I caught up recently with Matt Warfield, director of Baltimore’s very own “Free Store”. The Free Store liberates objects which might otherwise end up at the dump, and sets up “Free Markets” in Baltimore neighborhoods where people can come and take what they need at no cost to them. Their next public event will occur on Sunday December 16th from Noon to 3pm at 2640 Saint Paul Street. Come along and check it out.

TIM BOUCHER: Why do people throw things away in the first place?

MATT WARFIELD: Because it is easy. It is much easier to throw something away that maybe is out of style, slightly broken, requiring a bit of maintenance, etc. We can always go out to the cheap product box stores that are everywhere and purchase something new for a lot less hassle than what it would cost to get something fixed. And even if something was able to be cheaply fixed it is completely alien to our society. We are taught buy more, buy more not buy a little and then sustain that as long as you can. We have an economy based upon how much crap we can buy. So that means we need people constantly throwing stuff out and buying more stuff so the economy will continue.

TB: What’s the most challenging aspect of giving away free stuff?

MW: The overwhelming amount of stuff. There is not shortage of stuff. The most challenging aspect is how much there is, how to sort it, how to distribute it so everyone gets a fair shot at what is available, and then not to lose your mind in the process. Then of course there is the reality of the world we live in. Constantly seeing the bottom of the barrel when it comes to society eats away at you as time goes on. The Free Store set up markets in the worst neighborhoods in Baltimore City. I would be walking around those neighborhoods for hours passing out flyers days before the event. During those times, and during the events, you are constantly reminded about poverty, drugs, crime, and you meet people that run from really great and amazing to absolutely awful. It tends to lead your mind in directions that you don’t want it to go.

TB: What are the most popular types of objects at your Free Markets?

MW: Household goods and decorative items. Also toys. I believe that household goods and decorative items allow people to feel like their home is their home. The more you can decorate it and set it up the way you want, the more you have a space you can say you created. I think it is a dignity thing. Also household items and decorative items tend to be really expensive and not practical to buy. We have too many clothes in this world. That is all I have to say about that.

TB: What are some of the best reactions people have had to your project?

MW: Going from being greedy, grabby, and argumentive to helping out other people around them find stuff. It generally takes a bit of time for them to realize that we have plenty of stuff and so long as they keep taking we are going to keep putting it out. It is then when they get over the idea that they need to take as much as they can as fast as they can and start helping others get stuff that they may need.

TB: How do you support your project financially? Are you self-sustaining and what would you need in order to become so if you’re not?

MW: The project started very small and sustainable. It was basically supported by extra income I had coming in. I didn’t go out to bars much, didn’t buy anything, and had extra money that I spent on paying rent, renting trucks, etc. When I received the fellowship that allowed it to grow much bigger. During that process we became someone self sustainable by selling vintage clothing, specialty books, collectors items, etc. We were generating enough to support the organization, but not enough to support paying someone to work for the organization. We also had a steady increase in private donations. At this time private donations are supporting the operations of the Free Store.

TB: Are you involved with other activist groups, non-profits or projects around Baltimore? What are some other favorite local projects people are working on? Would you be open to holding or sponsoring collaborative events?

MW: I have been involved with many “activist” organizations over the years. Over time my views have changed, my passions have switched, and I have stopped killing myself fighting for this idea of a revolution and decided no revolution will ever take place if I don’t take care of myself first. So I stopped being involved in so much stuff. I support organizations when I can, but I no longer go to a protest or run out the door to go to the next “activist” talk or movie showing. I have become somewhat jaded in that area.

I put “activist” in quotes because I think many people who identify as “activists” are nothing but talk and image. I spent too much time dealing with those types that I would rather not waste any more of my life on them. The Free Store started as a collective that had some of these very people in it. I suppose since we were an “anarchist” collective what I did sort of alienated me within the “activist” community of Baltimore City. I did what I knew was best for the Free Store and took it the direction that I knew would be successful. It was and is successful. It accomplished more in three months than it did in a year of bickering, long ass meetings about nothing, and nonsense collectivist mentality. I am not saying collectives don’t work, just that perhaps we need a bit of training and real life education on how to make one be successful.

I currently am general manager for Hostelling International Baltimore Hostel, which is a non profit organization. The mission is to promote peace and understanding through cost effective world travel. Between that, the Free Store, my band, and joining the guys roller derby team – I have a pretty full schedule.

But yes, the Free Store is always collaborating with other organizations. The Free Store and my own ideologies are separate. If something exists that reaches out to the people the Free Store aims to reach out to then it will be there, so long as we can make it happen.

TB: I found a great interview with you where you say, “…we believe in the ability for people to self govern through voluntary mutual relationships.” How does the Baltimore Free Store help teach people this ideal?

MW: This gets back to my ideas changing over time thing. The Free Store took me from radical leftist “anarchist” to slightly jaded and angry socialist. I no longer think people are generally good. I believe we need authority, at least for the time being until we are able to educate people and wipe out this style of capitalist brainwashing we have received. But to the Free Store…

The Free Store has always been a very open organization. We had few rules, few restrictions for involvement, and allowed people to take control and have decision-making power with very little involvement time. This lead to some great advancements and a huge involvement from the communities we were working in. It wasn’t a white “radical” organization going into a majority African American neighborhood and saying here you go less fortunate one, have our left over junk. It was a group of people that were not rich themselves that decided to demonstrate to other people what they could do if they just got up off their ass and did something about their situation. Some people got that, some people didn’t, some people are just like getting hand outs and doing as little as possible to get by in life.

But the fact that we didn’t have any rules, that it was very open, and that we were pushing people to become involved and make decisions did cause some of the really great people to grow to great heights. In almost 40 Free Markets we never had one fight. We never had one argument. We never had any stabbings, shootings, or any of the negative nonsense that neighborhoods get stuck with. I believe this is because we allowed people the opportunity to interact without feeling like sheep, or animals, or being herded, or surrounded by security or police. This is the self governing idea, that you believe if given the chance people will generally do good. It is when they are put into a situation that they are treated like animals that they will turn into animals. I still don’t know if I believe that myself, but hell, it was proven with the Free Store – on a small basis and only in temporary settings, but it was a start.

TB: Have you received any support or recognition from the City of Baltimore or religious for your efforts? Why are you trying to avoid direct sponsorship from them?

MW: The city has donated a dumpster to us recently to help clear out the years of junk that has accumulated at the warehouse. We have held free markets at churches and been a part of religious events.

In the beginning we were very anti-religion. But the fact of the matter is that religion is a huge part of inner city life. So you can’t build a movement if you are denying a huge part of people’s lives. It’s a matter of not letting what you do become hijacked by someone else’s mission. But that was the biggest worry, that people would be turned off by being associated with any one religion or that they would feel like they have to participate in a religious ceremony in order to receive items.

Both the government and organized religion have done horrible acts to our society. They have created a population of lazy dependent people. These people are told don’t worry about now, you are going to heaven. Or don’t worry about your life, the government will provide you with everything and not give you real encouragement to do things for yourself. In addition these institutions treat people like animals. It is no wonder they in turn act like animals on a regular basis. So we did not want to turn into that. We wanted to remain open, to remain flexible, to encourage involvement and growth and to make people work for what they were getting.

TB: Have you done any research into other ways to share value within communities, such as local currencies, etc?

MW: I have dabbled in various economic structures in the past. However I think most of them are sort of pipe dreams. Money isn’t horrible and is a successful system of exchange. We just need a level field of play. Capitalism is also not horrible and local shops do a great thing for creating community and bringing up neighborhoods. Once again we need capitalism with a leash.

TB: What’s next for you above and beyond the Baltimore Free Store?

MW: I hope that my job with HI Baltimore Hostel will allow me to move overseas. A majority of European countries have a much better social system and a population that is educated and informed. I have no desire to be fighting my entire life. I believe that some of this country is too far beyond to be helped in all that great of a capacity. I figure I did my part, tried what I could, have hopefully planted some seeds that others will pick up on, but now its time for me to surround myself with a world that present a healthy environment. I have zero desire to start a family in a city that has 300+ murders a year and a racial divide that just creates ugly situations time and time again. In addition I have no desire to live in a country that is seen as the worlds bully. Yes, I am using my privilege here to improve my life, but I feel like I have worked hard for it and have earned a bit of a break.

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Thanks very much to Matt for the interview! Hopefully Matt’s creative solutions to social and economic problems will be an inspiration to others. Think about setting up a free store where you live!