Photo by Bailey Tennery.

Trade the small stuff for better stuff

Translate

Inspired by a Canadian man’s idea, HSU students have begun to trade their items of low value. No money is involved, it’s simply a game of trades.

Humboldt State senior Adam Hayes entered a professor’s office looking to trade a cheese grater for something better.

“The professor was not having it,” Hayes said.

“If I could trade you that printer, I would,” the professor said. “But it’s school property.”

“I’ll take that printer from you,” Hayes said.

“No,” the professor said.

Canadian blogger Kyle MacDonald inspired Hayes to start bartering. MacDonald made 14 trades in 2005 during a period of unemployment. He ended up trading a role in a movie for a two-story farmhouse in Saskatchewan, Canada.

“It’d be nice to have a place where I don’t have to pay rent,” Hayes said. “I’m paying homage to the original idea the gentleman had, but Humboldt style.”

According to ABC, MacDonald’s inspiration came from a game called Bigger, Better. The basic rule of the game is to start with a small object, then ask people if they’d be willing to trade. The goal is to get a “bigger and better” object than the one with which you started.

Hayes started with a paper clip to a cheese grater, then a cheese grater to a CPR manual.

“I traded the cheese grater for a CPR manual, because it has the power to save lives,” Hayes said.

Hayes eventually traded a CPR manual for a decorated rock. Then, he traded a decorated rock for a cardboard virtual reality headset.

“I spend a lot more time on Craigslist than I’d like to,” Hayes said.

Hayes uses Craigslist to find fellow barters. He found an owner of a diesel fuel tank on Craigslist and traded his cardboard virtual reality headset for it.

“It is 12 feet by four feet, [and] I live in an apartment,” Hayes said. “I called a buddy of mine that has a backyard and asked if I could store it in his backyard. He agreed if I bought him a pizza.”

Hayes is studying communications and minoring in entrepreneurship and psychology. He hopes to get an all-terrain vehicle, motorbike or electric scooter for the diesel fuel tank.

“That fuel tank is for growers, I’m not going to lie,” Hayes said. “I know my market. I’m going to go to local dispensaries, ask around and see if anyone wants to trade for it.”

HSU student Jake Peil joined the bartering game. Peil started when he found a paperclip on the ground in his house.

“I traded my roommate for a pen,” Peil said. “Later, my roommate realized the paperclip I traded him was his, but now I have a pen. I tried to encourage my roommate that he can trade the paper clip for something else.”

Business major Albert Bernales started with a paper clip and kept trading to get bigger and better things.

“I go up to people, ask if they want to trade,” Bernales said. “Sometimes I’ll tell them about the story, like what I traded to get this item.”

Bernales traded a paperclip for a chewed-up pencil. Then, he traded the pencil for an empty box [and] a mechanical pencil. He then traded that for an orange pen, and the orange pen for a hair tie.

“I am never disappointed with the stuff I get,” Bernales said. “I’m always satisfied with empty boxes or anything.”

Bernales went from a hair tie to a sticker, a sticker to a pin, a pin to a flashcard and a flashcard to an empty gum box. Then, he traded the empty gum box for a red pen to a metal water bottle.

“You don’t get scared to talk to anyone,” Bernales said. “I’m not intimidated to talk to really important people or people below me. Everybody is just a friend.”

Bernales approached freshman Victoria Ramirez on Feb. 2 to trade his metal bottle in the library.

“It was strange at first, unexpected [and] off-putting,” Ramirez said. “He’s a stranger. I thought about not responding. He started talking to me. I wasn’t sure if he knew me.”

The idea of the game Bigger, Better grew on Ramirez.

“It’s a cool way to get to know people and to create connections,” Ramirez said. “It’s different. Simple, yet not simple. I’m thinking of starting it.”

 

Share This Post

More Stories

Nina G uses comedy to start conversations

During the virtual comedy event held by the SDRC, Nina Ghiselli tells her story and emphasizes the importance of student disability resources within schools.

It’s not just the Capitol Police

As the world watched from their televisions on January 6, we witnessed scenes unfold before our eyes that were, to many, unimaginable: supporters of President Trump swarmed the steps of the U.S. Capitol Building, then proceeded to break in and

The San Jose State University Football Team Comes to Humboldt

On a day’s notice from administration, the SJSU football team spends a week and a half in Humboldt practicing because their county did not allow it. Students react to their presence on campus in the midst of a pandemic. Directed

Homelessness in Humboldt, CA

This is the first trailer of a homeless documentary created by HSU students. We have spent months filming and will continue to film throughout the next year. Follow the heartbreaking stories of the homeless community around Humboldt county and the

Thrifty Arcata

Taking a tour of the local thrift shops in Arcata during the COVID-19 pandemic. Directed and produced by Skylar Gaven.

House Plants Generate Peace and Meaning During the Pandemic

Three different people with the same love for plants! House plants have become quite popular these days especially since we’re all basically stuck inside during the pandemic. Not only are they aesthetically pleasing, but these beautiful green oxygen-makers provide more

Prop 22 represents political favoritism of money over workers’ rights

California’s passing of proposition 22 on Nov. 5 represents a frustrating history of workers’ rights being trampled by the overwhelming influence of greed in politics.  This proposition forces app-based workers to be classified as independent contractors, rather than employees. This

Remembering Evelyn Andrews 10 months after her passing

By Katelyn Dendas It has been 10 months since my friend, teammate and freshman year dorm mate, Evelyn Andrews, passed away. I don’t remember what the grief counselor said or what transpired after that Monday, but I do remember arriving

Protestors seek to defund HSUPD

Two local, activist organizations work together to stage a sit-in against Humboldt State’s police department.

Getting stuck on the Trump train

Writer Anthony Aragon details his experience of accidentally joining a pro-Trump car rally.

Justin Turner exposes the World Series to COVID-19

Justin Turner didn’t need to be the story in the wake of the Dodgers’ first World Series victory in 32 years. Instead here we are, wondering what sort of, if any, punishment Major League Baseball will decide to hand down

Four more years of fear

News Editor Carlos Holguin explains why he is worried about the next four years.

Dismal democracy

The Lumberjack editorial staff comments on America’s flawed electoral system As the world watches the United States 2020 election results, waiting for our pseudodemocratic process to churn out a new president, historically unprecedented voting methods misrepresents the reported Election Day

The Mario triple pack invokes a nostalgia attack

When I was a child, the first video game system I owned was a Nintendo 64. Among the games I played was Super Mario 64. I played it all the time and when I wasn’t playing it, I was lying

Women’s lacrosse drops their competitive season

Greta Roberts, president and player of Humboldt State University’s women’s lacrosse team, made the decision with her coach and teammates to cancel the upcoming spring season. The team decided that not being able to recruit in the fall would be

Dobby’s proposition opinions

Haven’t voted yet? Well, you’re running out of time. Here’s a quick rundown of California’s propositions on the ballot this year

Corporations buy out propositions

In a series of general and misleading advertisements, corporate backers of Propositions 22 and 23 show their grubby hands

CDOR continues virtually

The Campus and Community Dialogue On Race returns covering global justice for Black Lives.

Indigenous Food Sovereignty

Local food management practices of the Tolowa Dee-ni, Yurok and other indigenous peoples.

Humboldt State Admin attempts to discredit the Lumberjack

***A Lumberjack editorial represents both the majority opinion of the student newspaper’s editorial board, nine editors, as well as the overwhelming majority of Humboldt State University’s student body. Collectively, an editorial echos, embodies and advocates for community beliefs.*** Insensitive communications

Music of the Moment 6

21 Savage and Metro Boomin drop a classic with “Savage Mode II”

Spartans arrive at HSU despite campus concerns

***Editor’s note: SJSU football program was tested in congruence with Mountain West conference guidelines*** The Spartans have arrived and this time they’re not carrying spears or shields. Instead the San Jose State football team stepped onto the Humboldt State campus

Music of the Moment 5

After shooting Megan Thee Stallion, Tory Lanez cancels himself

Welcome to the Twilight Zone

Comparisons between episodes of the classic TV show The Twilight Zone and our own dismal reality

Music of the Moment 4

YoungBoy Never Broke Again dodges the sophomore slump with his new album “Top.”

Self-Care Cuts

Changing your hair to change your life

HSU Seaweed Farm sets sail

The first commercially-approved seaweed farm in California will be on the map.

Music of the Moment 3

For better or worse, Big Sean is likely gone for good.

More Layers, More Protection?

Humboldt State demands double masking on campus, does more layers equal more protection?

The Ethnic Studies Bill is a Blessing

Ethnic Studies will thankfully become mandatory for all California State University students – as it should be.

The Complex Interface of Humans and Wildfires

How fire suppression is a mixed bag in Humboldt County Every fire season, blankets of smoke roll over Humboldt County. Here on the coast, that’s as close to wildfires as some of us get. But our practice of fire suppression

Defund HSU’s Police Department

Incidents of racism from the former UPD Chief, past examples of excessive force from current officers and a shrinking university budget.

How Not To Be Bitten By A Kitten

Please prepare to be prey Congratulations, a baby feline has recently come into your life. If they’re anywhere from 2-18 months, they bite. They see you as prey. Because you are prey. You always have been. You always will be.

Graduating Into Uncharted Waters

HSU graduates attempt to navigate a world turned upside-down by COVID-19 In May, Humboldt State University graduated hundreds of students, as it does every year. Unlike past years, graduates didn’t get to shake hands with their respective dean and receive

HSU Cultural Center Budget Slashed

Associated Students leaves student body devastated after significant reductions in cultural center’s budget.

All aboard the plague ship

Unprecedented times are met with normalized behavior, HSU puts students and community members at higher risk after reopening campus and student housing.

Music of the Moment

The hip-hop community rallies behind the Black Lives Matter Movement

Inside the Immune System

How the body uses multiple levels of defense against foreign intruders

Catcalling Can’t Continue

Verbal harassment toward women is about control and the assertion of gender discrimination

Major League Marijuana

Why I don’t think marijuana is everything it’s cracked up to be in baseball

Pigs Compost on Campus

CCAT tries to reduce HSU’s food waste footprint through new pig program