The True Value of Silver: Hard Work + Energy and Goods = Real Silver Money

Forget the web, this is the true "spot price" of silver today, in my neck of the woods. A one ton dually loaded down with slab wood, ready for camping season, for an ounce. Good trade!

The Amish family that I get my pre-cut slab wood from for camping understand the honesty of a hard days work, energy spent, and the lasting value of real silver as money.

Money is essentially what we consider fair payment or exchange for the energy that we put into something.

I've dealt with this family for years as we watch each other's kids grow bigger. He gives me tomatoes and cantaloupe when they are in season and too many to sell at once. He would rather see people enjoy the fruits of his labor, than see things go to waste.

I give him a Walking Liberty Half to pick up a full load of kindling and clean his lot up for him. Occasionally a ride into town, or I help him pull out a log that's a little stuck.

When I pull in and load my truck down, he just smiles when I ask him how much it will be. Always the same reply "You talkin' paper or silver?"

More than a cord of pre-cut wood each time! That will keep my family warm, cook our food, and be the center of our gatherings with friends on many camping nights - for a single coin from my pocket.

His family works the mill all day, cutting huge hardwood logs into oak, cherry, and walnut boards. Many becoming furniture.

In his eyes, he has a guy that will give him real silver for his unusable wood, and also keep him up-to-date on the local news.

But in all honesty, he would rather give me three loads of wood for free than to ever have me think that he is being selfish or greedy. He is the most humble person that I have ever met. Truly generous to a fault.

His youngest boy ran around last summer in bare feet, training a small pony and laughing. Somehow he survived...without shoes or a helmet.

I brought him a large cent that I found detectiing last year and he thought it was amazing!

Maybe instead of wondering why they are so different, we should ask ourselves why we have changed so much? Hard work, organic food on the table, big families, no taxes....crazy talk right?

You're probably wondering why I stack my wood so funny, with that big gap in the middle?

Well folks, that's the "cat-hole"! There is a little hole in the barn siding that the cats just fit through, to hide inside.
A necessity if coyotes or stray dogs chase down the barn cats. 😂 They are pretty useful on my farm, so we have to watch out for them too!

It will only be a few weeks before I hook this:

Up to this:

And get back to what me and Mrs @jbcoin consider "real life" from April through November! Outdoor life, bartering when we can, and spending real time with the family!

If you start "weighing your purchases" each day in silver...you'll find that you become a little more thrifty. Is that extra meal out worth an Ounce and a Half? really??

Tonight I am grateful for good friends, be them Amish or Steemish. I am happy to be prepared for the coming camping season, for a single silver coin. I am looking forward to spring and to new beginnings, both outdoors and in my personal career.

I am also thankful to @phelimint, whose RCM round bought me a big ass load of firewood. For the record, the Amish didn't know that you guys have a Royal Canadian Mint. You might need to tell more people about it maybe?

Thanks for reading! Please upvote, Resteem, and don't take any wooden nickels.