The Cake Economy

I want to tell you a secret. It’s that a cake can ‘buy’ you things when you don’t have any money.

Here at S&H/Yarningham HQ we have a DIY attitude. Most of the time this is a necessity rather than a choice. We don’t have the resources or budget of some other organisations so we have to use our creative nous to help solve our problems.

Let me let you in on what I like to call The Cake Economy. Like other economies it works on the premise of goods and services being produced and exchanged. However, in The Cake Economy rather than goods and services being produced and exchanged for money they are produced and exchanged for cake (or other enticing goods).

When we started Yarningham, we did so with absolutely no money whatsoever. We needed lots of work, goods and services to set the festival up. But how could we get a logo designed, for instance, if we had no money? Well what you do is think about what you’re good at – is it baking? Sewing? Gardening? Then ask someone who is good at the thing you need to see if they will do your job in exchange for your skill.

So that’s how the Yarningham logo was designed in return for cake (and some trouser repairs). We use The Cake Economy a lot and you would be surprised what can be ‘bought’ with your skills.

The secret to getting good results from The Cake Economy? Ask nicely and always make sure that you give the person(s) you’re asking a way of saying no easily. Make sure that the exchange is fair and two way. You have to do something of equal or equivalent measure.