The barter trade economy is alive and well on St. John.
Recently a friend pulled into my driveway with a soon-to-be-ripe papaya bigger than my head. It was perfect and I tried not to drool. A gift? Possibly. Barter? Definitely.
Brushing the potting soil off the side of my upcycled plastic container, I handed over a container with a dozen or so sprouted pepper seeds of unknown future color.
Did you know… 1 large papaya = 12 sprouted peppers.
A dozen vegetable plants ready for a growth spurt in exchange for one massive ready-to-eat fruit is a fabulously fair exchange.
From cleaning for car use to propagating plants for plumbing repair, how St. Johnians survive is a fascinating study in community survival.
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