I’ve long been a fan of what might be called alternative currencies, and I’ve often bartered goods and services with friends and acquaintances. Bunz takes this bartering to a whole new level. It’s different from other online classified ad sites like Kijiji or the “buy and sell” pages of Facebook in that it uses currencies other than cash. You can trade your unworn yoga tops for bus tickets, postage stamps, a haircut, or coffee beans, but not a $10 bill. Members simply post photos and descriptions of what they want to trade and indicate what they’d like to receive in return (a so-called ISO, or “in search of” list). As one might expect, there’s a fair bit of junk to sort through, as well as the occasional gem. You’re also not allowed to trade anything illegal.  

It’s easy to think of times when Bunz could come in handy: the post-Christmas letdown as you face a pile of items you didn’t need or want. Your kid jumped a clothing size in just a few weeks, leaving you scrambling for bigger clothes and eager to dump the outgrown set. Your cabinets are bulging with products you never used, but don’t want to just throw away. If you have a spare couple of hours with Bunz, you can clear your skirts of many of these items and make someone else’s day in the process.

A number of people seem keen to trade stuff for food, especially of the home-cooked variety, specifying wine, preserves, baked goods, and meals. Others would like to receive the raw ingredients for their own meals and baking; I’ve seen requests for bananas, root veggies, tinned tomatoes, and flour, among many others. The ubiquity of these requests indicates the value placed on food in the world of barter. No doubt this is an indicator of hard economic times as much as an expression of enjoyment in handmade comfort food; it makes me sad to see the single moms bartering their clothes and household goods for lunch and snack items for their kids.

The happy side effect of a site such as this is the sense of community created by Bunz traders: when a young mom posted a plea for help restocking her larder after losing $100 in grocery money, she was flooded with support.

So was the person who posted a request for a friendly listener when she was facing a mental health crisis. It was touching to read the many comforting replies, gestures of solidarity, and practical advice.

In a society where care for one another is increasingly commodified and de-personalized, the “Bunz effect” is especially gratifying to witness.

I suppose there is always the potential for unfair trades, for those who lie about or exaggerating their life circumstances in order to get the better deal. Still, the generosity I’ve witnessed on Bunz and the grateful thank-you photos some happy traders have posted of their kid riding his “new” skateboard, or the young woman delightedly showing off the boots that pinched the previous owner’s feet make me a believer in its value.

Some recent media coverage of Bunz: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/programs/metromorning/bunz-trading-zone-post-christmas-surge-1.3919079

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/bunz-trading-zone-montreal-trade-barter-1.3386855

1. Don’t keep your whole house at the same temperature.

In an ultra-insulated age, it may be hard to find a cold spot in your house or garage, but keeping a cold storage area is a really good idea for storing your root vegetables and long-keeping fruit like apples and pears in case of extended power outages and service disruptions. Many of those who weathered the aftermath of Hurricane Juan in the fall of 2003 remember how heartbreaking it was to have to throw away the entire contents of our fridges and freezers after 3 to 10 days without power. With climate change as our new normal, we should be looking for alternatives to conventional food storage now, not later. Canning (pressure or conventional), fermenting, and natural cold storage can meet many of our needs on this score.

2. Support initiatives that aim to reduce food insecurity.

Many of our communities struggle to access good food close to home; sadly, that food is increasingly becoming the province of the rich. How can we provide these folks with extra food help?

• Donations to local food banks as Christmas or birthday gifts are never a bad idea
• Organizations like Halifax’s Out of the Cold shelter are often looking for donated hot meals during the colder months for those who must otherwise sleep outdoors.
• Organize a trip with friends to an agricultural area after harvest time to glean vegetables like carrots, potatoes, and turnips after the mechanical harvester has passed through. (Check with the farmer first; many are grateful to have someone collect what would otherwise go to waste.)
• Support anti-food waste initiatives, like Found, a gleaning group that sells its collected produce to local restaurants and donates the rest to food banks: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/found-vounteers-food-waste-farms-donate-food-banks-1.3658340
• Host an immigrant family or foreign student at Thanksgiving; Engage Nova Scotia’s Share Thanksgiving project will help connect you with eager guests: http://sharethanksgiving.engagenovascotia.ca/

  In our own food lives, we can also strive to eat humbly but well. Be part of the potluck revival! Host a crappy dinner party (yes, it’s a thing—you can Google it) where you don’t clean the house, serve what’s already in the fridge, and get to see your friends way more often without the expense of eating at a restaurant. Remember: it’s you they came to see, not your house, whether cluttered or immaculate.      

• Remember, too: A hopeful future will call upon each of us to strengthen community ties and both ask for help and offer it to our neighbours when needed. We can start this process with food.