Successful Swaps

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The following morning we approached a neighbor (who had a large orchard of Winesaps)with the idea of swapping a share of our cider-to-be for his apples. Well, in true Vermont fashion the farmer agreed to our picking his overgrown plot . . . as long as we gave him a gallon or two of hard cider in return. We soon had a truckload of the crisp crunchers, and in no time at all our new friend's brew was in the making.

But the swapping didn't stop there! That initial trade turned out to be the beginning of an exciting succession of barters! One friend offered us hand-tied trout-fishing flies for a jug of the delicious cider . . . another buddy accepted a gallon of the thirst quencher as payment for haircuts . . . and still another pal traded some of his homegrown seeds for a tankard or two of the tasty brew. And to top it off, just last week our family indulged in a "potluck" duck dinner with all the trimmings . . . and the "dish" we furnished was the beverage!

The possibilities for trading seem to be limited only by our supply of cider. And — best of all — we're learning what fun it is to be able to offer friends a product we're proud of, and to receive something back that they, in turn, are pleased to give us. You can bet that barter will stay alive and well up around this part of the country!

S.P.
Vermont

Ever since my husband and I and our two children left New Zealand ten months ago, we've been traveling around the world ... exchanging our skills and labor for places to rest our heads during our visits to different countries.

Now that we've been on the road for almost a year, our "home-hunting" procedure has become regular as morning chores. As soon as we arrive in a new city (such as London, where we are at the moment), we advertise in alternative magazines and in the local newspapers, offering to help on farms in return for food, a spot to park our van, and an exchange of conversation and knowledge.

And although we initially began our worldwide bartering scheme with the intention of merely saving funds on the trip, my husband and I have decided that this is an ideal way to tour! Despite the inevitable language barriers, we've had no trouble at all adjusting to the many new lifestyles . . . in fact, we've felt right at home with our temporary families. Working side by side with the local people, eating the same meals that they do, and partaking of their different customs have enabled us to experience how folks live in various cultures, instead of seeing only the superficial side of life often viewed by the average tourist.

Our family has also discovered that a good many farmers are glad to find seasonal labor, especially when they can get such help at minimal cost. As a matter of fact, most people welcome the idea of exchanging food for work.

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