Cville TimeBank

Author: gailsouth

  • Explore All Offers!

    Once again, I waited until the last minute to clean up my garden for spring. Who knew spring would arrive in February? I looked under new offers for help, but I didn’t find anything. I posted a request, then I remembered that wonderful “Explore All Offers” index. Check it out here: https://hourworld.org/bank/SearchSvcCat.php?PR=Pro

    I sent a couple of emails requesting garden help—and I have already received one yes—then noticed some other offers for things that I needed done. I sent out requests for bike repair training and slipcover tailoring—both now lined up to happen.

    If you haven’t used the index, now is a good time to explore the offers out there. You might find something that you had forgotten you needed.

    Some random offers I found in the index: tutoring in French, Spanish, help with exercise training, partner for cycling around town, help with doctor’s appointments and understanding medical jargon, cleaning out closets, general household chores, baking gluten-free breads and goodies, every sort of sewing imaginable, transportation, help with computers, eBay sales, kayaking instruction (boat can be provided!), help with digital photos, dog training, pet sitting, home maintenance, the list goes on and on. All those things you’ve been procrastinating on—get that stuff done!

    While you’re at it, look at your own profile and see if it needs updating. Have a new skill you might teach someone? Or maybe a skill you didn’t think about when you first posted your profile? I’ve heard there’s a big market for lasagna baking.

  • Holiday Help!

    Does anybody else get overwhelmed by the holidays?

    This is a great time for exchanges—the perfect time to help each other. Besides all the expectations of doing everything and being cheerful about it, we have the added stress of tiptoeing around current political issues while noshing with colleagues and family who we might not agree with on topics near and dear to us. On top of helping hands, we could all use a little community therapy right now.

    Need help shopping, wrapping, cooking, decorating, getting the house ready for visitors, cleaning up after visitors? Parties anyone? Not to mention figuring out what to cook, gift ideas, baking—because we all have to have some yummies for the holidays (or at least have to offer them to our guests or take them to our hosts). Packing for travel, unpacking after travel, encouragement to get off our butts and lose the extra pounds from all the holiday cheer. I’m sure there’s something else, there’s always something else.

    Maybe a pet-sitter while you are out of town? Or encouragement on how to get through the visit with Aunt Emma? Post your request to fellow Timebankers!

    Are willing to bake cookies, (maybe a boozy fruitcake?), tidy a spare room, pick up some groceries, take someone to the airport, offer gift ideas for the dad who has everything? Please post your offers!

    In the spirit of giving—and receiving—lets do this one together. We all need a little support right now.

  • Fall Garden Cleanup

    Fall was a little late this year, but it is definitely here now. My flowers are telling me it is time for some serious cleanup. Not sure why I put these gardening chores off the way I do. I used to love working in the garden by myself, but over the last few years I find myself procrastinating more and more.

    But I love flowers in the spring and summer—and even in the fall when I clear out enough of the dead summer flowers to see the last of the mums. It finally occurred to me that I’m part of a wonderful community of people who might be in the same boat. It’s a lot more fun when you have help, and the work goes so much faster.

    So—gardeners unite! Let’s get together and enjoy these beautiful fall days and get our gardens spiffed up and ready for those spring bulbs. And if you have any plants to share, this is a great time to transplant!

  • How My Garden Spent My Summer Vacation

    How My Garden Spent My Summer Vacation

    Loved, nurtured, and watered by awesome TimeBankers!

    Being an obsessive compulsive gardener is fun in the spring when it’s cool and rainy and everything starts poking out of the ground all fresh and shiny green. I’m not a fan of digging in the dirt as much as I am of sitting among flowers with a glass of wine, but I’m willing to do a little dirty work for the reward.

    The problem comes in July and August when it’s hot and dry. I hate being outside then—even surrounded by flowers. My solution is to go north. For years, I have come home to a garden so withered and rangy that I have to check the name on the mailbox to be sure I’m at the right place!

    But this year was different. Though it was wicked hot and dry all summer, my garden was lush and green and full of blossoms. Even my potted basil was thriving! It looked way better than it would have if I had been home—I would been hiding in the AC all summer.

    A big thank you to the ever-fabulous TimeBankers who took turns watering my parched plants and sprinkling magic dust to keep everything so luscious. You folks are simply amazing!