Before I go into this post, I'd also like to add a secret 5th option that doesn't exist yet: the option to choose the reward of special promotional offers from local businesses & retailers. Think Groupon but exclusive to LOCAL & SUSTAINABLE businesses and the arts. For example: BOGO nights from stays at Boutique Hotels, drink specials with purchase of brunch at Honey's, tickets to concerts/museums/VIP events, deals on classes or SEPTA passes, etc. etc. The idea is to put to good use the otherwise un-utilized rentals and extra-capacity of hotels, transportation, equipment & classes to serve as incentives for social good volunteerism.
Okay... so in this conceptual design of a Permaculture Financial system for Philadelphia, service opportunities could be created and voted upon by netizens. Integral to this system would be the initial project planning to determine number, type, and skill-level of "volunteers" and the self-ranking of skill level (something akin to Master, Journeyman, Apprentice). Apprentices might be able to join any team, learn skills and be rewarded with appropriate levels of currency. This could open up pathways to greater employment, and greater enjoyment by seasoned volunteers from mentoring opportunities. Achieving increasing skill-levels at different tasks would open up different levels of rewards. Retrospectives after accomplishing work-contracts could yield opportunities for collective and individual performance review, and tweaking of the needs for the next iteration. This system might work well for transforming PHS Community Landcare projects into neighborhood assets through design-build charrettes: installing edible parks, art installations, urban campgrounds, rainwater ponds, playscapes, skateparks, and food forests, among other possibilities. Additionally, these community-backed currencies could choose to partially or completely fund different projects or different elements of different projects. For example, building a large #Bio-Shelter to grow tropical fruit and veggies year-round on a vacant lots or school rooftops might require a fair amount of "unskilled labor" to construct simple wooden trusses for double-layered greenhouses and to haul bags of lightweight soil-mix to the roof Utilizing a complementary currency scheme, the project's budget for Federal Reserve Notes could be dramatically reduced to the bare necessities of materials and a living wage for designers and administrators by rewarding them and the volunteers with Time4Time Hours, EqualDollars, and Philabucks.