The barterers of Dargle work out their own balance of trade
● A sack of vegetables and a two-month steady supply of bread are what Sarah Derrett paid for a piglet in KwaZulu-Natal.
Derrett is one of the founders of the Midlands Barter Markets, where yoga lessons are swapped for homemade jam and pickles, books exchanged for home-grown vegetables, and skills for baked goods.
While Derrett and her neighbours in the mostly farming community in the scenic Midlands — Howick, Dargle, Lidgetton, Rosetta and Hilton — barter because they have “too much”, other South Africans are exchanging goods because they are battling to make ends meet.
It’s difficult to put a monetary value on a barter, Derrett said.
“The value in a barter is the level of happiness that either side feels. If I am not happy, I am not going to barter. What makes me happy may not make the next person happy.
“I like the notebook with the material cover but I don’t eat chu-chu [a gourd] so for me I am not going to want the chu-chu while I will feel the notebook is worth my loaf of bread,” she said.
While bartering has always been a part of the South African economy, the country may be seeing an increase.
Extra things
University of the Witwatersrand commerce, law and management dean Imraan Valodia said technological changes have made it easier for people to exchange goods.
“Another reason is that in times of economic hardship, people have less cash and therefore find other ways of exchanging goods.”
Valodia said bartering could be classified as part of the informal economy.
“Work of this sort is classified as ‘own-account work’ — work you are doing for your own purposes and not for an employer.”
In the Midlands, the bartering markets started about two years ago and now locals meet several times a month in different parts of the area to swap goods.
“The barter markets evolved from the usual country markets where we always ended up giving our extra things away to other stall-holders, so we thought why not just give it away to start with,” said co-founder Nikki Brighton.
Electrical skills
Brighton, a food and community activist, said when money is removed from the equation, the exchange becomes “more meaningful and the value is completely different”.
“If your tree is dripping with avocados, they have no value to you, but to someone who might have to pay R10 for an avocado they are treasure.”
The markets also promote green living. “Building resilient communities is the best defence against the terrors of climate change. Reducing food miles, wasteful packaging and all the excesses of commercial production is essential,” Brighton said.
In her historic Victorian home in Howick, artist Dee Sneedon allows her customers to barter for her upcycled creations — furniture, ornaments and potted succulents.
In the past year, she has exchanged her art for potatoes, onions and even skills.
“The other day a client wanted something done and mentioned that she had a whole lot of wood lying in the garage, so I took it as part of the payment.
“I also do a skills barter. I will come and shabby-chic your dining room table in exchange for you doing electrical work at my house if you’re an electrician.”
But for one Durban mother of four, bartering may be the only way to make ends meet as tough times hit her family.
Leigh Anne Taylor this week posted on Facebook that she would give a massage or cater a high tea in exchange for tyres for her car.
“My husband was hit by a car last year and his injuries prevent him from working, so I am the sole breadwinner. I have four jobs — catering, beauty therapy, teaching swimming and I transport school kids.
“I noticed more people were bartering on Facebook so I said why not give it a try because I am desperate,” she told the Sunday Times.