The Baltimore BNote

The Baltimore Green Currency Association kicked off official BNote exchange yesterday just before Noon at “Localize It!”, their joint event with the Baltimore Free Farm. In a street festival atmosphere, amid Free Farm tours and workshops, acoustic music, and a “Chilibrew” chili and beer judging extravaganza, people lined up to exchange their dollars for BNotes as the new currency entered general circulation in Baltimore for the first time.

One young Baltimore resident exchanged the coins he had saved up for a BNote, and used it to get himself some chili (above). Jack Arnold of the Baltimore Green Forum was the first to use his BNotes at a retail store, using some of them to make a purchase at breathe books on the Avenue in Hampden. Total circulation at the end of the first day stood at BN2470, exceeding Green Currency planning members’ expectations and underscoring the strong support the new currency is receiving from residents and business owners alike.

On Saturday, Baltimore Green Currency Director Jeff Dicken presented Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake with one of the first BNotes, serial #1002, at a mayoral press conference in Druid Hill Park. Over 55 local businesses now accept BNotes, and they may be obtained at any of the three active cambio locations in Hampden and Fell’s Point.

Yes, in only a few short days, you will be able to get some BNotes of your very own! Come out to our launch weekend events:

April 17th at Localize It! in the 3500 block of Ash Street in Hampden, from Noon to 6pm

Reserve your BNotes today for pickup, on our pre-exchange page, or exchange dollars for BNotes at either of the above events. Exchanges at our three cambios will begin on Monday, April 18th.

As of today, over 48 local businesses will be accepting BNotes! See our Directory for the full list, and look for printed directories at all participating businesses!

Baltimore Green Currency Association is an official participant in the 8th Annual Baltimore Green Week, organized by Baltimore Green Works.

Visit the BNote Pre-Exchange page in our online gallery, to reserve your BNotes for pickup at our launch events, April 16th and 17th!

Over 40 local artists and art-lovers braved last night’s storms, joining us in Pigtown at Gallery 788 and neighboring companion Gallery 21G, to take part in our BNote Art Auction and Dance Party. Works donated by many prominent local artists were auctioned off, and over $1700 was raised to help get the BNote printed and into circulation. By the time our Kickstarter deadline arrived at mid-day today, our supporters had easily met our $8000 initial goal, committing the amount needed for our print run and ensuring that we will be able to roll out a strong local currency for the Baltimore area.

You will be able to pledge your dollars here on this site, for exchange into BNotes! Beginning this weekend, and continuing until April 11, you can pre-exchange dollars for BNotes in multiples of $20 for BN22. Details will be posted here on the main page, and the BNotes will be available for pickup at our Launch Weekend events:

April 16th at EcoFest in Druid Hill Park

April 17th at Localize It! – a joint event with the Baltimore Free Farm, on the 3500 block of Ash Street

We are excited to have gotten this far, and as the BNote goes to print, we look forward to a future in which people support their communities and local businesses first! Sincere thanks to everyone who is helping this vision become a reality.

– Jeff and the Baltimore Green Currency Team

Come out to Gallery 788 on Thursday, March 10 to bid on some great local art, do some dirty or demure dancing, and help print the BNote, Baltimore’s new local currency!

*** $5 Suggested Donation *** Art Preview 6pm to 8pm *** Art Auction 8pm to 9pm *** Dancing 9pm on ***

The BNote will support small, independent merchants and artists – let’s get it into circulation. Come dressed as your favorite foreign currency and get in free!

And if you can’t make it out to Gallery 788, please visit our Kickstarter page before this Friday at Noon, to help put us over the top!

This morning, we revealed the final designs for the 2011 BNotes! Two local TV stations and web media were present, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive. The designer, Richard Winchell, spoke about the design process, and we showcased our cross-promotion agreement with Clean Currents, a provider of clean, wind-generated energy. The momentum continues to build – please help us reach our Kickstarter goal and bring this currency to life in April! Thanks!!

It’s ON – we’re raising money for the first print run of the BNote! Go to our Kickstarter page right now and help fund our campaign! There are great rewards at the various pledge levels, including framed BNote sets (some signed by the artist!) and awesome contributions by the Green Currency planning team. Step up today – let’s get the BNote out and give our communities the economic choice they deserve!

Baltimore media have discovered the BNote, with a number of stories out this week – in print, on local TV news, and on the radio. In the wake of our successful community potluck this past Sunday in Hampden, we are beginning to capture the attention and imagination of the city at large. Some of the recent coverage includes:

‘b’ free daily

The Baltimore Sun

Ch 2 News

The Baltimore Messenger

WAMU 88.5 in D.C.

Look for more as the design for the first series BNote is revealed this Friday morning!

How can a local currency help show love to our businesses and community? Come share some wonderful dishes and join the discussion! The BNote will be circulating this April, helping to support local, independent business and increase the resilience and sustainability of Baltimore’s communities. You can participate in the planning for the BNote rollout and help local currency do more
for Hampden and Baltimore.

BNote Potluck Community Meeting
Sunday, February 20, 6:00-8:30 pm
Baltimore Yoga Village (at the Mill Center in Hampden)
3000 Chestnut Avenue

* 6pm potluck * 7pm meeting * networking to follow *

Here’s the event flyer (pdf).

Driving Directions from I-83:
1. Take I-83 to 28th Street exit.
2. Turn left at the first light onto Sisson Street.
3. Follow Sisson as it curves to the right and becomes Keswick Road.
4. Turn left on 33rd Street and take first left onto Chestnut Avenue.
5. Turn right onto Mill Road and follow the road as it curves to the left.
6. The Mill Center free parking lot will be on your right.

Hope to see you there!
The Baltimore Green Currency Team

Executive Director of Baltimore Green Currency, Jeff Dicken, appeared on WYPR’s Maryland Morning program this past Monday, along with Susan Witt of the Berkshares project. “It was an honor to be interviewed with Susan,” said Jeff, “since she’s the founder of one of the most visible complimentary currencies out there.”

Berkshares, started in 2006 in the Berkshires region of Massachusetts, has issued over $2.7 Million worth of currency in its four years of existence. When asked whether he thinks BNotes will be as successful as the Berkshares have been, Jeff said, “I’m certainly hoping that people in Baltimore realize the value of using a local currency, and I know that there are many businesses here that could benefit from it. I’m optimistic.”

BNotes are expected to launch in the Spring of 2011. If you are interested in accepting BNotes, or would like to know more, please get in touch with us on our Contact page!