‘Buy nothing’ movement creates hyperlocal gift economy

What do you need?

Peonies? A camping chair? Old prom or bridesmaid dresses?

Or, what are you looking to unload?

A box of cardboard boxes? Outgrown kid clothes? Some kitchen canisters or an old hose with a lot of life left in it?

You can find it or give it away on Buy Nothing Sioux Falls, a hyperlocal “gift economy” hosted on social media and designed to build community, help people in need and keep perfectly good items out of the landfill. You also can borrow things – need a power washer for a spring afternoon? Or a really tall ladder, just for a bit? You can ask for that too.

The Buy Nothing Project is based on building “resilient communities where our true wealth is the connections forged between neighbors.” There are 7.5 million Buy Nothing community members, hosted in regional sites that are broken down into populations of about 2,000 people in the same geographic area.

Think neighborhood.

Diane Douiyssi is the moderator for the Buy Nothing East Sioux Falls group, which recently split off as its own group. “We were approaching 2,000 people, and then it splits off,” she said. “The idea is it’s hyperlocal and you get to know your neighbors.”

Sioux Falls has west, central and east groups, as well as Harrisburg and Brandon. The national project also has launched an app.

She was attracted to the group both for sustainability and community. She and her husband moved to Sioux Falls a few years ago, and they had things they needed to downsize. And, they needed things.

“I never had an air fryer,” Douiyssi said. “Everybody was talking about them, so I asked for one, and I got one and then thought, ‘oh, not so great,’ so I passed it on.”

“Anybody living in this world has to be aware of how we are treating our planet,” Douiyssi said. “One of them is the constant consumption of items and then throwing them in the garbage.”

The air fryer is a perfect example – someone had one and didn’t love it, so they were able to declutter. Douissyi was able to try one for free – rather than buy one – and decide it wasn’t for her, and then pass it on to someone else who might like it.

Brandie Sterrett of Sioux Falls has been a member for a few months.

“I like the idea of it,” Sterrett said. “I think anyone who tries to sell stuff on Facebook gets to the point where they’re like never mind, this isn’t worth my time and effort. But you don’t want items to go to the landfill.”

The Sterrett family’s kids’ bike helmets came from a Buy Nothing group.

The first time she used the site, it was to borrow a live trap from someone to help relocate kittens.

She was able to give a dishwasher to her neighbors who home-school their four kids. “They were hand-washing all their dishes,” Sterrett laughed. “I don’t know how they were surviving.”

That gift grew a friendship – their kids play together, and they get together for dinner.

Sterrett has three children and has given away bags of kids’ clothes and other items. Having a family also means she has to go to and host her share of events for kids.

“I have this love-hate with birthdays,” Sterrett said. “I want to decorate, but I also like to be closer to zero waste and not buy stuff you throw away. I’ve seen where people start community party bags – with plastic plates and stuff – and you share it. It just adds to that feeling of less waste and more community.”

Sterrett also asked for towels for a project. “We have two dogs that don’t shut their mouths after they drink water, so I end up with puddles all over my kitchen floor,” she said. “I saw people making floor turtles out of towels, and that turtle towel just lives on the floor. You just use your foot and rub it over when it gets wet, but I didn’t want to go buy towels, so I asked if anyone had brown or green towels.”

Someone gave her some. And then she used one to make a cat hammock.

The philosophy is that everyone has things to give, and everyone has needs, she said. “Those needs might be material – I need a new mattress – but they also might be something less tangible – I’d like a workout buddy, or is there someone who can give me a ride, or I want to learn to knit.”

After awhile, it becomes habit.

“My first thought now is, ‘oh, I’ll post it; you never know who might want this,’ and people do,” she said. “It’s very strange what people post and what people want, but to me there is a happiness that comes in offering something up.”

The site isn’t one where speed of response guarantees you are the receiver of an item. People comment on items they want and sometimes why they want them – “I want these coloring pages for my granddaughter,” for example – and then the giver chooses who gets the item.

“It’s a great equalizer,” Douiyssi said. “If you normally choose the first person, you’re defaulting to the person who is on Facebook all day or the right time at the right moment. When you share more about the need – I want this for my daughter who is in marching band – you help foster this place of openness and sharing.”

Sterrett agrees.

“There was one instance where I commented on something – a salad spinner – and I was the first person who commented, and the giver chose me,” Sterrett said. “And then after, I saw comments from people who seemed like they wanted or needed it more, so I actually stepped down. Someone wanted to do an art project with their kids. Another who had one that broke. I like that – choosing who might need it most.”

Users are discouraged from offering money for products or services, marketing their own businesses and requesting items through instant messaging.

Sterrett values the community. “You build relationships with people in your area,” she said. “You’re getting something out of this, and I’m getting something out of this.”

Sterrett said it makes the city feel friendly.

“This isn’t about money,” Douiyssi said. “It’s about the act of giving and receiving freely, without expectation.”