Saturday, March 31, 2012

How does it work?

First, sign up or RSVP to our event which will be advertised on Facebook.  You decide homemade or homegrown item you will bring. You can bring one of the same item or a few different ones.  Rule #1 - You must have made/grown it.  This is the item you will be bartering with.  Keep in mind you'll want to bring items that other people will want.  Bring a sample.  Samples are good :)

Package your item well.  People will be picking up and examining your goods to decide if they want to swap.  Make sure ingredients and amount given can be seen or listed somewhere on the label.

The group organizer (that's me) will provide the swap sheets.  These sheets will stay with each item.  Your information will be on the top (ex. name, item description).  Below that is space for bids.

First 30 minutes - Set up your item, fill our your swap sheet, wear a name tag and say hello to fellow swappers.

Next 30 min. to 1 hour - Everyone walks around and examines/samples all the items.  Once you see an item you'd like to have, sign your name to the bottom of their swap sheet and include the item you are proposing to swap for.

Last 30 minutes - Swappers look at the offers on their swap sheet.  Don't feel bad if you're not interested in every item offered.  Find the individuals who have item you are interested in and swap!

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

What's a Food Swap?

I'll trade you some granola for some eggs.  How about some lemon curd for fresh pizza dough?

Welcome to food swapping.  A food movement to bring food centric people together to trade their goods.  People have been doing it for centuries as bartering was another form of payment.  But now when you can seven bushels of tomatoes (just sayin'), you can swap them for other goodies made by like-minded, food-passionate people.

Check out some of the media articles about other food swaps around the country from The Huffington Post and the New York Times.  The Food Swap Network also has a ton of great resources.

Look for more information soon on the first meeting sometime in May.   Be sure to visit us on Facebook to stay up-to-date about the exact date and location.  If you are interested in participating, you must register in advance.