There are ways to incorporate sharing into almost every realm of life. Here’s a sampling of ways to share:
CAR:
Find a friend or a neighbor who would like to share a car and make a schedule to take turns.
Join an established car-sharing program, such as City CarShare or ZipCar.
RIDES:
Set up or join a carpool to work or school.
Find out if there are casual ridesharing programs in your community.
Start a vanpool.
FOOD:
Trade leftovers with a neighbor or share regular meals.
Take part in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs.
Start a community food garden in your neighborhood.
Share fruit harvested from your trees.
HOME:
Buy a home with a friend.
Consider living in cohousing.
Retrofit a large house to accommodate two households.
Live cooperatively in a group house.
Share a vacation home.
GOODS:
Start a tool-share with friends or neighbors.
Share other household goods and appliances, such as a vacuum cleaner or laundry machines.
TASKS:
Start a neighborhood home-repair group.
Cooperate to compost in your neighborhood.
Share errands, such as dry cleaning.
Trade tasks with a neighbor — prune her tree if she fixes your bike.
Start a time bank.
BUYING:
Form a group to save money by sharing bulk purchases.
Join a buying club or cooperative.
SPACE:
Take down the fence and share yards with your neighbor.
WORK:
Work part time and share your job with someone else.
Form an employee-owned cooperative.
Have shared lunches with coworkers.
Try coworking.
Share an office space, a studio space, workshop, or commercial kitchen.
CARE:
Start a childcare co-op.
Share a nanny with another family.
Share pet care with a pet-owning neighbor.
Cooperate to care for elders.
SKILLS:
Host a skillshare — a gathering where people share their special skills and learn from others.
FUN:
Share recreational equipment, such as kayaks, and camping and sports gear.
Share season tickets for sports or theme parks.