Homemade food swap Nov. 9
Perhaps you make a great zucchini
bread, but what you really need is a jar of salsa.
The answer to making a trade for what
you want could be found at the Flathead Food Swappers inaugural
food swap on Wednesday, Nov. 9. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. at
the Great Northern Brewery.
The Food Swappers is a group of local
food enthusiasts, many of whom have participated in home-based
trading events. Wednesday they open their swap to the public.
“We want to celebrate local things made
by local people,” said Kathie Lapcevic, the event’s organizer.
Lapcevic, of Columbia Falls, grows a
garden and does canning every year and says swapping can be a great
way to add to one’s pantry. She’s participated in smaller swaps and
was inspired by a larger-scale event that takes place in Portland,
Ore.
“I only grow certain things well,” she
said. “Other people grow other things well. I’m always interested
in trying new things. There might be a new jelly there that I want
to try while someone else will want my apple butter.”
Folks are invited to swap items such as
extra garden produce, wild-harvested or foraged foods, home-canned
items (high acid food only), home dehydrated, frozen or fermented
goods, home-grown eggs, meat, milk and cheese, and home-baked
items.
“We’re asking that interested swappers
not bring store-bought or commercial start-up goods,” Lapcevic
said. “We want to focus on the diversity of items and the people
who make them at home here in the Flathead Valley.”
Swappers set up tables with their items
beginning at 6:30 p.m. and the swapping begins at 7 p.m.
Participants are given “swap cards,” which they can place on tables
with a suggested offer. For example, a person might leave a card
offering to trade a dozen eggs for a pint jar of jelly. Then after
a set amount of time participants can look at the cards on their
table and decide if they agree to the swap. They then approach the
person that made the offer and make the trade.
“This way no one is forced to take
anything they don’t want,” Lapcevic said. “You take only what you
want to take.”
A sample table will be set up for
appropriate items so swappers may taste products before offering a
trade. A list of ingredients for items is also encouraged so folks
understand exactly what they are getting.
Although this is the first organized
event, the plan is to hold periodic swaps throughout the year.
Lapcevic is also hoping that the event will allow folks to meet and
possibly arrange swaps outside of the organized event.
For more information visit the group’s
Facebook page at www.facebook.com/flatheadswappers or e-mail
mtkatiecakes@yahoo.com.