Really Really Free Market planned for this Sunday

 Really Really Free Market
Noon to 5 p.m.
Sunday June 26, 2011 
The Bloom Collective
671 Davis NW, Grand Rapids 

This Sunday, The Bloom Collective is hosting a Really Really Free Market on the lawn outside of Steepletown Center, at the corner of 5th St. and Davis Ave. NW. This is the fourth time the infoshop has hosted an “RRFM.” In fact, after hearing about Really Really Free Markets in other parts of the country, The Bloom introduced the idea to the area in July 2008 with this announcement:

Let’s share what we’ve got and ask for what we need, because there is enough for everyone. Let’s respond to the corporations that would rather the landfills overflow than anyone get something without paying. Let’s meet this month to show that we mean what we’ve been saying–we want an alternative, and we’re going to invent it for ourselves.

That market was a huge success. In addition to folks bringing and taking yard-sale type items, the day included musicians, free bike repairs, a family sharing kombuchu mothers, a sketch artist and introductory Spanish lessons. For a few hours, the market turned the vacant lot at the corner of Fuller and Wealthy into a microcosmic community living an alternative to capitalism. A neighbor in charge of maintaining the vacant lot came by with ideas of asking folks to leave. Instead, he walked away with a few free items he needed and a smile on his face.

That Really Really Free Market even got coverage in The Grand Rapids Press.

After that first Really Really Free Market, a group of dedicated local folks, known first as simply Really Really Free Market and then Good Morning Revolution, took on the task of hosting regular markets at the Wealthy/Fuller location and elsewhere around town. Today, the Really Really Free Market is pretty much an established event that radical folks and others look forward to attending on a regular basis.

Do you want an alternative to consumerism and greed, the two cornerstones of our economic system? Come on down to the Really Really Free Market on Sunday. Bring the stuff you don’t need, take the stuff you do. Share some food, music or whatever other talents you have. And, be inspired to find other alternatives that demonstrate  another world is possible.