The Lettuce Patch
DR's Alternative Currency

Alternative currencies (or local bartering currencies) have a long and rich tradition, and we are happy to become a part of it. One of the greatest advantages of using alternative currency is that it strengthens local economies. By limiting a currency's usefulness to a local sphere, that currency will always help support the local economy. This is an active, institutional way to help prevent the outflow of money to national and international corporations that often causes economic problems in small towns. Also, people can be paid for their labor, even when there are not sufficient US dollars available. This allows people to build up their lives by working hard, even when the US economic system will not reward them for doing so.

Our currency is based on the Hour as the standard unit. This is designed to help create a more egalitarian respect for all forms of work and the people doing the work. While people can still charge whatever they wish when using the alternative currency, making the standard unit an Hour definitely suggests that everyone's time is worth the same, be it as a teacher, computer programmer, childcare provider, artist or administrator.

If you are interested in purchasing Hours for your own private collection, please send the appropriate exchange rate funds ($7 = 1 Hour) plus $1 shipping and handling to The Lettuce Patch, Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage, 1 Dancing Rabbit Lane, Rutledge, MO 63563. Bills are available in 5 Hour, 1 Hour and 1/4 Hour denominations. For specific questions, call us at 660-883-5511.

More information is available on the currency designs.

Jeffrey wrote a three article series about the motivation for the alternative currency in previous newsletters:

DR Economics (04/99)
DR Economics: Money (07/99)
Bunny Money (01/00)