Trade School is an alternative, self-organized school that celebrates hands on knowledge and experience. It’s a place to learn with other people who value practical wisdom, mutual aid, and the social nature of exchange. It’s based on the belief that everyone has something to offer. Anyone can teach a class.

It runs solely on barter. Money never changes hands.

It works like this:

  1. Teachers propose classes and ask for barter items from students. For example, if you teach a class about making butter, you might ask students to bring heavy cream, jars, bread, music tips, clothes, vegetables, or help with something like finding an apartment.
  2. Students sign up for classes by agreeing to bring a barter item for the teacher.

The Trade School network is made up of self-organized barter-for-knowledge schools across the world. It started in 2010 with a small group of friends in New York. In 2012, an all encompassing barter-for-knowledge web platform was built so that it could be shared with organizers elsewhere. Today, there are Trade School locations across 47 cities around the world. Visit the Trade School website for an up to date list of all classes on offer at each location.