Trade swapping

Some years ago I recall sure it was in the 1980s people in Coventry tried out swopping trades, to save money, eg if you could cut hair and you needed a carpet laying and someone wanted their hair cut they would swop without charge, can any one recall this, I recall Earlsdon doing it for a while. With cuts low paid workers will be encountering come this April especially with children who might need haircuts which can be pricey just thought it would be great if this started up again. I used to cut teenagers hair mainly boys he he as they didn't trust the hairdressers as they would take too much off in those days, they would call all hours. I just hope Coventry hasn't become so selfish not to take this up again.

That's interesting Morgana, I know of a couple of ladies who are 'job sharing' and they both have different occupations. Although not full time but it is a way of keeping the workforce in motion, and the hours to suit.

That's correct Morgana. It started in the 1970s and I believe it grew from the Earlsdon Diggers (Earlsdon had an ageing population and so many back gardens were not used. The diggers cultivated them and then shared the produce with the house owner so both benefitted). The work swapped could be anything from skilled tradesmen to babysitting and it seemed to work well at the time. I think that the food co-operative "Drop in the Ocean" also developed along the same lines.

Thats the one Old Lincolian yes anything they would exchange, I recall the babysitting too, pleased you recall it, from it I started flower arranging teaching myself which saved me loads at my childrens' weddings as I done all the flowers including the bouquets. I don't know about the co-op bit but find that interesting too.

Hi Dreamtime that too is a good idea the one I mean no wage or money exchange hands also you don't need to be in a job just like helping one another out to save money for like oaps the poor. I haven't any qualifications or worked as a hairdresser but used to do oaps young lads neighbours and young girls hair for free no exchange with me as long as they brought their own dyes or perms, I had the scissors, same with gardening for oap neighbours also making curtains or decorating.

Hi Morgana, yes like bartering or goodwill, I believe they do that in the outback country towns here. More so with home grown produce. Last year I had an abundance of lemons, oranges and mandarins too much for me so they were given to neighbours and family and was most appreciated, and in return I had lovely neighbours.

Yes they do it other towns here too Dreamtime, they look after the gardens for people and have some of the harvest, shame it wasn't so here. Yes when I had an allotment I used to give salad stuff and veg for what I had excess of like you rather than it go to waste.