Because I didn’t do any shopping at the grocery stores to fill my refrigerator last week, instead I spent the week pulling weeds in the garden and bartering with my neighbors. So not only did I save on gas, but I saved a few pennies as well. After all, I need to conserve my resources if I’m going to get a turkey and cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving this year.
Last week The Girl and I were able to glean a good sized laundry basket of neglected apples.
I didn’t have to pay anything for the reclaimed produce either.
My bartering with my neighbor Francisco went much better. You can watch the video and see how it all went down HERE.
I LOVE bartering with Mrs. Hillbilly. She always has a ton of fancy cheeses and meat products in stock. Plus, I was even able to score a can of Guinness for the HH’s favorite Guinness Beef Stew. Yee-Haw!
I did have one deal that was a total stinker though. 2 of Girl Girls kids came down to barter 2 pounds of ground meat and a tin FULL of moon-cakes with me in exchange for some pumpkins.
But when I opened the tin of moon-cakes, I noticed 2 of them were missing. CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT? Girly Girl stuck it to me AGAIN! What a punk!
So how did you do last week? Did you do any bartering, or find some sweet deals at the grocery store?
~Mavis
Total Spent This Week $ 0
Total Spent This Year $1,028.17
Total Spent This Year on Garden Seeds/Supplies $516.21
Total “Seed Money” donations received $51.00
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R & M Industries 5920 Apple Peeler/Corer/Slicer
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Heather says
I really tried to stretch myself this week on bartering after watching your videos and your TV spot…nice job by the way! I bartered and picked up 30 lbs of apples for 2 pkgs of Tuna steaks and 2 jars of blueberry jam from a friend. I also posted some items of my toddlers to sell online and when I got a response from a gal who said she wanted to wait 2 wks to pay, I offered her to barter with me food in exchange for the clothing. She offered 2x 4lbs packages of sugar and 1×5 lbs flour (all upopened) as I was selling my items originally for $10, I figure it was a good deal. Then our neighbors, who are world travelers, were leaving for Australia for a month and we always watch their home while they are gone…we got the balance of their garden and herbs to use up this next month, plus the balance of their fridge which had yogurt, spinach, fancy cheeses and baby tomatoes. I only had to buy the basics (milk, eggs) at the market this last week; which was awesome on the budget!
Mavis says
Right on Heather. Way to go!!
Carrie says
I’m in the process of planning a barter and trade party with my friends!!!
Angie Smith says
I’m thinking of doing the same thing! I want to invite friends over for a potluck & have everyone bring stuff to trade.
Mavis, you’ve inspired me. 🙂
Julie A, says
I have an extra Turkey. Wish someone was open to bartering in my Vancouver, WA neighborhood.
Jamie says
I’m in VanWa- and down with bartering. Shoot me an email at Dubbercody (at) gmail (dot) com. I’m still new to all of this, but why not?
Paula Perez says
Squander means “waste”. You need to CONSERVE your resources! 😉
Mavis says
Total awesomeness! I just changed it. Thank you! 🙂
Paula Perez says
No prob. I will barter my editing services for you making-me-laugh-my-head-off-with-your-antics services.
Angie Smith says
I gave some homemade tomatillo salsa to my friend, and she gave me six Clementines. I wasn’t even intending to trade – just share – so I was stoked! I told her about your blog & how I want to start bartering with people, and she said she’ll be happy to barter with me. Sweet!
I tried to barter with another neighbor to get a big pumpkin for baking, but I was offering butternut squash, and they have around 50 of them already from their garden. Haha! She said she’ll let me come help her cook up the pumpkins & I can keep some of the end result. Yay!!! Now I’ll get to make pumpkin pie for the kiddo AND I still have my squash…I just know someone is going to want squash! 🙂
Elizabeth F says
Seems to me I have seen recipes for making pumpkin pie with butternut squash. It is so bright orange that how could you tell the difference once all the spices and sugar and stuff is added??
Angie Smith says
I would love to make pie out of the squash! The spices are what gives it the flavor, anyhow…great idea!
Elizabeth F says
So I am interested to hear on how you did with the tofu?? Did you try it yet?
Since it is already flavored the hard part is done. I have never bought the preflavored kind, smoked etc as we have a very limited choice here….organic firm and organic extra firm.
Mavis says
The tofu is still sitting in the refrigerator. I’m scared of it. LOL.
Elizabeth says
Scared of it?? I just read your blog about processing 80 pounds of raw, slimy, goopy dead chicken meat!! Now that is scary.
So this is what you do, make yourself up a nice stir fry, slice all your veggies and get them ready…sliced carrots, celery, onion, some garlic and ginger, some shredded green onion, shredded cabbage, pea pods, baby corn, water chestnuts…what ever you normally use. Cook just as if you were using a meat. Heat the oil in your wok and cook the garlic and ginger and cubes ( thumbnail sized) of the tofu and set aside. Then add a little more oil and start doing the vegetables in turn, adding peapods, fresh beans sprouts etc. last. Season how ever you season a stir fry, some people like premade sauces. Then add the tofu mix back in, stir briefly and serve .
For us collectively in my almost 30 years of married life, 3 children, we have not used 80 pounds of chicken, beef, bacon, etc combined. Only turkey as I cook a turkey every Thanksgiving for the extended family gathering. And a lentil loaf for the vegetarians and vegans.
Angel Trudel says
Thanks for inspiring a French girl from Québec, Canada. I really enjoy all of your posts but the bartering is most curious for me, I question how I could apply this to my lifestyle without a garden as yours… I talk about you in my blogue this morning. Thanks again for all the inspiration.
Mavis says
Merci! 🙂