As the coronavirus crisis forced Los Angeles to shut down, people to lose their jobs and the economy to falter, Angelenos are rediscovering the virtues of neighborly trade, sharing produce from their gardens and bartering instead of buying.
On a hilly street in Highland Park, Alexandra Kacha’s front garden bursts with kale and broccoli, eggplant and artichoke, zucchini and celery and a host of fragrant herbs. Out back, there’s a mulberry tree.
“It’s a nice way to connect,” said Noble, 36, a city librarian who has bartered with other friends, too. “Particularly for someone like me who lives alone — it’s just me and my two dogs — finding spaces for connection is important.” According to Deron Beal, founder and director of the 9-million-member Freecycle Network, which helps local communities set up free exchanges around the globe, people are itching to tap into the free economy — some because they are in need, others because they know their luck and can give.
As a nanny and personal assistant who hasn’t worked in months, Seevers said she has relied heavily on the platform herself, including for groceries. One recent day, she laughed at herself after realizing she’d essentially gone “grocery shopping” around the neighborhood.
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