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The most common question asked about
the Community Fruit & Vege Swap is: "How does it work?" -
by which people really mean: How are values assigned to the
produce? How can you be sure you'll 'get your money's worth',
that is, take home the equivalent of what you brought? The
short answer to these questions is, "We don't!"
Julietta, voluntary coordinator of the West Croydon
swap, explains:
"It's like that old saying about comparing apples
and oranges - literally! How can you measure the relative
value of different crops - such as abundant, beautiful tree
fruits which ripen by the bucketload, versus crops which are
smaller in volume but require a higher investment of time,
water, work and skill, like tomatoes or eggplants? Much less
the value of other kinds of tangible and intangible contributions
like preserves and baking, or gardening knowledge, recipes,
local history, plants, seeds, cuttings, garden stakes, safety
pins, good company and great jokes! The answer is, you can't,
and we don't try."
Selling? Trading? Bartering? No - Sharing!
The Community Fruit & Vege Swap works on a model
not of selling, trading or bartering, but of sharing. Goods
are simply spread out together, and then attendees select
what they want and need, roughly in proportion to their contribution.
"It is a kind of honour system, but although
it may be hard to believe, we have found so far that it works
- it works beautifully. If anything, we usually have to beg
people to take more to avoid having produce left over."
Julietta goes on to explain:
"A good way to approach the Swap is to make sure
that whatever you bring is surplus to your own household's
needs. This means that if someone else can use what you've
brought, this avoids it going to waste and you feel good about
that. If you take away something you don't have at home yourself,
that's a bonus. And you always do. I think this produces a
sensation of amazing abundance.
"Somehow it always seems as if the produce mysteriously
multiplies - everyone seems to take home more than they brought.
It's something you have to experience to believe!"
Attendees who are not able to bring produce -
for example, because they don't have a garden - may bring
home baking or preserves. Alternatively, they are encouraged
to make a donation towards the costs of the Swap and to contribute
intangibles such as their knowledge, memories and good company.
"As long as they come in the right spirit, we
don't send anyone away empty-handed," says Julietta. "We also
find it evens out over the weeks and months. You may have
nothing this week or next, while my fig tree is dropping bucketloads.
But when my crop is finished, your peach tree may be coming
into fruit. Or maybe you'll make some fig jam and bring that
along to the swap in a few weeks' time!"
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