Residents, local entrepreneurs, and designers developed in co-creation a value system that could be widely implemented in Osdorp, Amsterdam Nieuw-West. We designed the Wild Mint: a circular currency for the Wildemanbuurt and its surroundings. The currency was used to exchange services and knowledge within the neighborhood.
You could earn or give away the currency by offering or requesting volunteer work. The currency serves as a token of appreciation: when you give something, you are also entitled to request a service from someone else in the neighborhood. This system encouraged active participation in the community and steps towards entrepreneurship. For example, you could earn a coin by joining as a handyman at Stadsboerderij Osdorp, producing coins at The Beach, or participating in a cleanup event with Huis van de Wijk de Aker. You could then spend the coin on activities such as taking a guest to the Wilde Chefs restaurant (at The Beach), tasting treats at Stadsboerderij Osdorp, attending a drawing workshop at Huis van de Wijk ’t Blommetje, or receiving help with administration.
The Wild Mint is made from plastic waste found in the neighborhood, in collaboration with local residents and designers from Polimeer. The coin demonstrated how we can reuse plastic waste from the neighborhood and promote the exchange of goods, knowledge, and skills.
The following organizations helped in the distribution of the coin: Lucas Community - Betrokken Buren, The Beach, Stadsboerderij Osdorp, Buurtwerkplaats Noorderhof, Implacement, De Appel, Huis van de Wijk De Akker, Huis van de Wijk 't Blommetje, Vrouw & Vaart, and Daadkracht.
