What is LETS?
LETS is a Local Exchange Trading System or community currency system which originated, many years ago, in Canada. LETS money (in the case of our system it's called 'gumnuts') is created as mutual credit. Each transaction is recorded as a corresponding credit and debit in the participants' accounts. The quantity of currency issued is thus automatically sufficient and (unlike regular currency) does not depend on the judgment and effort of a central authority (such as the Reserve Bank).
Swan-Hills LETSystem is firmly established in the Darling Ranges and nearby suburban areas. From Morley to Sawyers Valley, and from Pickering Brook to Middle Swan, with a couple of outlying members in Toodyay and Belmont, over 100 member families are offering a wide variety of services and goods over a very wide area and at the same time fostering community connections.
There are, literally, hundreds of LETS groups worldwide, all fostering community spirit. In Australia there are over 80 groups.
To find out about the nitty-gritty of the system visit http://www.gmlets.u-net.com/home.html.
Here are some witty images depicting what LETS is about, and what it is not about:
LETS "is".jpg
LETS "is Not".jpg
Trading for a Better Community
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We have regular "Trading Days". Often we have a special theme or guest presenter on a special subject. Friendship and opportunities abound.
Many members look forward to these gatherings as a way of building their local network of friends and trading partners.
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Members trade their excess garden produce with eachother - you can't get any more "locally grown" than that.
Any member with internet access can post a forum message on this website advertising their glut of tomatoes or basil, which may only be available for a few days. All members with email will get a message in their inbox, and this is a great way to get rid of those buckets of produce and earn some gumnuts at the same time.
Longer term offers can be advertised in the "Trading Directory" which goes out in the mail about twice a year. (The most up to date directory is always available on this site).
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Natural Therapies are widely available in our system. Some of our members are highly qualified therapists.
Other kinds of services currently being offered are Accomodation, Animals, Entertainment, Writing, Handcrafts, Cleaning, Baby sitting, Computer assistance, Photography, Bookkeeping etc etc etc.
Hire of equipment , and Trade of goods are regular occurrences too.
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Our unit of currency is the Gumnut. LETS complements the federal monetary system, extending our purse strings and making our community stronger and more resilient to downturns in the economy. |
We really get things done at our busy bees!
At certain times of the year those of us lucky enough to have gardens look out of our windows and wonder how on earth we're going to get all of that weeding/mulching/pruning/planting done!
One of those times is at the onset of summer when we all need to mulch mulch mulch!
One of the things that our system specialises in is busy bees, especially garden busy bees. Recently one of our members held a busy bee to spread a gigantic pile of mulch over a front lawn, in preparation for "going native". Now that makes sense!
Several members turned up to help, and the hostess made delicious herb & cheese scones & banana cake to feed the workers. Here's the (almost) finished result.
