Countryside Food Swap
Countryside Conservancy is excited to host monthly food swaps in the Akron area. A food swap is a gathering of DIY-ers; they bring homemade and homegrown items to share via silent auction style bidding. These events provide an opportunity to share your favorite creations with an appreciative audience and receive delicious goodies in return. It is also a chance to meet with a group of people who share your passion for getting in the ground or the kitchen and making something delicious out of the experience.
Countryside Food Swaps will be held on the third Tuesday of each month, starting at 7 pm. The location will vary.
Swaps last around 2 hours. The first 30 minutes is time for participants to arrive and display their swap items, along with samples, a recipe or list of ingredients, and a swap sheet. The following hour or so is for browsing, chatting, sampling and bidding. Bids, or suggested trades, are written on swap sheets. The last 30 minutes is when the negotiating and swapping takes place.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I bring?
You can bring anything that you have grown, made or foraged yourself. This means anything that you cook, bake, preserve, infuse, brew, etc. This also means herbs from your garden, eggs from your chicken, or blackberries from your treeline.
We have started some Pinterest boards to help keep track of our inspirations, and to help inspire you.
Really? Anything?
Yep.
Keep in mind scale and quantity. Bringing one cake isn't going to get you very far swapping. You can certainly make the cake, but divide and package for an equitable trade. Basing portion size on an 8 oz jar of jam or a 16 oz jar of pickles is pretty safe. Remember that the number of items you bring determines how many trades you can make. 6-10 is pretty standard. (Of the same thing, or different things - that's up to you.)
I don't cook. Or grow. But I knit a mean pot holder. Can I still come?
Sure. We want to emphasize food at these events, but we certainly don't want to exclude someone who is excited to participate. As long as you bring something homemade or homegrown, you are welcome, even if it is not edible. Being an enthusiastic eater, regardless of kitchen prowess, is important too!
Do I need to label my items?
Yes, please. Just the basics are okay though - name, contact info (phone number or email) item name, shelf life and storage recommendation. Please also bring a copy of your recipe or a list of ingredients to display with your items. This allows participants who avoid certain ingredients for health or out of preference to feel comfortable with their trades.
I want to come, what do I do?
Attendance is free, though registration is required. Please see the Special Events page for Registration link. Depending on the venue, number of participants may be limited. Any restrictions will be listed on the Special Events page as well.
Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter @countrysidechix, and be inspired with us on Pinterest. Check out our blog as well; the excitement and fun of each swap (preparation, execution and aftermath) will be documented there. As the swaps approach, we look forward to hearing what you plan to bring. And we definitely want to hear how you enjoy your haul.
For more information about the National Food Swapping Movement, and a great resource for all things Food Swap-py (including some fantastic press items), check out the Food Swap Network.
If you have any questions or comments, please get in touch with Erin. She is super excited for the Food Swaps and wants you to be too!