The Danger of Barter Faires

Animals, plants, trees, bushes, baked goods, handmade soaps, tinctures, teas, and lotions, all in one barn.  What could be the danger? What could be the harm in families getting together to trade their homesteading wares?  The answer is this:

What seemed to be an innocent day were I was to bring my mason bee cocoons, handmade cards, and other crafts to be bartered, and traded for became a whole new adventure.  Just about as soon as we set up our table, the children were begging for some giant homemade cookies. I gave in since they were only $1 each, and selling fast, but told them that we could not spend anymore money until we made some money ourselves.  That got my little salesmen on the job. Between getting spit on by llamas, looking at baby goats, and pigs, and holding rabbits, my 11 year old would ask people if they wanted any mason bee cocoons. In the meantime we were able to trade some brussel sprout seeds for homemade lemonade.  Somewhere in there my 7 year old sold a necklace that I made out of beads years ago for $5. While selling cocoons, I let a lady talk me into buying two new hens because she would “let them both go for $10 since they were going to a 4-Her.” So, I planned on selling cocoons, and possibly getting some show hens for 4-H, but somehow ended up with two laying hens, and then there is the rabbit.

Throughout the entire day my children kept gravitating to a box of rabbits.  They were able to hold the rabbits whenever they wanted, and they kept begging to bring one home.  I reminded them every time that we could not have rabbits because their dad (my husband) is allergic.  The rabbits went from being $10 each to $1 each, because the owner did not want to bring them home. She had too many.  The kids kept begging, and I kept the same answer. I think that they knew what they were doing, however, because eventually they wore me down.  “Call your dad and ask him,” I said. After all, he was the one with the allergy, I thought. I had raised rabbits growing up, showed them in 4-H, and loved them still.  The surprise to me was that he said yes. He did put the stipulation on it that if we has allergic to this rabbit, that we had to get rid of it immediately. I told the children that we would not be getting the rabbits that they had been holding all day, however, because I wanted the Rex.

Our nine year old picked one out.  A soft, cottony brown buck who allowed the children to hold him.  They brought him home, and loved him being careful not to bring him into the house, and keeping him way up in the corner of the yard.  The children spent the next day cuddling the rabbit throughout most of the day. When their dad got home, they jumped into his work truck to say hi, and then it happened.  His throat became scratchy, and almost closed up. Just being around the kids that had held the rabbit caused a reaction. The rabbit was going to have to go. The children were devastated.  When things like this happen it is hard to understand why God would allow it. They loved this soft rabbit already, and it was going to have to go. At these times we can only stay close to friends, and family and pray.  Eventually their sorrow will lesson along with everyone who has a tough day like this.