DRAFT - hOUR Economy
Staunton hOUR Economy
Trade time • Build trust • Keep value local
Staunton hOUR Economy
A neighbor-to-neighbor time bank
Trade time, not dollars.
Strengthen Staunton neighbor-to-neighbor.
The hOUR Economy is a local time bank: you offer a skill, earn time-bank tokens, and spend them on help from others. Here we will post group volunteer events, individual requests, and locations where you can spend your time-bank tokens on services. This is still a work in progress, and we hope to have physical time-bank tokens to issue by Q2 2026.
How it works
List what you can do (and what you don’t do). Keep it simple.
When you help someone, you receive hOUR tokens.
Use tokens to reward others in the network for helping you.
We start local, transparent, and friendly. Meetups help establish real-world context.
Announcements
Current updates.
- Next Sovereignty Salon meetup: (2/12/2026; 5:30-8:30; Staunton Library)
- Possible: repair & skills swap “office hours” (weekly)
- Looking for volunteers and volunteering opportunities!
Events calendar
This calendar will show group volunteering opportunities.
Email us to be added to the listserv, and check the site (to be updated every Sunday evening) so you always have the latest events.
If you want to host a group volunteering event, orientation, skills swap, class or repair night, we’ll add it here.
Directory map
Browse businesses that accept hOURs, offer services, or help steward the network.
Click “Join” and we’ll add your business or group to the map. Individuals may request to be added to the "What Neighbors Need & Can Offer (This Week)" section at the bottom of the page.
Use general locations (neighborhood/area) unless you explicitly want your address public.
Join / Get listed
In “phase 1,” we are still developing how this will work. Currently everything on this site now is a TEST only and not live yet. We will be reaching out for volunteer opportunities, businesses and services which will accept time-bank tokens exploring getting physical tokens printed, and growing our volunteer list in the meantime. The goal is to be able to go live in Q2 2026.
Email to get listed Back to mapStarter rules
- Be clear about boundaries and availability.
- Start small. One successful trade builds momentum.
- Default to public listings being non-sensitive.
- Meetups are for trust-building, not perfection.
- Disputes: pause, talk, and steward as needed.
Today: website + map & calendar for groups and businesses + list for individuals. Later: trust documentation, Nostr connectivity, and deeper sovereignty.
What Neighbors Need & Can Offer (This Week)
A lightweight, time-bounded exchange for individuals (not businesses). Listings are refreshed weekly on Sunday evening to keep things current and low-pressure. To be included, email a short note describing what you’re offering or seeking.
- Gardening help (weekday afternoons)
- Basic laptop / phone setup
- Pet sitting for short trips
- Help moving a small couch
- Ride to grocery store (once)
- Simple sewing or mending
This section is cleared and refreshed regularly. Listings are intentionally brief and coordinated by a steward to keep expectations clear and participation easy. Email requests are reviewed weekly on Sunday evening.
Email a listing →