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BUCKHANNON -- Goods and services will be offered at Sunday's upcoming Really, Really Free Market, and yes, everything is really free.
Though this is just the second RRFM chapter featured in West Virginia, the first known one began in 1999 in New Zealand with the Food Not Bombs group.
Buckhannon's chapter of the RRFM is a community engagement project showcasing the value of sharing within communities.
The idea to create a local RRFM came about when Heather Schneider and friends went on a hike, and one of her friends read a section of a book about Really, Really Free Market.
"Then we decided that we wanted to do one in Buckhannon," Schneider explained.
Since July 2016, the creators of Buckhannon's RRFM continue to hold the market each season offering a variety of goods and services.
Though it may surprise many, the market is 100 percent free with no obligation to trade or have any money on hand. In fact, currency is discouraged at the RRFM.
Evid Miller, who helped start up Buckhannon's RRFM and continues to help, said the no-money rule has brought confusion to some folks.
During one of markets he explained, "I just had some things out and a woman came by and she tried to pay for them, and I was like 'No, there's no money. If you want it, you can just have it. It's a gift. Take it,' and she insisted on leaving a dollar on the table, which just sat there because I wasn't going to take it, and then somebody came along and took the dollar."
Miller added, "People don't believe you when you say that it's free and they can have it."
Amy Lopez, who also assists with the project, agreed and said the notion that nothing is free has been driven into people's minds by society.
"Someone could be like, 'Here, have a bike,' and we're like, 'Well, what do you want?' or 'How much is it?' or 'What favor are you going to ask of me?'" she said.
"As much as we're taught to share, we're told that that's not really what's actually happening," Miller said.
When it comes to sharing, Lopez said it seems that people need to "balance out their giving and receiving."
"It's like, if I give you something, I need to receive something even if it's not from you, from someone else," she said.
With Buckhannon's RRFM, organizers are trying to cut the strings of guilt associated with receiving free goods and/or services.
Those interested in stopping by can find various books, clothing, plants and other items. And items aren't the only things available at the RRFM -- hair cuts, mending clothes, yoga sessions and arts and crafts are some services that have been offered in the past.
Clothes mending services will be offered from 11 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. and hair cuts will be offered from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. A free yoga class will from 1:20 to 2:30 p.m., and participants are asked to bring their own mat.
Guitar tuning, paper pot demos and other services also will be offered.
"The goods and services have changed because the people that get involved are not always exactly the same," Schneider said.
She noted the idea of the RRFM is for the base of givers to keep growing and have more people engage in the project.
Free food also is included in the upcoming RRFM. A community potluck is scheduled from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Participants are encouraged to bring their own plate and silverware in an effort to cut down on waste.
The RRFM will be from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Stockert Youth Center. No sign-up is necessary for those interested in being a giver for the upcoming market.
More information can be found on its Facebook page -- Really Really Free Market, Buckhannon.