Is this a fair trade?

Oldcountryboy · #1 06/07/08, 07:44 PM

I am doing some huge gardening this year. If I put all my gardens together it would be close to a acres worth. So I'm expecting a huge harvest of green beans, corn, tomatoes, pickles, okra, squash, potatoes, and onions.

My wife is getting ready to go to work for a outfit that requires lots of overtime and I hope to be getting a job sometimes soon. So this is putting a curve in the canning plans.

However, I happen to know of a elderly couple who is having a hard time. He suffered a heat attack about a year ago and has had to quit work and is now on disability. She has always been a housewife most of her life. With their salary cut in half they are doing whatever they can to save money and make money. So I'm thinking of maybe seeing if they could do some canning for me. Maybe they keep half and we keep half.

So my question is, since I bought all the seeds, done all the gardening with tillers and tractors and put lots of labor into the growing, if they bought the jars and lids and do the canning, would it be a fair trade to divide all the finish products in half?

Would I be shorting myself too much or them too much? What would be fair?

I'm sure they would like having some garden produce as they have these little grow beds around there places. But they don't really have room to grow a whole lot of anything since they live on the side of the rockiest hill around. What they grow would just be enough for a small taste.

MisFitFarm · #2 06/07/08, 07:51 PM

Just my opinion, but I think it's very nice of you. She may already have jars, and would only need lids. However, if they are that bad off, they may not be able to afford all the jars they would need. When you add the cost of new jars, lids and rings, then the electricity for canning, it may be cost prohibitive for her. Why don't you ask her about it, and see what she thinks.

Iddee · #3 06/07/08, 07:54 PM

I knew two families for years. One in city, one in country.

Country grew all the veggies, city bought all jar lids, sugar, vinegar, sure jell, ETC. Both wives canned in the country home. All canned goods were split evenly.

stranger · #4 06/07/08, 08:09 PM

more than fair, their stove is going to be using lots of gas or ele.
the could save by getting ads in the local papers for jars.

frogmammy · #5 06/07/08, 08:27 PM

First question would be, does she know HOW to can? Not a skill that a great many people have!

I think maybe you should split on the jars...they CAN be expensive and the couple may not have enough money to buy as many as both families will need. With enough lead time everyone will have enough time to find jars.

Mon

Wolf mom · #6 06/07/08, 09:37 PM

If they're hard up, maybe payment in part cash would be better for them.

MullersLaneFarm · #7 06/07/08, 09:51 PM

I agree about splitting the jars. They get costly unless you can find garage sales.
I'd split the cost of the jars/lids and let her do the processing. Make sure she knows how to can.

Becka · #8 06/07/08, 10:15 PM

Sounds good, but I'd also split the jars and lids. Sounds like you're going to have a LOT of stuff to can, and that means tons of jars.

Up North · #9 06/07/08, 11:25 PM

Such matters can be delicate.
While the husband may have health problems, and they may be of limited means at this time, still, folks have their pride. They may be folks who have always taken care of themselves and detest the notion of accepting charity.
There is, in these situations, a need to negotiate the terms while allowing the beneficiary to retain their self respect.
Perhaps you could drop by for coffee. Perhaps you could explain your predicament of a sudden change in your employment. Perhaps you could phrase your idea in terms of your needing *their* help to put all this garden produce to a good use. Perhaps you could ask them what they feel would be fair, thus showing respect by seeking their counsel.
If you seek their help, and allow them to be the architect of the specifics of division of labor and expense, then all will be well.

whocares · #10 06/07/08, 11:38 PM

Sounds to me you need them as much as they may need you...how badly do you need the help? And maybe you could offer to pay them? Maybe she has jars already? or you could just ask her to return them when they are done for next year...You would need to buy more jars anyway if you have that much to can, so call it an investment. I am glad you are kind and wanting to help them. You may have life long friends from this...I have never fotgotten a kindness shown to me. See what she offers, you may get a canning partner or a baker or some other useful skill. Good bless you!

Just Little Me · #11 06/08/08, 12:53 AM

I have a deal like this going with a cattle farmer close to me. Only he is going to provide his jars. I have enough to put up the things for our family. After this year he will have his jars for next year. It is going to be a win-win deal for both families.

momof3boys3cats · #12 06/08/08, 09:46 AM

We do this almost every year, but one farmer splits it all with us and provides everything and the other guy gives us the option to half or trades us beef for the work. If you do not have alot of jars and lids it can become quite expensive. One year we had our own huge garden and he paid us cash for every jar we canned for him. Canning is a lot of hard work especially when doing it in a hot kitchen. It is very time consuming. I enjoy canning though. Every person I have ever canned for provided all the jars, lids and ingredience. It is just up to the individual I guess.

**ladycat** · #13 06/08/08, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Up North

Such matters can be delicate.
While the husband may have health problems, and they may be of limited means at this time, still, folks have their pride. They may be folks who have always taken care of themselves and detest the notion of accepting charity.
There is, in these situations, a need to negotiate the terms while allowing the beneficiary to retain their self respect.
Perhaps you could drop by for coffee. Perhaps you could explain your predicament of a sudden change in your employment. Perhaps you could phrase your idea in terms of your needing *their* help to put all this garden produce to a good use. Perhaps you could ask them what they feel would be fair, thus showing respect by seeking their counsel.
If you seek their help, and allow them to be the architect of the specifics of division of labor and expense, then all will be well.

I agree, don't treat them like you're giving them charity. Make sure they know you *need* help, and point out that it would be a win-win situation.

texican · #14 06/08/08, 12:03 PM

The cost of new jars and lids would be more than the cost of canned goods straight out of the grocery store. And a lot less work (which is hot and sweaty) and cheaper if you consider the cost of fuel (gas/electric) for the canning and the extra energy needed to cool the house down.

I would not accept any free food if I had to buy (or use... imho, a jars value is the same, regardless of whether it's brand new or used dozens of times) jars and lids, clean, and process the food, then give half of it back to you. Canned goods from town costs way less than a new jar. With a free jar, (which I have hundreds) you still need new rings... which are costing now at least ~15c/each... If I can get canned goods 4/$1 that means there's a ten cent difference, at 3/$1, thats a 16c difference. A case is 12 jars. The costs savings would be 1.60c/case... Ten cases (which would be a monster day of canning) would only result in ~12 bucks savings. I give you back half, and the economics drop even more. If your time is worth anything, it must be included in the equations. Even if you gave me the food, the jars/lids, half of the end product would make it an iffy proposition for me (and I have free natural gas).

If they're hard up, do what most folks do, just give them the food for free, and if they want to can it or freeze it, fine. Just make sure they actually eat such produce first.

The old timers rule for planting gardens is to plant one unit for yourself (the amt. you think your family will need), one unit for the weather, one for the critters (insects, deer, varmints) and one for the neighbors... if you have a catastrophe, you'll probably have enough for yourself... if everything goes right, everyone will have a plenty.

Oldcountryboy · #15 06/08/08, 12:03 PM

I have several cases of jars to get started with but know it's not near enough. I'm purty sure she knows how to can as both of them grew up on family farms. We use to attend the same church and they became some of my favorite friends. He and I would take off and go squirrel hunting occassionally behind his house.

I'm not going to be sending all my harvest over to them unless I really do get that far behind. I'm planning on dehydrating part of my harvest. This will be a learning experience for me. Thinking of ways to save on electricity. But I do like the opening up a jar of already cooked green beans, etc. and just warming them up right fast when you come home too late to cook a long meal.

But anywho, I'm gonna drop by there place sometimes this week and hint around about it and see what they say. I might just go ahead and buy all the jars needed in hopes we will be doing this every year together.

Thankyou everyone for your opinions. Very much appreciated.