Sustainable Ballard’s holiday barter fair coming this weekend

Sustainable Ballard’s annual holiday barter fair is back again this year, happening on Sunday, Dec. 9 at the Sunset Hill Community Center clubhouse.

The 13th annual Holiday Party and Barter Fair will have all the fixings of the season, with live music, appetizers and drinks. With a suggested donation of $5, all event funds will go to support Sustainable Ballard and their many ongoing programs. From Sustainable Ballard:

What could you make for the barter fair and holiday party?  Do you make jam?  chocolates? pies?  cheese?  beer?  Do you make jewelry?  do you knit?  Does your pig find truffles in the forest?  Can you walk a neighbor’s dog?  House sit?  Baby sit?  would you teach fiddling?  or cooking?  Any of these and other things and services like it would be great to trade at the Barter Fair!

“Our vision is an inclusive, joyful, sustainable community co-creating a world for this and future generations where eco-systems are healthy and peace is inevitable. This vision includes supporting and sustaining the local character of the businesses in the neighborhood,” Margaret Wetter from Sustainable Ballard says.

The bartering is meant to be a “relaxing and enjoyable alternative to the more commercial holiday gift buying experience,” Wetter says, and asks that most items should have a $5 to $20 value. Here are some barter item and service ideas, from past fairs:

  • Hand-crafted scarves, hats and aprons
  • Homemade holiday decorations, swags, candles
  • Home-grown or foraged produce
  • Home-made jams, truffles, dried fruit, granola, sauerkraut, beer and other delectable goodies
  • Services such as yoga classes, sailboat cruises, refrigerator deep clean, massage and more

The fair and party will be held in the upper floor of the Sunset Hill Community Association’s clubhouse (3003 NW 66th St) from 4 to 9pm.

12 thoughts to “Sustainable Ballard’s holiday barter fair coming this weekend”

  1. I’ll be sure to drop by after my shift at Amagooglezonbook because we really need to find alternatives to “commercial holiday gift buying experience”. I spend all day finding logistics solutions for fuel guzzling shipping freighters to get plastic junk to our ports so of course I’m really concerned with sustainability – which why I drive a Prius, naturally! Be sure to recycle, Ballard!

    Also, thanks for not mentioning the hateful “C-word” this time of year – not THAT word, Silly – CHRISTMAS.

  2. Sustainable is a weirdest word I ever heard and usually attracts you people today …..I rather go old school , old fashion, real back in the day stuff that was cheap but now this Sustainable stuff for Ballard and rest of weird America is so friggin expensive …..organic in China is cheap and affordable ( back in the Day America ) ….

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