The giving economy is about the value of establishing human connections. Money is a good marker for business exchanges, but it doesn’t include or give acknowledgement to the real human value of service. To be giving means to offer your gifts for the exchange of that connection (which, despite what some may say, is valuable). In my community we’re lucky to have a good, functioning time-banking system; where members can trade their time with each other via an online platform that advertises their services offered or requested. People trade massages for garden-weeding, dog-walking for a ride to the airport, and in my case - I offer a couple of days of my time per season to helping someone bring new life to their home landscape.