InTucker Magazine

Citizen of the Month – Buy Nothing

High on the list of great Tucker attributes is our Buy Nothing culture. This national radical experiment pursues two goals: keeping stuff out of the landfill and building community.

Buy Nothing members offer and ask for tangible “gifts” such as lightly worn kid’s shoes, furniture gathering dust, Halloween costume components, and passalong plants. More intangible gifts are also welcome: notary services, resume advice, DIY advice like how to refinish a chair or family-favorite recipes. This is not a barter system or quid-pro-quo but mutual aid, gifting people what they ask for.

Tuckerites made up so much of the original Lilburn/Tucker Buy Nothing group that we “sprouted” in 2021, and quickly sprouted again into 3 smaller groups. Compact areas allow friendships to build among close neighbors. Buy Nothing neighbors get to know each other while giving and receiving, which leads to community gatherings like craft days, puzzle parties and potlucks.

Some members’ favorites:

• Leah’s ongoing plant-stand. Neighbors can take and/or drop off pots, seeds, seedlings and the occasional tomato.
• homemade jam, sourdough English muffins, passionflower vines – a long list of small gifts
• Claire’s carnival glass candy dish: “Oh, my grandfather had one just like this!”
• folding puppy stairs for Heather’s elderly dog to get into the car: “This has been a game changer for my girl.”
• a Barbie house from Julie with many accessories: “the mom sent me a video of her daughter AND the little girl sent me a thank you note!”
• round robin boxes of kitchen items, jewelry or clothes. Members pass the box and take what they like, adding if they want, like a mobile free little library.
• not one specific gift, Chance says, “just the joy of walking around my house, seeing items from people who are now friends”
• everything needed – truly! – for Crystal’s new bonus baby

Several members also said they value raising their kids with a buy-nothing ethic. “They love to go on Buy Nothing runs: high excitement!” Buy Nothing also fosters and multiplies GRATITUDE. As great as it is to receive what I ask for, it truly delights me to find the perfect new home for a precious item. Neighbors can be so generous it takes my breath away. As Crystal says, “the people in our group are just the best neighbors – sharing love and care and expecting the best from people.”

Nominated by Claire Hayes