What you get for $2.
$2
A small barrier to keep out spam and bots. Goes to keeping the site running.
Browsing the trade is free for everyone, always.
I don't earn from your trades. Companies like Airtasker take a cut of every job. This doesn't, and never will. Your $2 covers the small Stripe processing fee and the running costs of email, hosting, and the tools that send your messages. If $2 is a stretch right now, email hello@rootsgrowinthedark.org and we'll activate you for free. No questions.
What the $2 unlocks
Post your own listings
Offer a skill, a thing, or your time. Set your own terms. Choose what contact info to share publicly.
Comment on other listings
Public-only conversation thread under each listing. Coordinate trades in the open. Safer for everyone.
Verified email + paid member status
Magic-link sign in proves you own the email. The $2 contribution filters out bots. Your listings carry a quiet ACTIVE MEMBER badge so people know you are a real human.
Save listings you are interested in
Bookmark trades you might want to act on later. They show up in your member dashboard.
Notification when a trade matches
Tell us what you are looking for. We notify you when a matching listing goes up.
Direct support for the project
The $2 helps keep the whole site running, free for everyone. The trade pays for itself.
Why $2 (and not free)
The $2 is not about making money. It is about three things:
- Deterring spam. Bots and bad-faith actors hate any payment barrier, however small. The price keeps the trade real.
- Real names attached to real cards. A payment ties your account to a real person, which deters scams without us needing to verify ID.
- Sustainability. $2 from each member covers the hosting, the payment processor fees, and contributes to the time it takes to keep the site running and updated.
If $2 is a real barrier for you, email and tell us. We will figure something out. The trade is for everyone, not only people who can spare a coffee.
What we will never do with the money
- We will not store your card details. Stripe handles that securely.
- We will not sell your data. The mailing list and trade listings are not products.
- We will not run ads. No third party sees who you are or what you are interested in.
- We will not raise the fee silently. If it ever changes, current members are honoured at the original price.
How signup will work
- Click Join. You land on Stripe (secure card processing).
- Pay $2 once. Card details never touch this site.
- Verify your Australian mobile number. You receive a code via SMS, you enter it. One-time.
- Create a display name. This is what other members see. Your real name and email stay private.
- Read the community guidelines and tick the box.
- Post your first trade. The host reviews it once before it goes live. After that, your future posts publish immediately.
Join when you're ready. $2 once, no subscription.
Sign in with your email, contribute $2, and you can post and comment. If $2 is a real stretch right now, email hello@rootsgrowinthedark.org and we'll activate you manually. No questions.