Good idea. How many lawnmovers does a block really need anyway?.

What a great idea, and a way to give the library system a new mandate. But let's have a very open idea as to what we mean by tools. We don't necessarily know what tools for resilience and sustainability will look like.

NOTE: Ruben's idea "tool library" has been merged with this one.

"VPL can sign out tools as well as books. There are awesome models for this in Berkeley, Oakland, San Francisco and Seattle. Time to cross the border."

Here's the video for this idea:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecaQ2EK2soU

And the photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vancouverdesignnerds/sets/72157624989276810/

This idea was developed within a breakout group on Sept 17, 2010 at the Design Nerd Jam 4.4 Greenest City event, hosted by the Vancouver Design Nerds, with food sponsored by the City of Vancouver.

More info on VDN: www.designnerds.ca

There is already an organisation co-ordinating this. http://www.justfortheloveofit.org/freeshare

So could local gardening, especially food gardening.

Nice idea, it promotes a more sustainable city and stronger neighborhoods. Local bicycle storage and repair could also be part of this.

Anyone who values their tools and equipment knows not to lend them out to poor clueless neighbors. who will most likely bring them back broken and damaged.

If you do not want to buy tools and equipment you can rent them from any rental place or Home Depot.

Community sharing places the importance of relationships and interdependence of resourcefulness first, rather than self worth gained through consumption of material items ie the car, large house. By encouraging pricing or charging citizens based on how close they live to where they purchase their product, supports local businesses and communities.