AN ECONOMY OF SHARING

Lots of folk on the Coast still subscribe to the old adage: “If you’ve got it, share it.” There’s even a sense that if you don’t share, the fish will stay away from your nets, the crab from your traps, and the slugs will have a field day in your garden. It’s part of respecting the creatures that are our food.

Our surpluses are usually crab and shrimp or prawns, sometimes berries or garden greens. As often as we can, we take crab and shrimp to church. For some of the older folk, it’s the only seafood they have access to. Jim brings rhubarb, herbs and garden vegetables to share. Donna brought down a wonderful Smithers cheese. Gil saved out some brass fixtures he thought we might use from the rummage sale.

The makings for a rhubarb and salmonberry pie

Anne, Ron and Elizabeth

When Anne and Ron came down with all their goodies, they had hoped to take back, along with crab, shrimp, etc., some salmon. But the one lovely spring we had on got away. Coming back into the yacht club, Jo’s friend Steve called out from the fuel dock: “Did you catch anything?” Ron answered, “Rockfish, but no salmon.” A fisherman, overhearing, reached down into his hold and held up a sockeye: “Here, take this.” And Jo had a coho in her freezer she wasn’t going to use.

Anne and Ron on La Sonrisa

We had hoped to be able to begin canning some salmon ourselves. The next morning, neighbour Mark kayaked over: “My motor isn’t running and I need a ride to the ferry. And by the way, I have three jars of sockeye that wouldn’t fit in my canner. Can you use them?” A day later Gordie phoned: “We limited out yesterday. Do you want a coho?”

Discussing fishing plans
Kimbo in his life jacket, ready to go fishing with Gord

Aunt Chris loves her crab. She shares it with sons Lennie and Herman and families, and always takes some down south to her sisters. She also loves going to garage sales, which is great for us. We put in our order and Chris keeps a look out!

Aunt Chris makes sure Thomas keeps warm

Cooking crab on the beach at Crippen Cove with Chris, Herman and Lennie

Foster and Hilda and Gordie are the last of the moose-hunting men, bridge-playing couples mom and dad were so fond of. Foster and Gordie are constantly offering to drive us around town, inviting us up for a meal or to do laundry, etc. The other day Gordie came up with a last package of moose burger from his freezer; earlier Foster contributed (along with making the most wonderful smoked salmon) four delectable octopi.

At least half the crab we give to Foster and Gordie get given away to others. It’s one of the ways Foster and Gordier continue to participate in the economy of sharing.

Gordon, Foster and Thomas telling after dinner tales

Hilda and Elizabeth

Scripture says that it is more blessed to give than to receive. Certainly it is a blessing to be able to share. But to receive is almost a double blessing. First is the delight in the gift itself; second is the delight in the pleasure people derive from giving. We are discovering that gracious receiving is, in itself, the giving of a gift.

Tonight Foster is serving fishcakes… and Gordie is picking us up! And tomorrow we head over, by ferry, to Haida Gwaii, with crab, shrimp and garden greens for Sara.