BEVS

I went to my first ever Swap Market this morning down by our village wharf.

The idea is that you all bring something you've grown or created & exchange with each other. It could be your surpluses from a veg garden, preserves, something you created, home made beers/wines/soaps/cards. It isn't a 2nd hand car boot type of thing. It is a green market . No cash is involved. It's swapsies only.

I took along my duck eggs and came away with home made chutney, some jars of dried homegrown herbs & fresh veg. I missed out on the artichokes & bags of nuts coz I was a bit late (what's new) but I did spot someone doing great swaps with the bunches of roses she brought.

I'm on a promise for a couple of shrubs for the garden in exchange for 6 duck eggs.
Come Christmas or so, I'll be taking down our surplus of plums and redcurrants.

I think this is a brilliant idea. Has anyone gone to something similar or the same?

Stoof

that sounds ace Bevs! quite a few of the smaller communities i worked in in the uk had similar deals going on, though some of them had developed their own 'currencies' too (LETS schemes)... they would also exchange services as well as goods - you know, babysitting in exchange for tap washers being changed etc etc. though i do remember that some of those involved stopped when they became 'currency millionaires' - their goods/services were the most popular and they couldn't spend their currency cos there wasn't anything they wanted/needed (this was particularly the case for a couple of good potters i knew!)

haven't heard of anything similar round here though.

CarolineSwan

that sounds fab, not seen anything here like that, will have to keep an eye out

Hokey-pokey

A fantastic idea. I would love to exchange our blueberries for some of your fresh redcurrants ! Must say we exchange produce/ fish catches regularly amongst friends and neighbours, but this sounds like a very cool concept.

BEVS

Or maybe start your own.

Someone here cottoned onto it after reading an article in the Weekend Gardener about a swap market at Matakana.

I also read that Merivale has a vege swap stall once a month on a sunday.

There was a few craft bits too at our swap market .

We've done swaps in the past among immediate neighbours and our friends. We were given ducks ( dead ones) in return for Mr BEVS mending a couple of taps & I was given a great bottle of olive oil for 6 of the duck eggs. I'm still after getting me hands on some wild boar/venison in return for something or other.......probably Mr BEVS plumbing skills or more duck eggs but what I'd really, really like to see for a swap is a couple of trout.

I'd defo swap the redcurrants for the blueberries . We'll have way too many.

Hokey-pokey

Bevs, what specifically do you use your duck eggs for ? My mum used to keep ducks but I only remember eating roast duck. Are they good for baking with ?

BEVS

Yes. That's what I use them for. That's what everyone is after them for. I also hard boil them & make a slightly curried egg mayonnaise.
Husband likes the odd one baked to put in a sandwich.

They have a stronger taste than a chook egg. To my way of thinking anyway.

As the shells are more porous , it's thought best to be extra careful if you want to use 'em for soft boiled eggs, omelettes , quiches, tiramisu etc but I know someone that does just that.

I'd have no probs using them for a quiche if I ran out of chook eggs.

Kija

What a great idea! I remember as a kid I was addicted to swapping, so much so that sometimes I had to write in my fav. books "not for swapping!"

Perry Groves

I go to the parties where we swap keys in an ashtray...only kidding!

Perry Groves

In the US they have swap meets, I went to something like that over there once.

bevissa65

Ha ha ha

Rustie

I think it's a lovely idea and it's great to hear these things being organised!

We've sort of had an 'unofficial' swap at work, where i've given eggs and others give me fruit or whatever in return

I found this website a while ago where you can offer swaps up, maybe worth you having a look? http://www.homegrownmarket.co.nz/