The Diggers Free Store
A radical community-action group of activists and Improvisational actors with anarchist goals for their community
Initiator(s)
The San Francisco Diggers
Description
The Diggers' Free Store was a small ground-floor shop at 264 East Tenth Street, and its name is a simple description, not an advertising slogan. Diggers were part of the hippy generation, who sought to help their neighbours, so everything in the Free Store is given away. The group sought to create a mini-society free of money and capitalism. The Diggers combined street theatre, anarcho-direct action, and art happenings in their social agenda of creating a Free City. Their most famous activities revolved around distributing Free Food every day in the Park, and distributing "surplus energy" at a series of Free Stores, where everything was free for the taking.
Goals
To implement an alternative economy based on giving rather than money.
Beneficial outcomes
The Diggers’ Free Store persisted as a tangible model for potentially reformulating local economic relationships.
Location
United States
Users
The San Francisco Diggers and residents of San Francisco.
Maintained by
The San Francisco Diggers.
Duration
1960's
Category
Scientific
Pedagogical
Politics
Urban Development
Economy
Environment
Social
Links
http://www.diggers.org/
http://www.diggers.org/free_store.htm
http://www.diggers.org/free_store1.htm
