As we move into peak crop season , items on our July to - do lean are piling up : processpickles , blanch William Green forspanakopitaand for freezing , and shuck a grown container ofpeasthat ’s hogging space in the refrigerator . As our chores begin to accumulate , we ’re reminded to pace back and take for on to a simple truth : We do n’t need to do it all .
The best part of living in a supportive farm community is that with a little creativity , you’re able to “ have it all ” without having to do it all yourself .
We ’ve already discussedhow to manage your personal harvest - time workload , so let ’s take it a gradation further this hebdomad by tapping into the oldest sort of commercialism : commutation . When you could unlade that pile ofokrayou do n’t have time to pickle , and in counter , get a supply ofsweet cornyou did n’t have quad to uprise , it ’s a win - profits for everyone . Plus , you construct friendly relationship in the summons .
While it ’s always great to put hard currency in the handwriting of your local farmer , bartering is a great option for stock up on the solid food you need this time of year . Getting into a swap learning ability can be intimidating , but once you get used to the concept , you ’ll be hooked . Here are some ideas to get you begin .
1 . Post OnlineMost biotic community today , even diminished rural ones like ours , offer elbow room to chop-chop connect with others . While gone are the days of paying for classified ads , online exchanges are plentiful and free to use .
Start by see if there ’s aFreecycleorCraigslist(Craigslist has a “ costless ” division ) for your community of interests . Freecycle , in particular , convey together biotic community appendage who are interested in interchange thing for free .
Your local newspaper publisher or a residential area group might declare oneself a listserv where you’re able to post . Lisa organizes a community listserve plug in other sustainably minded , women Farmer in our area , and lot of items get traded back and forth there . Many group also set up accounts on Facebook .
Once you feel a way of life to connect , share something you have to offer in colligation with enquire for an detail you need . Offer up 5 pound of zucchini for a bushel oftomatoes . We ’ve often found , however , we do n’t need to require for anything in return . Call it the good karma of gardening , but even if we just offers devoid courgette to anyone who can apply it and do n’t ask for a specific barter in return , someone else will serendipitously offer something we need . Be generous and good will arrive back to you .
2 . Partner to fill up NeedsA simple but astute observance saved Jen Riemer , ofReimer Family Farm , a diversified livestock mental process , a lot of sentence and energy come growing season :
“ I started thinking , why do I need to produce every vegetable when our best friends runSandhill Family Farms , an amazing organic mathematical process down the route , ” she says .
The Reimer crime syndicate focused on raising quality kernel , which they shared with the Sheaffer mob in exchange for what they do best : vegetable .
3 . Host a Food Swap
Next Sunday , we ’re host the annual summertime potluck for the woman - in - agriculture group Lisa organizes , and she added a “ food for thought barter ” to the outcome . At a food for thought swap , you bring multiple items of something you have in teemingness or something you ’re an expert in prepare . Then you trade those items with others . For example , you might pay heed a food swap with a dozen jounce of your strawberry jamming and go home with twelve unlike detail , anything ranging from unused bread to eggs to beer . It ’s an easy and societal direction to trade your abundance for a diversified array of products .
If you ’re already hosting an event on your farm this , a intellectual nourishment trade is an easy element to add on . For a step - by - step guide on organizing one , check outLisa ’s clause .
judge one of John and Lisa ’s favorite recipes to cook up your harvesting :
Savoring the skilful life ,
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