Making prosperity happen

Gyos is a valued resource for local communities

Rik Logtenberg has some great ideas in mind. —

Photo courtesy Rik Logtenberg

Nelson, B.C., resident Rik Logtenberg is an environmentalist with a mission. His aim: to encourage local prosperity and ecologically sound choices with respect to commerce. He and his brother Ryan decided to launch Gyos—a website based on this goal—in June of 2009, and it has been a tremendous asset to Nelson and other nearby communities ever since.

“(We were inspired by) a desire to encourage the reusing of used goods to help lessen the demand on our natural resources in the production and transportation of new goods,” said Logtenberg. “We also want to help communities keep their money local. The more people exchange locally, the more prosperous their communities will be. This is called the multiplier effect and has a big impact on prosperity.”

Expanding horizons

“Gyos” stands for “Get/Give/Grow Your Own Stuff” and the site features a local network offering everything from free classifieds and community event notices, to job postings and personal ads. It serves to recycle items (and money) within the community, easing the financial burden during tough economic times, and reducing our environmental footprint at the same time.

For those who are health-conscious, there is a section of the site devoted to the 5 Mile Diet, a local/seasonal nutritional plan that encourages participants to buy and eat food that is obtained within five miles of their home. Gyos even has a page for wildlife sightings to be reported, complete with a Google map to illustrate. The site is free and user-friendly.

Working as a team

No endeavour is complete without the co-operation and devotion of everyone involved.

“We have a good team of dedicated individuals that have accepted each challenge as an opportunity to improve Gyos,” said Logtenberg. “It’s always tough to launch a new website, but with hard work and perseverance, we have succeeded. So it’s been a learning experience.”

I wholeheartedly encourage my readers to visit www.gyos.ca and check out the ongoing list of resources and connections that are now available.