Each month, an amazing group of people from Backyard Barter get together in different locations around the city and barter homemade items. Our upcoming barter is on Sunday, Jan 5 from 1-3pm at the Ballard Library.

Types of items available at a recent barter: dark chocolate truffles, soap, cheese, jams, chutneys/sauces, flavored butter, chai, granola, pickled veggies, fresh/home-canned fruit, bread, honey, bitters and dried herbs. And there are lots of non-edibles too, including pottery, salves/lotions, homemade greeting cards, original artwork, pillows, jewelry, knit items, indoor/outdoor plants and more.

In addition, you may come home with new ideas, recipes and a greater appreciation for homemade goods. You can even barter services.

There’s no cost to participate, no money exchanges hands. And the bartering is stress-free…you ask if someone wants to swap your x for their y, and they either say yes or “no thanks”…and three-way trades are a good way to get what you want if there’s not interest in a direct trade.

It’s a great way to save money and try new things and there’s a variety of gluten-free, dairy-free and vegetarian items. Children welcome.

The first few barters of the year:

• January 5 from 1-3 PM at the Ballard library 5614 22nd Ave NW, Seattle. Come join us for a New Year’s barter in Ballard! We’ll be at the meeting room right inside the door, to the left. Make sure to get there as early as possible to get a parking spot in the parking lot under the library

• February 2 from 1-3 PM at the Greenwood library 8016 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle. There is a parking lot below the library and free street parking around the library.

• March 1 from 1-3 PM at the Queen Anne library 400 W Garfield St, Seattle. The meeting room is on 4th, and there is a door at street level that goes right to it so no need to head up the steps to the library itself. There is free street parking around the library.

To join our Facebook group to barter outside of events and get more community time, click https://www.facebook.com/groups/backyardbarter/