Frugal Friday: Know Your Neighbours

Not Peanut, but still cute.

Our neighbours D and M.E. have three pet goats; Molly, Mike and their kid, Peanut. Peanut was the first kid that Molly has ever had. Everybody at D and M.E.'s work were running a pool as to when Peanut would arrive because their was no way to tell since Mike and Molly have always been together. We told D that the kid would be born on the coldest and snowiest day of the winter, because that's just the way it goes. D called in late February on the coldest, snowiest day (one of two snowstorms all winter!). We really hoped it wasn't about the goats because we couldn't get out the laneway. Luckily, Molly had                no problem with her delivery.

Last night we got a call from D because Mike has been losing weight and not eating. M.E. described him as acting depressed. This immediately caught our attention as weight loss, listlessness, and aversion to food can all be signs of parasites or an infection. We went over and had a look at Mike today and decided it is likely a parasite because he is showing signs of anemia; white gums vs. pink and white under the eyelids vs. pink. Financially it is not worth it for D to buy even a small bottle of the dewormer and vitamins that Mike needed. He simply would not use it all up before it expired because his flock is so small. For him to call the vet to look after the problem would have cost a minimum of $150 just for the vet to drive in the laneway. Everything after the vet got out of the truck would cost extra. For us to treat Mike wouldn't be a big deal as we already have the dewormer and vitamins. Giving Mike a dose is just using 1 small bit of our supply. It's a drop in the bucket, so to speak.


After we were finished treating Mike, D asked us how much the "vet bill" was. We told him that he didn't owe us anything, but that later in the Spring we'd come and get some cedar posts from him. If he was to get the vet in it could easily have cost him approx. $200. If we were to buy cedar posts, they cost $6 a piece (and we need a lot of them). To cut them ourselves would take hours, whereas D already has them cut from clearing trails. This situation, which is mutually beneficial, highlights to us the great benefit and financial savings that can come from getting to know your neighbours and cooperating with them. Not everything has to have a dollar value.

Tell us about a time that you have swapped skills or favours with a neighbour. We'd love to hear it.