Press: Share Tompkins in Tompkins Weekly Article about Economics of Happiness Screening

On April 27th, we were invited to speak about Share Tompkins as part of the panel discussion following the community screening of the film The Economics of Happiness.

The event was featured in an article by Eric Banford in the May 2-8 issue of Tompkins Weekly. You can read the full article on the Sustainable Tompkins site and here are some key excerpts:

Share Tompkins has been hosting monthly swaps and “Really, Really Free Markets” and co-founder Shira Golding said they
have received email from all over the U.S. and as far away as the UK,
asking how to start similar ventures…

Shira Golding and McKenzie Jones-Rounds of Share Tompkins talked about real life swap examples fostered through swap meets. Jones-Round swapped for a cello that wasn’t being used for a year of
guitar lessons. She shared that, “It’s not just about the stuff we keep out of the waste stream or save money on, it’s also about instilling in the kids in the community the value of who they are and what it means to be part of something bigger than themselves. It’s good to be someplace where people aren’t just willing to share their things, but they share themselves too. We are building a resilient, self-reliant, non-monetary based economy through this.”

May 1: 2nd Annual Seed and Plant Swap at the Compost Fair

Our second annual Seed and Plant Swap is part of the Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Compost Fair!

Sunday, May 1, 12- 4pm
Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County
615 Willow Avenue, Ithaca, New York
RSVP on Facebook

Stop by to swap or give away seeds and plants of all kinds. Left-over seeds will be donated to the CCE Seed Bank.

While you’re at the swap, check out lots of cool displays about composting and listen to live music on a solar-powered stage.

More info about the Compost Fair:
You know the deal! The biggest compost extravaganza in the state, right here at our own CCE. There will be information and demonstrations of beginning and advanced compost techniques, continuous tours of our demonstration site, live music, activities for kids, a compost cafe AND the 4-H Duck Race. Join us!

April 23: Clothing Swap-O-Rama presented by Local First Ithaca

Local First Ithaca presents
the 1st Annual
Take Off Your Clothes For Earth Day
Clothing Swap-O-Rama!

Saturday, April 23, 10-6pm
The Space @ Greenstar
700 West Buffalo Street, Ithaca, NY

Suggested donation = $10 and a bag of clothing

Proceeds to Benefit Sew Green & GIAC’s Teen Program Poppin’ Collars

Clean out your Closets for Earth Day! Learn to upcycle old clothes into fabulous, new garments, quilts, toys, purses, etc. Attend one of the cool workshops – learn how to silkscreen, use a sewing machine, make a headband, buttons and more…

Keep clothing out of the waste stream, learn a new skill and create community. Stitch n’ Bitch, here we come!

Co-sponsored by Share Tompkins, Greenstar, Ithaca Times, Finger Lakes ReUse and Tompkins County Solid Waste

RSVP on Facebook

March 24: Book Swap Co-sponsored by the MLK Community Build

Share Tompkins and the MLK Community Build are co-sponsoring a community book swap!

Thursday, March 24, 6-8pm
The Kops/Klock/Muller Household
322 South Geneva St., Ithaca, NY

-Drop off books in readable condition or better, and swap them for books that are new to you.

-Sign up for a spot to recite your favorite poem or read an excerpt from a special book during Literary Open Mic time.

To make swapping super easy, we are trying out the process of swapping like for like:
Give a paperback, get a paperback.
Give a children’s book, get a children’s book, etc.

Also available will be FREE copies of the special edition of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s last book, “Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?” printed specifically for the people of Ithaca and Tompkins County through the vision and efforts of the MLK Community Build.

Children’s book donations will be accepted for distribution to the Family Reading Partnership’s Bright Red Book Shelf program, which recirculates gently used children’s books back into the community where they are made available free for families to own.

Usually we ask that unwanted items be taken back, but in this case, all leftover books will be donated to the Family Reading Partnership and Friends of the Library.

SO BRING YOUR UNWANTED BOOKS AND READ SOMETHING NEW!

RSVP on Facebook

Photos: Swap #15 at the Jones-Rounds’ House

Vodpod videos no longer available.

Share Tompkins Community Swap Meet #16 – Jones-…, posted with vodpod

February 26: Community Swap #16 at the Unitarian Society of Ithaca

Our 16th swap is co-sponsored by the First Unitarian Society of Ithaca’s Social Justice Committee!

Saturday, February 26, 1-3pm
First Unitarian Society of Ithaca
306 North Aurora, Ithaca, NY Map

RSVP on Facebook

Like sharing? Have skills? Bring goods and services you’d like to share or barter with other community members. The more we can provide for one another locally, the closer we are to sustainability!

You can post offers and requests to the Share Tompkins GoGoVerde!

What to bring:
– Food and Produce: veggies, teas, baked goods, jams, tofu, etc.
– Body Care: tinctures, soaps, creams, etc.
– Handmade Crafts: ceramics, candles, art, etc.
– Stuff: electronics, housewares, tools, books, etc.
– Services: massage, bike repair, web design, accounting, shoveling, moving, etc.
– Space: housing, working, gardening, etc. + you can offer to host our next swap meet!
– Bags, boxes and carts to take stuff home in
– Tables or tarps for your stuff

Guidelines:
– Our goal is sustainability – please bring stuff that is locally-grown or made from local materials if possible, but anything is welcome!
– Be prepared to take back home with you whatever you don’t end up bartering or giving away.
– Please bring stuff that is in good condition or can be easily-repaired – no junk!

January 26: Community Potluck and Swap Meet

Our 15th swap is being hosted by the Jones-Rounds family…

Community Potluck and Swap Meet
Wednesday, January 26, 5-8pm
At the Jones-Rounds’ House
713 North Cayuga Street, Ithaca, NY

RSVP on Facebook.

Barter, trade, or give away…
– Children and baby clothing, toys, and gear
– Electronics, instruments, CDs, tapes, DVDs, and books
– Winter clothing
– Fresh produce or preserved food
– Services such as massage, graphic design, health care, gardening, yoga
…and much, much more!

Bring a dish to pass if you can, or just check out the goods being offered.

We’ll also do a demo of GoGoVerde, a website where we can post offers and requests between our in-person events.

For more information, contact McKenzie at grasswriter@gmail.com or 717-903-4871.

Get what you need in your very own neighborhood, for barter or worse!

“Our kids are not in the way, they are the way.” – Jeci

This photo is from last weekend’s Share Tompkins holiday event at the Southside Community Center. After posting the photo to Facebook, Jessica Brown, a mother of two and a regular at our events, commented:

“Have I mentioned how radical and amazing this is? I have been a part of many many community groups and Share Tompkins has been one of the friendliest, hands down. Our kids are not in the way, they are the way.”

Being “family-friendly” has never been an explicitly discussed goal of the organizers, but it has always been a guiding principal. If sharing is about meeting people’s needs, creating spaces which welcome and nurture children seems like a basic and crucial need that we must take on as a group and as a community.

Photos: Share Tompkins 2nd Annual Holiday Swap & Crafting Jamboree – Dec ’10

Vodpod videos no longer available.

Share Tompkins 2nd Annual Holiday Swap & Crafti…, posted with vodpod

Dec 18: Holiday Swap and Crafting Jamboree at Southside

Saturday, December 18, Noon-3pm
Southside Community Center
305 S. Plain St, Ithaca, NY

Strapped for cash? Like working with your hands? Check off everyone on your list by swapping and making your own gifts this holiday season!

All are welcome to this FREE event. Barter for goodies with your neighbors or make one-of-a-kind gifts at the crafting station run by Ithaca Freeskool. As always, there will be a free area for people who want to give stuff away.

Hosted and co-sponsored by the Southside Community Center.

RSVP on Facebook

You can post haves/wants to the Wall of this event on Facebook or to the Share Tompkins email list.

What to bring:
– Materials for craft-making: decorative paper, markers, fabric,etc.
– Food: teas, baked goods, jams, chocolate, etc.
– Body Care: tinctures, soaps, creams, etc.
– Handmade Crafts: ceramics, candles, art, etc.
– Stuff: electronics, housewares, books, etc.
– Services: massage, yoga, music lessons, etc.
– Bags, boxes and carts to take stuff home in

Guidelines:
– Our goal is sustainability – please bring stuff that is locally-grown or made from local materials if possible, but anything is welcome!
– Be prepared to take back home with you whatever you don’t end up bartering or giving away. Left-over items will be donated appropriately.
– Please bring stuff that is in good condition or can be easily-repaired – no junk!

Please spread the word even if you can’t come!