Till, 2024
Freedom Baird with Daniella Malin
Steel and bakelite cash register c1965, pine, birch, paint, custom coins, vintage time card holders, paper, hole punches, online instructions
Till is where we keep the money. Till is how we work the soil. Till marks time as we anticipate change. This piece was born of my conversations with climate program leader Daniella Malin whose work in the Cool Farm Alliance teaches agri-business leaders a type of carbon accounting which prompts them to incentivize farmers to change the way they farm. Regenerative agricultural practices yield lower farming costs, less tilling, and more carbon retained in the soil.
At the Till installation visitors were invited to open a vintage cash register and take a piece of international coin. They could then consider allowing this reward to incentivize them to promote regenerative agricultural practices by eating or even growing regeneratively grown food, or simply teaching others about regenerative agriculture.
An incentive seeks to create value where it previously didn’t exist (in awareness). We handed over cash to reify understanding and change behavior.
This strategy is mirrored on a global scale when science-led non-profits like the Cool Farm Alliance work with multinational companies like Archer Daniels Midland, Danone, Campbells, and Pepsico. The Alliance teaches agri-business leaders a type of carbon accounting which prompts them to incentivize farmers to change the way they farm. This saves money for the company, the farmers, and consumers. And it retains carbon in the soil, which makes everyone look good and helps the planet.
A Till component indoors allowed visitors to clock their time spent learning about sustainable farming practices, as part of accounting for their commitment to this work.
Assembling a small table to hold the cash register for the Till installation
Thank You —
The Umbrella Arts Center and curators Stephanie Marlin-Curiel and Dr. Linda Booth Sweeney for the opportunity to participate in the TAPPED IN: Moving Hearts and Minds through Art and Science exhibition.
Daniella Malin for collaborating on Till, and for her deep commitment to advancing the field and practice of regenerative agriculture.
Ernie for the vintage cash register which he purchased in 1965 and used in his business, Ernie’s Service Station, in Essex, MA for 40 years.
Etsy vendors VintagePhilly22, 10to40DollarCoinShop, and SilverStateCoin for the international coins.
Ebay vendor heathbit for the vintage time card holders.
William Chambers for conversations about Till while it was in progress.
Marjorie Kaye for her thoughtful write-up of Till in Artscope.
– Freedom Baird, April 2024
