Martha R. wrote:
What ideas do you have for barter items? I'd like to start accumulating some things that could be bartered in a disaster-type economy. I've got a pretty large store of wheat. (We used to make all our own bread, but we've pretty much given up bread altogether!) Any other ideas?
I think any kinds of food would be good, but also any type of work someone else may not can do for whatever reason, especially garden or farm type work, (like helping some plant and or maintain a garden to be shared.)
I have bartered with things like the towels, dishrags and potholders I make for things I've needed.
Any kind of skill that is helpful for survival can in my opinion be bartered, such as teaching someone how to prepare and store foods, *this of course may be something that would be less needed if no one had a way to gather and store food. But may be helpful beforehand.
I'm thinking food and water or a way to purify water would be very important in the case of a major crisis. (When my son was overseas he said a couple of the most important things that people wanted and would do almost anything for was water, then food, then medicines, he said that water was worth it's weight in gold there, but that is also a very dry and hot climate, then with the war going on it doesn't make it convient or easy to have clean safe drinking water. )
Food is something that everyone has to have so I'd say a good supply of food enough for your own family, and possibly near neighbors would be a good idea, but then extra food that you could barter for other items that you may need, would be a good idea.