Barterers band together for swap

ABOUT a dozen people meet once a month to chat, barter and trade homemade goods and produce.

The regular event occurs on the first Saturday of every month at the Rokewood rotunda on Ferrars Street and is called the South West Veggie Swap.

It was established in November by Mount Edgerton resident Helen Copeman, who said she wanted to bring community members throughout the region together during lockdowns.

“I was just hating how everyone was kept away from each other. I think people were a bit slow in coming back to things so I took the plunge with this,” she said.

“It’s to bring back local producers, growers, small industries in the area and to bring a sense of community back, finding out who does what in the area.

“A fellow member suggested Rokewood as a central point for the area I’m wanting to encompass between Ballarat and Colac.

“We don’t deal with money. It’s purely bartering and swapping.”

The event averages 10 to 15 swappers with people trading items like homemade soaps, foodstuffs, pot plants and farming items.

Trading members will occasionally provide presentations on their items as well as topics like farming and horticulture.

Ms Copeman said she’d like to establish more food swap points in Mount Edgerton and Bendigo should it expand enough.

In the meantime, she said it’s been “great” to see her network continuing to grow.

“This is going to take a bit of time to establish. People find it foreign when you’re keeping money out of it but the aim is to just keep doing what we’re doing,” she said.

“I’m wanting to get it out there for people, to say hey this is here, it’s a bit different, but try it. So new members would be great.”