Howdy all! It is a beautiful Winter day and I wanted to say howdy! I am taking a break from my baking for the Orthodontist and his staff. I barter with them for my son's braces. I just finished 5 double batches of bread. Used up 25 #s of flour making sourdough bread and cinnamon rolls. In the summer I barter with vegetables. This summer they told me that they would take all the extra green beans that I had. I took them 110 #s of them. They said that they would love MORE! It is a great system and it works for us. Lots of work because I do my bread kneeding by hand. It just doesn't quite taste the same with the mixer. Just thought that I would say Howdy! and wanted to sit and visit awhile. Does anyone else barter? Bake sourdough bread? Cinnamon rolls? Grow massive quantities of green beans? heehee! I know that ya'll do, just trying to start up a conversation in between bread batches! Have a great snowy day! Blessings to you!

-- Nan (davidl41@ipa.net), November 28, 2001

Answers

Nan~

I have never thought of trying to barter with my ortho. His bill is EXTREME!! With two more sons to go after this one, I may have to approach him with the idea. Do you barter with anyone else? I have bartered jewelry I make with a friend who has an antiques store, but that has been about it. I would like to barter some for some chickens though! Have fun baking, it is definitely "baking weather"!!

-- Ivy in NW AR (balch84@cox-internet.com), November 28, 2001.

I have bartered for lots of things over the years. With the ortho it just got started because I sold bread at a Farmer's market and they always bought some. They started ordering more than I was selling at the market on some occasions. It kind of evolved into bartering for braces. Where do you live in NW Ark? My kids ortho is there. That would be a hoot if we went to the same one. His price is EXTREME too! He is the best though. I have bartered for dozer service. Traded the guys working on the road 3 loaves of fresh out of the oven bread for a once around the dirt driveway with the dirt working equipment. Hubby came home and was very surprised to say the least! LOL !

-- Nan (davidl41@ipa.net), November 28, 2001.

Just found a recipe for a foccacia loaf that only needs stirring, no kneading! Was really good. Let me know if you'd like the recipe.

-- Cindy in NY (cjpopeck@worldnet.att.net), November 28, 2001.

Nan, Iknow how bartering work or at least what it is but how do to bring up the subject when you want to barter something? I've never been very good at approaching people. I have traded stuff with people that I know but I wouldn't know how to approach a road crew to do my driveway. My daughter is in the process of getting her braces put on and I would love to barter for at least part of the cost(I can't see making almost $4000 worth of bread). Cindy, my 16 year old makes some fantastic foccacia. The 4 of us ate 3 double batches in 1 day. It is delicious and very easy.Someone please let me know how to get started on bartering. Thanks

-- Lou Ann in KY (homes_cool@msn.com), November 28, 2001.

Lou Ann,

I would love to have you foccacia recipe. As for bartering, I used to barter my eggs at a co-op and a health food store. Didn't have much money but need stuff. Just went in and asked if they would like farm fresh eggs in exchange for whatever. No problem. Just ask!

-- Cordy (ckaylegian@aol.com), November 28, 2001.

Hubby loves to barter! He painted two rooms for a massage therapist and got 5 massages (2 for him, 2 for me and we gave one to a friend for house-sitting)!! Also put in a hardwood floor for a stain glass artist and got 2 custom designed stain glass windows for our sunroom he is adding on to our house. I think the subject just comes up. For the windows he was telling the lady that he needed some for our sunroom but didn't have the money. She asked him what he did and it just went from there. I know there are formal bartering networks but I like to keep it one-on-one.

-- Bren (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), November 28, 2001.

You have to be careful with whom you're bartering, because someone can let the IRS know and you would (as well as the other party) be liable for taxes. They're not going to worry about babysitting in exchange for say, canned food, but when it comes to businesses, it can be an issue with how they calculate deductions for business expenses and stuff like that. The formal barter networks are all legal businesses.

Another problem could likely come up in the case of malpractice (heaven forbid) or breach of contract. No formal contract, no bill for services, you might have difficulty proving your cost for damages. Just something to consider.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), November 28, 2001.

In the case of the orthodontist, I just sell the girls the bread and then give the orthodontist the money for the braces. That way whoever wants bread can get some and whoever doesn't...doesn't. heehee! I have never been known for my shyness, but in the case of the orthodontist, they knew that money was tight for us and they suggested fresh veggies this summer. I can't believe how many fresh vegetables that they took! We do the veggies the same way as the bread. Of course it is much better than store bought any old day and I gave them a bit of a discount. It was all extra veggies anyway...If I had to plant a garden just for bartering it would hardly be worth it. I have a huge half acre crammed full of veggies and always have enough left to share with my friends, neighbors and for bartering.

Number one, choose something that you do well and that is not hard for you to do.

Number two, just mention it in coversation. You can tell if they would be interested or not. If they are not, then don't press it. If they are they will often bring it up first.

Number three, don't take it personally if they don't want to barter or if you get turned down. NO biggie. Just try selling your products and then buying whatever you needed.

-- Nan (davidl41@ipa.net), November 28, 2001.

Oh..in the case of the road crew...I just went across the road and said that I was just taking some homemade bread out of the oven. Would they like to go grade my driveway for a loaf each. They said sure. Hubby on the other hand said...never never never approach men on the road crew and offer bread again. Heehee! Oh puhleez, they were nice guys and I have a loaded shot gun by the front door. ;~)! But seriously....you do have to be careful who you ask. Some of those guys are a little iffy!

-- Nan (davidl41@ipa.net), November 28, 2001.

Oh, so you weren't really bartering with the orthodontist, but you were with the road crew. Now I understand.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), November 28, 2001.

For the sake of the nice woman who does the books we do it that way.

-- Nan (davidl41@ipa.net), November 28, 2001.

We bartered a 12 pack of Budweiser for a whole truck load of mulch from a utility line company. They were thirsty, and we needed the mulch.

-- Rickstir (rpowell@email.ccis.edu), November 28, 2001.

could you post or send me your recipe? thankyou! In His Grace, Sissy

-- Sissy Sylvester-Barth (iblong2Him@ilovejesus.net), November 28, 2001.

Yes, that foccacia recipe sounds good! Could you please post it for us if it isn't too much trouble? I could do with a bit less kneeding! Oh...btw....I sold all of the bread and they asked me for more and I ended up selling them the loaves that I had in the truck that I was going to give the neighbors for helping us take care of some calves when we were gone.(shew long sentence!) Now I need to bake again tomorrow so that I will have something to bribe the neighbors with. ha!

-- Nan (davidl41@ipa.net), November 29, 2001.