Merkaba Trueke Barter Exchange at Semillero Romita

Project data
Type	Merkaba trueke barter exchange at semillero romita
Authors	Semillero Romita
Location	Mexico City, Oaxaca
Years	2010
OKH Manifest	Download

Merkaba Trueke is a group that gets together to exchange resources, knowledge, and services through barter. Rather than using money, people must exchange goods and services and this exchange is based on trust, solidarity, cooperation, reciprocity and mutual assistance rather then hierarchical market values. In this way people within the Merkaba Trueke not only value the items and services they value other people within the group. This is barter exchange is part of a group called Semillero Romita.

Meeting Time

The group meets every last Sunday of the month in Plaza Romita, Mexico City, Mexico.

How does the Barter Exchange Work

Using barter or Romitas

Each member brings their products and a list of knowledge and services that they offer or they can bring Romitas. Romitas are like a ticket that can be used at the exchange if you do not have something to trade. Each person sets Romita cost of their products. No cash is allowed. Romitas are much different from Money.

Difference between Romitas and Money

Money	Romitas
we have no control over the creation or distribution	we can issue them and thus create an economy based on local needs
can be accumulated indefinitely	discourage accumulation in favor of circulation between producers
its value is based on shortage and promotes scarcity	are abundant
generates interest	are free of interest
originates from debt	originates from giving and from ones rights

Who can Participate

New members are asked to attend a short introduction the morning of the market so that they can learn about the process, "rules", and meet other members before trading.
People do not have to have fresh garden veggies or fruits in order to trade. Other items and services for trading include: cooking, knitting, bookbinding, crafts, lessons in some skill, or anything else you can think of that would be attractive to other members.
The market tries to promote the value of handmade items, thus if someone want to sell second hand items they can, however it is generally not valued at the equivalent cost of those handmade items.

How do you know the supply and demand of other members?

The group has a directory of supply and demand with data from it's members. When joining the group you receive a directory and it is updated each time a new member joins.

Advise for New members

A good Producer and Exchange member

seeks not only to meet their needs, but also seeks to provide products, knowledge and services that are in demand in the group and meet the needs of other exchange members
analyzes the quality of care offered
delivers what it offers
ensures that its products and services address ethical, ecological and sustainability ethics rather than serve commercial or market value dictations.
not want to cheat or take advantage of other exchange members, but to establish relationships of long lasting mutual benefit.

Contact

http://semilleroromita.blogspot.com/
semillero.romita@gmail.com
5556 8833
04455 3670 1754

References

Page data
Keywords	barter, exchange, market
SDG	SDG08 Decent work and economic growth, SDG11 Sustainable cities and communities, SDG12 Responsible consumption and production
License	CC-BY-SA-3.0
Language	English (en)
Related	0 subpages, 0 pages link here
Views	84 page views (analytics)
Created	October 10, 2010 by Carrie Schaden
Last edit	October 16, 2024 by Kathy Nativi
Cite as	Carrienoburden (2010–2024). "Merkaba Trueke Barter Exchange at Semillero Romita". Appropedia. Retrieved October 3, 2026.
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