Successful Swaps

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Marvin Fawley
Freeville, N. Y.

Since we're vegetarians, Carl, Brian, and I took a twoweek supply of food with us on our vacation last summer. But when we arrived in Port Angeles, Washington, where we were to board the ferry for Vancouver Island, we discovered we couldn't take our fresh, organically grown produce into Canada. So there we were, five hours from departure time, with a sack of lemons, two bags of oranges, 14 pounds of carrots, and assorted other vegetables. We managed to eat most of the oranges, but what could we do with 14 pounds of carrots?

Well, MOTHER's Successful Swaps feature struck the flint for the fire. We headed for the local health food store to see if we could trade our supplies for other foods that we could get through customs. The young woman at the Country Aire General Store was sympathetic to our problem, and swapped us an equal value amount of grains and nuts for our produce. What a neat solution, and what a good deal!

We'll be moving to the country soon, and I know that out there barter will become more than an occasional occurrence, especially with the milk goats next door, and the beehives down the road . . . .

Mary Chun
Fairfax, Calif.

We've had a bartering co-op organized here in Idaho for quite a few years, and the arrangement sure beats cash exchanges. Here's how it works:

Suppose you're a doctor who needs his car painted. Instead of paying a body shop to do the work, you call any co-op member who paints automobiles . . . and get the job done absolutely free.

But perhaps the painter doesn't need any doctorin' at that time. Maybe he could use some fruit for canning or would like to have his house roofed instead. He just calls some other participant and receives those services at no charge. Eventually, someone in the group will get sick and come to you for treatment. And pretty soon you'll think of another project you'd like done . . . and so the swapping continues.

Though people of all ages, talents, and occupations can join the co-op, you do have to be very good at whatever skill you contribute, and you must be willing to work for every member who requests your help.

And that's all there is to it! If the co-op gains enough members you may be able to get everything you need through the network . . . and the services won't cost you a cent!

Angela Dailey
Meridian, Idaho

Though not a tremendous trade, this transactioninvolving materials that might otherwise have been junked—proved profitable and fun.

I make wall hangings, and one day, while browsing through a thrift shop in search of materials for my craft, I spied some empty green wine bottles with a fairly hefty price marked on them. Remembering my own stash of such containers, I decided to arrange a swap.

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