Posted on December 2nd, 2009
By: DDFD on Self Reliance Exchange
http://www.self-reliance-exchange.com/?p=2907

Self reliance by its very name implies going it alone, but I think cooperation and exchange (barter) has a place in self reliant living. Barter is a non-monetary exchange of value. I am not discussing formal bartering between commercial professionals– that can result in a taxable event. For example, an accountant offering tax prep services to a home improvement contractor in exchange for work at his house is probably a taxable event.

What I am talking about are the non-taxable exchanges between family, friends, and neighbors. This is not a new idea– just a neglected or forgotten one.

When I was a kid, I remember a neighbor with talent for auto repair who helped on almost all auto repair projects in the neighborhood. In return, he received assistance on yard work, painting, and other odd jobs. This is the sort of “bartering” I am thinking of these days.

What can be bartered? I thought I would share just a few ideas:

* Repair or improvement skills– auto, carpentry, electrical, painting, plumbing
* Ride services– kids to school or events, elderly to appointments, trips to the airport
* Food– cooking or grocery runs for the sick or shut-in
* People watching– sitting for kids or companionship for elderly
* Tutoring– educational, art, or musical
* Boarding animals– vacation or regular sitting

So how do you barter? Here is a simple approach:

* Communicate– let people know what you have and what you need
* Commit– a handshake and your word
* Deliver– be sure to come through for people
* Share– talk your fellow barterers up describing the experience to others

Sometimes cash isn’t needed to get things done or as valuable to others as an exchange might be. Always try to identify opportunities to barter– as in all things self reliant, be creative!

It’s almost summer! Everybody is enjoying the sunny weather and thinking about going to the beach… but where to go? Where can you be trustful enough to let your children and dogs play in the water? Are there still non polluted rivers and beaches in your area? Can you go swimming where 2 years ago was a prohibition?

Scary Facts:

- Earth consist of 2/3 water. but all the fresh water streams only represent one hundredth of one percent.
- 14 billion pounds of trash is dumped into the ocean every year
- Plastic bags and other plastic garbage thrown into the ocean kill about 1,000,000 sea creatures every year!

- Approximately 5 million tons of oil produced in the world each ear ends up in the ocean. - Most American families throw away about 88 pounds of plastic every year. - Every year enough trash is carried down the LA River to fill the Rosebowl.

Join green living! Help the world to save the water of the earth. Create a future for your kids and give them the opportunity to enjoy the ocean. Already small steps can bring changes. Recycle! Use reusable bags! Start using tumblers instead of plastic cups. Be green!

Big Up to all the supporters of Oceans Day!

Everybody, Everyday. Some updating Facts:

Waste of Water: ♦3-7 gallons for toilet ♦25-30 gallons for tub ♦50-70 gallons for a 10 minute shower ♦1 washing machine load uses 25-40 gallons ♦1 dishwasher load uses 9-12 gallons

We each use about 12,000 gallons of water every year
1/3 of all water is used to flush the toilet.

Break Down: ♦plastics take 500 years ♦aluminum cans take 500 years ♦organic materials, take 6 months ♦cotton, rags, paper take 6 months

The garbage in a landfill stays for about 30 years.
In 1995 over 200 of the world landfills were full.
Approximately only 10 percent of every landfill can be cleaned up.
Each person throws away approximately four pounds of garbage every day.

What	Why
aluminum cans	- it takes 90% less energy to recycle aluminum cans than to make new ones ! - Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to power a television for four hours!
glass bottles	– The energy we save when we recycle one glass bottle is enough to light a traditional light bulb for four hours
paper	– For every 2000 pounds of paper (1 ton) recycled, we save 7,000 gallons of water free from chemicals. -Recycled paper requires 64% less energy than making paper from virgin wood pulp, and can save many trees - Every ton of paper that is recycled saves 17 trees

84 percent of all household waste can be recycled.