Kia ora. One of the highlights for the year for us has been running Clothing Swaps. The premise is simple; bring in quality used clothing and leave with quality used clothing. Other Community Houses have been running Crop Swaps and we’ll soon join them in that. Again, a simple premise; bring in what you’ve produced and swap it for something others have produced.

There’s an old saying about one person’s junk being another person’s treasure. In our throw away, disposable, plastic filled, consumerist culture there’s something radical and counter-cultural in choosing to swap rather than trash and buy. It’s also more sociable. Shopping is often a solo endeavour; swaps are communal. There’s also a greater joy in matching the clothing to the person. A blokes 1980’s shirt suited my daughter perfectly. A 1970’s disco top was brilliant for a fun loving woman in her 60’s. Seeing an item’s life extended by adding value to someone else’s life is fantastic.

I wonder how else we can extend the concept? Tool Swap? Toy Swap? Any other ideas for us to do? Let us know. And no, we won’t facilitate wife swaps, kid swaps or house swaps? We’ll leave that for Reality TV.

See you next Tuesday with your disco gear.