Envisioning a Different Kind of Society

This Saturday, Occupy Petaluma is conducting a Burning Man-style experiment by setting up a market where everything--from food to services to merchandise--will be free, with the caveat that attendees give as much as they take.

The group is calling it a "Really Really Free Market" and it will be held at from 1-5 pm. 

Guests are asked to come with goods, services, skills, performances, stories, crafts, food, games, music, a good story, clothing, furniture, plants or anything else they want to share with the community. The event will depend on what participants bring, but will include a kids' art space, a seed and start exchange, workshops on bike maintenance, safety, tune-ups and helmet fitting, music and more. Instruments are encouraged.

According to organizers, the Really Really Free Market celebrates cooperation and gift-giving that is lacking in mainstream culture.

“As a society we are really focused on having, where here the focus is on sharing,” said Soneile Hymn, 35, a Petaluma videographer and church secretary.

"As at other Really Really Free Markets across the U.S. and around the world, we aim to create and participate in a world in which resources are held in common. We find in ourselves the capacity to meet the needs of others in our community, and "free" means just that: really, really free.

Organizers remind residents that the event is not a chance for people to get rid of things they don’t want, but "an opportunity to come together to provide for each other, inspire each other, and share together in the abundance of goods, skills, and creativity of our community."