Barely mid June at around 7:30pm, I am traipsing along a forest trail behind three new girlfriends I've made here at The Farm in Summertown, Tennessee. We have been bunking together at the Eco-Hostel for the last two weeks throughout our month long apprenticeship in Natural Building. We are on our way to a ladies' clothing swap at Caroline's house, where we will meet the other women of The Farm, the longest running American intentional community and ecovillage, to swap clothing and stories and songs, some fine dishes of food, wine and tequila.

When we arrive, the room is filled with women of all ages, a toddler named Ruby is kicking and laughing in the big pile of clothes thrown into the center of the living room. Zandra, the 8 year old of Alayne and Jason, a young couple who manage the Eco-Hostel and live on The Farm, runs up to give me a big hug. I toss my hat in the pile and pour a glass of tequila and cold chamomile tea. The clothing swap has begun!

Women are laughing and trying on each other's clothes, music is playing, breasts are flying free, babies are laughing, guacamole is being had and little girls are running around stirring the feminine chaos into a monument of uncouth divinity. The energy in the room is strong and unstructured, gentle yet wild, and the colors and movement of it all deserves to be woven into a gorgeous tapestry or into a song, which I may write a little later.

The point is however, that this clothing swap is not only eco-friendly through the exchange of clothes, it is community friendly and heart friendly in its gathering of women. All female or co-ed clothing swaps may be an event you consider hosting. Its alot more fun than going thrifting alone or with a couple of friends with the added bonus that no money is exchanged. By hosting or attending a clothing swap, you create the opportunity to visit with others, discuss environmental or family matters, artistic and business endeavors and genuinely just let your hair down while doing something constructive. The larger the group, the more clothes, the more conversation and the more fun!

This is a great idea for kids' parties, girls' nights, right before Halloween, or anytime you want to unwind and be social. For the guys, maybe a night of swapping electrical gadgets or sporting items that they've grown tired of. Why buy more when you can trade that mp3 player for a chair massager, or a cocktail dress from 1993 for a pair of slammin' bell bottoms? Just kidding!

We all walked away with 5 or 6 very colorful pieces. I scored two pairs of really nice jeans, a black sparkly tie halter top from the 40's, a huge white men's dress shirt which I have worn over short shorts while baking cookies, and a three dimensional rainbow colored sweatshirt from the late 80's which is almost too wonderful for words. Overall, it was the experience itself which was the major score. I will never forget the baby buried in the clothes being tossed up in the air by the 8 year old who's mother was dancing shirtless in a wide brimmed hat alongside the other revelers, cookie makers, long wavy haired wine drinkers, spandex leotard and cowboy boot trying oners..... In the middle of Tennessee, just before summer, on an ecovillage called The Farm.

Enrich your life by hosting, attending,  or suggesting the idea to your group of friends and make sure lots of new people are invited. Eco fashion and community is a combination that will serve both our environment as well as our checkbooks. With all the recycled fashion these days, there is no reason not to recycle clothes from within the community in which you live, while getting to know one another better.