My favorite small town, Nelson BC, famous for hippie types, artists, artizans and all type of forward thinking, creative people. Many of the hippies from the 60's settled near there and developed back-to-the-earth ways to live.
Barter was established more than 20 years ago. Nelson and area (Slocan valley, etc.) has a system called 'barter bucks'. If you have a skill or trade you get your name and skill on a list which is on computer now. How it works is this...you have a leakey roof. You call for a roofer on the Barter list. He comes over right away and fixes your roof. No money is exchanged although you might invite him or her to stay for dinner.
Let's say your trade is drywall or sewing. So when someone needs drywall or sewing, you do the job, records are kept of the hours and wage rate and a tally is kept.
Here are some interesting links re community developement
http://www.spruceroots.org/December98/Money.html
Communities of Light all over north ameerica...
http://www.creativeideasforyou.com/c...and.html#Links to Communities from F.I.C.
developing local economy...
http://www.progress.org/archive/currency.htm