Re:Source

In a world increasingly shaped by screen-based connection and algorithmic isolation, this app offers a grounded alternative. Instead of escaping into endless feeds, users can plug into the land, community, and regenerative local economy. It connects people to work, learning, events, and trade—while maintaining the integrity, privacy, and trust required to build real-world relationships.

It is both the map and the communication tool for navigating cooperative, locally grounded systems.

This platform integrates:

  • Timebank/barter/credit-based labor exchange

  • Class & workshop coordination

  • Forums and local discussion boards

  • Escrow-supported trades

  • Skill and goods marketplaces

  • Community feeds

  • Event planning

  • Organizational collaboration tools

  • Invite systems and digital circles

Real-World Use Cases for the App

📅 Paul's Daily Flow

  • Morning Check-In: Paul wakes up and opens Re:Source. His homepage shows:

    • 10:00 AM – Breakfast with his aunt

    • 12:00 PM – Small job: repaint a gate

    • 6:00 PM – Mushroom Guild: Forage & Fire event

    • Plus a public farmers market in the park

  • Map-Based Planning:

    • Paul notices that the farmers market and breakfast are in the same area, shown clearly on the map interface.

    • He decides to combine both activities and attend with his aunt.

  • Job Confidence:

    • His agreed-upon rate for painting the gate is already held in escrow, ensuring payment after both parties confirm completion.

  • Prepping for the Evening:

    • Paul uses in-app credits to pre-purchase a dinner for the evening fire, allowing the chef to buy ingredients and secure RSVPs.

  • Community Requests:

    • In the event forum, someone posts: “Can anyone pick up cream cheese for tonight?”

    • Paul replies: “Yes.”

    • The organizer sends him $3 through the app as a quick micro-transaction for the errand.

🐔 River’s Roosters

  • The Offer: River is offering 50 roosters at $5 each.

  • Coordination Begins: Grey contacts Long Duck Farms to secure a space for processing the roosters.

  • Event Size: 15 attendees total — 2 mentors and 13 participants.

  • Logistics:

    • A driver is needed to transport the roosters to the site.

    • Participants must receive a document outlining what to bring and what they’ll learn.

    • That document should allow public commenting so participants can ask questions and see replies.

How the App Supports This:

  • Grey creates an event that acts as a temporary group, automatically archived after the event.

  • Notifications are sent to invitees, linking directly to the event page.

  • The event page includes:

    • A map with the location.

    • Forums for discussions and instructions (e.g., pre-purchasing chickens).

    • Calendar integration — once accepted, the event is added to the user’s calendar and commenting unlocks.

  • Users can:

    • Pre-purchase chickens from River using in-app currency.

    • Offer services (e.g., "chicken transporter") via a listing that includes time, gas, and other expenses.

    • Propose their service by clicking “Offer Service” on the event page.

  • Payments & Refunds:

    • Event organizers can charge a fee, held in event escrow until completion.

    • Fee is shown on the invite and only deducted upon acceptance.

    • Full refunds occur if the event is canceled or a user drops out — unless otherwise specified.

    • “No return” or “drop-out fee” options are available when creating an event.

  • Roles:

    • Organizers define paid/unpaid roles (e.g., chicken transporter gets $5 off the $5 class).

    • Invite acceptance may require choosing a role from a dropdown.

🧹 Art Center Cleanup

Another real example:

  • Organizer: Zach

  • Plan: A cleanup day at The Center with a fire and food.

  • Roles Needed:

    • 2 painters for the shed

    • 1 cook

    • 5+ deadfall cleanup crew members

  • App Usage:

    • Zach creates a “Center Cleanup Event.”

    • Participants sign up for roles, which are clearly visible to the organizer.

    • Some attendees donate $5 to cover food.

      • This currency can be:

        • Cashed out

        • Traded to the member getting groceries

        • Exchanged for items at the farmstand

🌐 This App (Team/Project Management)

  • Scenario: Grey wants to build an app and sends Noah an invite to a group.

  • Team Growth:

    • More roles are needed as the project expands.

    • Noah becomes an event admin and adds 4 security team members.

    • Grey adds a graphic designer.

  • Forums:

    • Separate forums for the security team and the designer.

    • Everyone can view all project progress, even if not directly involved.

In-Person Coordination:

  • Noah creates a team meeting event.

  • He clicks “Invite – RE:source Team”.

  • The event appears in:

    • User’s calendars

    • The group’s sidebar under “Group Events”

Collaboration Tools:

  • Forums can include:

    • Polls

    • Task lists (checkbox format with host approval)

🎪 Imagine Fest (Event + Vendor Integration)

  • Event Setup: Imagine Fest creates an event within the app.

  • Vendor Access:

    • Accepting the invite unlocks access to vendor listings on the Marketplace Map.

    • Listings are visible only during the event.

  • Community Tools:

    • Forums like “Camping FAQs” and “Meet & Greet”.

    • A link to an ongoing Imagine Group, which persists after the event ends.

  • Group Participation:

    • Joining the Imagine Group allows:

      • Vendor visibility in your listings

      • Year-round participation in forums

User Sign-Up

Individual:

  • Trade labor, services, or goods within the network.

Business/Organization:

  • Operate as a farm, workshop host, local service provider, or nonprofit.

User Profiles & Listings:

  • Option to add a user to your circle(s)

  • Each profile displays items and services available for purchase, as well as what the user might be in search of. 

You can access user profiles from invites, search bar, forum posts and market listings. This is not a traditional social media app, so profiles are minimal. 

How It Works

DISCLAIMER: The currency, time banking, and bartering aspects of this proposal are not set in stone. Due to transmission laws, this is an ongoing process of figuring-out.

Example Transaction:

  • User buys 15 credits (plus a ?% fee) within the app.

  • User works at Farm #1, earning 15 credits per hour.

  • User redeems 30 credits for a CSA box from Farm #2, a used wheelbarrow, a seed saving class, or cashes out their credits for money.

Why In-App Credits?

  • Simplifies exchanges.

  • Keeps wealth circulating only within local businesses.

  • A small service fee funds app maintenance (and the servers that warm the greenhouse where the data is stored),

  • Optional feature: a growing pool of money that is set aside. This money COULD be invested, cashed out, and then have its use voted on by the community.

Trade Guidelines

Locally Generated Only:

  • Island-based services, farm goods, artisan crafts, and used items (like tools or equipment).

  • Agricultural imports (e.g., nursery plants) are allowed.

  • No Resale of Imported Goods
    Exceptions: Used items (lawnmowers, tools, furniture, etc.).

People can report listings or users for violating the guidelines. 

Nodes: Private, Trusted, & Proximity-Based

  • Nodes represent locations where trade, work, or events happen.

  • Privacy First:

    • Hidden until a user is accepted into your circle, invited to an event, or the event is listed as public.

    • No public visibility for a user's home address.

    • Blocked users appear on guest lists to prevent unwanted interactions.

  • Different Colors for Activities:

    • Work opportunities.

    • Active farm stands.

    • Events happening that day or week.

  • Inactive vs. Active Nodes:

    • Some locations are only active when something is happening that day, others are active during business hours, or all the time. 

  • Users can block other users.

    • Natural filtering: Toxic users burn their own bridges.

Community-Led Events

Event Organization & Categories:

  • Events are organized by members and grouped into overlapping categories such as:
    ✅ Agriculture
    ✅ Health
    ✅ Education
    ✅ Community Meals, and more

Navigation & Calendar Features:

  • View Options: Users can filter events, farm stands, and work opportunities by map, list, or grid view.

  • Date Filtering: Easily narrow down events by date for upcoming or past activities.

  • Calendar Integration: Users have the option to add events directly to their personal calendar for seamless scheduling.

Event Series & Invitations:

  • Hosts can create a series of events where:

    • Some events are private and invite-only (restricted to people within a series, a crossover in another series, or an individual invitation), while others are public.

    • Once a user pays for or is invited to a series, all events in that series are automatically added to their calendar.

    • Access to the series unlocks all related forums, fostering integrated community discussions.

Friend Organizations & Individuals:

  • Following a group like Center for Creative Repair (CCR) means you see all their hosted events.

  • Collaborative events (e.g., CCR & Taja) appear for both networks.

  • More friends = More visibility: Central hubs like CCR help smaller instructors gain reach and credibility.

Hosting Events:

  • Individuals & organizations can create events.

  • Invite neighbors directly (even non-app users via email).

  • Some events can be set to public; attracting tourists and seasonal visitors.

Marketplace & Purchases

Users can buy or earn credits. 

Search & Classifieds:

  • The marketplace features advanced filtering options.

  • Users can toggle views between “used objects,” “new objects,” “services (e.g., tree work, tire changes…),” and “skills (e.g., consultants, teachers, experts).”

  • The integrated classified section on user profiles allows for detailed skill searches and listings.

Chat:

Marketplace has messaging, but only attached to listings.

Public Markets:

  • Vendors can sell for cash on site or credits.

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Transaction Process & Escrow

1️⃣ Buyer Makes a Purchase:

  • The buyer pays in credits, which are held in escrow. (no-showing without notifying the seller results in a 5% charge given to the seller, unless disputed.)

2️⃣ Seller Completes the Exchange:

  • The seller provides the goods, service, or labor.

  • For physical items: Submission of proof (photo, timestamp, receipt) is required.

  • For services: A work log or check-in confirms completion.

3️⃣ Both Parties Confirm:

  • Buyer and seller mark the transaction as complete.

  • If neither confirms, funds auto-release after 72 hours (unless a dispute is raised).

4️⃣ Disputes & Refunds:

  • Buyers can dispute if they did not receive what was promised.

  • Sellers can dispute if the buyer falsely claims non-delivery.

  • Valid proof is required (delivery records, work logs, messages, photos).

  • A community dispute resolution system helps settle conflicts if needed.

5️⃣ Building Trust & Preventing Abuse:

  • New users start with a small transaction cap until they build reputation.

  • Frequent abusers receive warnings and potential penalties.

  • Transactions with verified businesses or community-trusted members carry extra security.

Why This Works:

  • Prevents scams—no one gets paid until the trade is confirmed.

  • Encourages fair trade—sellers and buyers are accountable.

  • Auto-releases funds—no transaction is stuck in limbo.

  • Protects services and labor—work completion is verified.

  • Trust grows over time—reputation-based safeguards ensure fairness.

This escrow-backed system creates a reliable, dispute-resistant economy while keeping transactions fast, fair, and secure.

Community Feed & Boosts

Community Feed:

  • A centralized feed aggregates new events, items for sale, crops, homemade food, and other community resources.

Boost Functionality:

  • Users can boost a skill or service once a week to highlight their offering in the community feed alongside new posts.

Custom Feed Options:

  • The feed can be sorted to include all or only selected parts of the app content.

  • Users also have the option to hide the feed entirely if they prefer a distraction-free experience.

Forums: Structured Community Discussions

Local Public Forums:

  • Example: San Juan County Forum requires proof of residency.

  • Enables real-time discussions, polls, and votes on county matters.

  • County officials can read and interact with residents directly.

Invite-Only Group Forums:

  • Designed for collaborative projects, businesses, and initiatives.

  • Must be approved by an admin and backed by a real-world project, LLC, nonprofit, or direct action plan.

  • These forums are automatically unlocked for users who join an event series, ensuring that discussions remain relevant and action-oriented.

Custom App Skins & Themes

The app is designed to let you tailor your user experience with a variety of custom skins and themes, ensuring that every interaction feels fun, engaging, and uniquely yours. Here’s how you can personalize your experience:

  • Pirate Theme:

    • Currency becomes “doubloons.”

    • Your inventory is humorously renamed “booty.”

    • The overall design takes on a swashbuckling flair, adding playful pirate-inspired elements throughout the app.

  • RPG Theme:

    • Embrace a whimsical interface that transforms the app into a quest-filled adventure.

    • Side Quest Mode: Discover local work opportunities and events presented as quests that take between 10 minutes and 5 hours to complete.

    • The marketplace is reimagined as a “bazaar,” enhancing the immersive, role-playing experience.

  • Night Mode:

    • More than just a dark theme—experience beautifully designed nighttime visuals.

    • Enjoy calming elements and a serene color palette that make for a relaxing interface during evening use.

  • Custom Credit Naming:

    • In the standard color theme, users have the flexibility to rename their credits.

    • Choose personalized names such as Toots, Seashells, Acorns, Kwungos, or any other creative term that resonates with your style.