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Gardening For Birds
Creating the perfect garden for birds begins by understanding the needs of birds. Birds, as with other wildlife, require certain elements in the garden to survive. These elements include: Food Water Shelter Planting for birds can add beauty as...
Tree and Shrub Care Programs
Tree and Shrub Care Programs
In many communities there are companies that offer tree and
shrub care programs. These programs are the health care plans of
the plant world. They are designed to help you monitor and care
for your plants, as...
Tree Pruning Tips
You are welcome to use this article on your website or in your newsletter as long as you reprint it as is, including the contact information at the end. Website URLs must be active links. You are welcome to use this article with an affiliate link, ...
Viburnums - Landcape and Garden Wonders
Viburnums are plant that I can't imagine a landscpe being
without. If I had to eliminate all varieties from my gardens
except for one I would be hard pressed to decide which to keep.
All varieties of viburnums are attractive, versatile,...
Water Conservation in the Yard
It is that time of year again. The water companies are sending us notices to reduce watering in our gardens. What are you doing to help conserve this precious commodity? Often we don't appreciate something until it's gone! That can really be true...
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Trades and Barter are My Favorites
I once put an add in the paper that said, "If it free its for
me". I had to stop the add because I collected so much stuff.
Adds do work. The problem with this add was it was not specific
enough to target what I was looking for. Over time and years I
then started to swap and barter the free stuff that I got for
things I really wanted. I had hundreds of broken lawn mowers and
hundreds of gallons of old unwanted paint. I had enough paint to
dip a house if needed. Disposal now became an issue. Thus I came
up with the idea of trading and barter. Now I did not invent
this wheel but I had enough of them that it appeared I might
have. So barter has become a means of swapping and exchanging my
surpluses for other peoples surpluses. Since I am in the nursery
bussiness I also have plants that are surplus. I may plant 1000
trees expecting to need 1000 and find that I have 500 more than
what I need. So offering these trees on the web for Barter has
an effective means to move dormant inventory. Besides this is a
great way to meet new customers. When they have surpluses and I
can move their dormant stock, we both win. Here is a sample add
that I run on my web site seedlingsrus.com :
*****************************************************************
***** Trades Wanted
We are always looking to trade nursery stock and seedlings for
your surplus. Email us with your surplus materials. We may be
able to make trades.
Construction materials and equiptment Plumbing supplies Hunting
and fishing gear and items Hand tools Farm implements Farm
supplies Fencing materials Palletizied stone Household items
Livestock
Sometimes people take me up on my offers to trade trees and
shrubs for their products. One such person is Ralph. Ralph has a
farm in Ohio and raises a variety of farm animals and draft
horses. He asked if I would be interested in trading trees and
plants for his pigs, a Boarder Collie puppy, or his sheep. Not
baaaad I thought. Never really trusting myself with sheep, I
opted for the puppy and some piglets. Here is what Ralph said
after our trade.....
Bill
and Marjorie,
Thank you for a great time, the landscape stuff, some great
conversation and for having faith in 2 people that you've never
met. Your boys are real gentlemen and good guys to be around.
You must be proud. Your operation is top shelf. Thank you for
taking me up on my proposal and our barter deal, you were more
than fair. We wish you continued success in all your endeavors..
you are honest gutsy people... I like that! Thank you for
letting us get to know you. Stay in touch. Thanks again for
everything, Ralph & Connie
*****************************************************************
*****
As you can see I identify what I want to trade for and ask for
items that fit into our operations. I like to include a
testimonial as it gives a link that can be verified as to the
realness of my trading. I also have a newsletter that I post to
my email letter so each month I can tell people what I just
traded for. Here is part of my most recent email newsletter:
*****************************************************************
****
During this month of January we are offering a 10% discount on
our gift cards and coupons. We help make your gift bigger. Don't
forget that we will also trade for your surplus
inventory,building materials, sports equipment, plumbing and ag
equipment. We need all kinds of materials on our farms and
ranches. You can't insult me with your offers, so go
ahead...call us.....This is how we just got our dog Sweep...a
Boarder Collie.....2 pigs....boxes of old tools......a John Deer
riding tractor......a bunch of used but in new condition windows
and doors....a couple of buckets of nuts, bolts, and nails (some
bent but that's ok) and a even a hind quarter of a fresh road
kill deer!!
*****************************************************************
***
This awakens people to the fact that I mean it, I want to
trade.....
You can see more of my ideas at my web page
http://www.seedlingsrus.com
About the author:
Bill is an unusal collector of just about anything.
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