Repair Café says “Yes!”
Repair Café this past month was definitely a three bell alarm at the old firehouse, now Alkebulan ( an old name for Africa) Cultural Center.
The goodies, free to all, were so wonderful. Martin, a Repair Café regular gratefully gave a new home to Mike's old computer, freshly cleaned and loaded with updated programs, bells and whistles, from the Really, Really Free Market. Someone else walked away in a classic pewter-colored, new-looking, top-of-the-line London Fog full-length coat. The Neighborhood Fruit Harvest had an abundance of juicing oranges and luscious persimmons. Lucky folks also left with sweet potato seedlings and pretty flower bulbs and holiday decorations.
And that was only the outdoor event!
Inside, we incorporated a new system of triage that worked like a charm! 67 repairs were completed by 18 repair people: 6 tinkers, 5 tailors, and 7 specialty repairers including gluing, woodworking, knife sharpening, jewelry repair, lamp repair, hair repair, Mac consultations, and a word smith, Beatrice, who worked feverishly on a resume, as David tickled the ivories. Whew!
Two folks whom I chatted with asked if there was any garden project they could engage with. YES! Connection made. One fellow with an ingenious solar program asked to share his idea. YES! One plumbing expert asked if there was a way for him to connect with the group next time. YES! Several folks asked if they could apply for Time Bank today. YES! Alkebulan Center asked if we would come to their place so they could invite their community next time. YES!
The best part about Repair Café is seeing folks meeting new friends. Greg likes to tell folks who sit down to learn knife sharpening that they are sitting in the story chair. Life is a story unfolding. We share our own stories and create new stories together about a new kind of economy based on our interconnectedness which values sharing, gifting and earth itself as the basis for the new economy, our Sacred Economy as Charles Eisenstein refers to it. This is one path toward visioning a new and better life ahead.
Kudos to all who contributed to this new economy, sharing time and talent and engaging in a new story.
— Therese Brummel
The goodies, free to all, were so wonderful. Martin, a Repair Café regular gratefully gave a new home to Mike's old computer, freshly cleaned and loaded with updated programs, bells and whistles, from the Really, Really Free Market. Someone else walked away in a classic pewter-colored, new-looking, top-of-the-line London Fog full-length coat. The Neighborhood Fruit Harvest had an abundance of juicing oranges and luscious persimmons. Lucky folks also left with sweet potato seedlings and pretty flower bulbs and holiday decorations.
And that was only the outdoor event!
Inside, we incorporated a new system of triage that worked like a charm! 67 repairs were completed by 18 repair people: 6 tinkers, 5 tailors, and 7 specialty repairers including gluing, woodworking, knife sharpening, jewelry repair, lamp repair, hair repair, Mac consultations, and a word smith, Beatrice, who worked feverishly on a resume, as David tickled the ivories. Whew!
Two folks whom I chatted with asked if there was any garden project they could engage with. YES! Connection made. One fellow with an ingenious solar program asked to share his idea. YES! One plumbing expert asked if there was a way for him to connect with the group next time. YES! Several folks asked if they could apply for Time Bank today. YES! Alkebulan Center asked if we would come to their place so they could invite their community next time. YES!
The best part about Repair Café is seeing folks meeting new friends. Greg likes to tell folks who sit down to learn knife sharpening that they are sitting in the story chair. Life is a story unfolding. We share our own stories and create new stories together about a new kind of economy based on our interconnectedness which values sharing, gifting and earth itself as the basis for the new economy, our Sacred Economy as Charles Eisenstein refers to it. This is one path toward visioning a new and better life ahead.
Kudos to all who contributed to this new economy, sharing time and talent and engaging in a new story.
— Therese Brummel
