:00

General Economy,

Exquisite Exchange

(G.E.E.E.)

Gardeners' Exchange

The Way it Works! (as of 3/27/2010)

Everything is worth something.

(Nothing is free.)

Our goods are priced as if we are selling to our neighbors.

We don't aim for profit.

If you'd like to trade, we are willing to trade with you, just like a neighbor with trust, transparency and Y .

So if you have a few seeds, or seedlings, or banana bread or a pot, a book or a plant, tell us what it's worth with trust, transparency and Y, and we'll trade.