I did it!
Comments
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I was a devoted food coop member when I lived in Seattle. When I moved to Brooklyn, I was more than a little bummed to find out that the Park Slope coop had that idiotic work rule. If they joined the 21st century and just charged a membership fee, they'd be able to move into a Whole Foods-sized space.
Also - it's my understanding that the Fairway does free delivery. Has anyone tried it? My only experience was a rather hellish bike ride back to PS balancing bags on my handlebars. -
Subject: I am going to rejoin
I plan to join the coop again after being away for about 15 years. I made some good friends and acquaintances on my old squad there, and, to this day, we stop each other on the street to chat. The work rule, while inconvenient to my schedule at times, has helped the coop build its solid foundation. People feel more invested when they actually work at a place, and, in fact, when I walk by there I still see many people I know where active when I last was in the coop. And while Park Slope has in the past decade, with more privileged people moving in who have never had to work for the nice things they have, the coop has been successful because of the sweat equity people have in it. If you don't want to work then shop someplace else! -
hmm...no edit function...meant to say "and while Park Slope has changed in the past decade..."
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there's actually a really nice food coop in kensington (i think that's where it is...). it's tiny. it's crowded. but it's nice and friendly and nobody makes you work.
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Subject: Re: I am going to rejoin
Darjeeling wrote: And while Park Slope has in the past decade, with more privileged people moving in who have never had to work for the nice things they have, the coop has been successful because of the sweat equity people have in it. If you don't want to work then shop someplace else!
hmm. ok, well I guess I'm one of those "more privileged people" however I have to say, I bust my ASS for all the "nice things they have". My time is precious, I will not work for food, I'd rather spend the 20 minutes online ordering Fresh Direct than have to work 2.75 hours a month (or whatever it is) to get a break on my organics. -
please... i went to summer camp where we had to grow our own produce, i went to high school on a farm where everyone chipped in and ran the cow barn, chicken coop, and vegetable gardens. and if i had a yard i've have my own garden.
so, been there, done that. the only work i do for my food is walking to the c-town. -
brooklynpotter wrote: so, been there, done that. the only work i do for my food is walking to the c-town.
Amen to that sista'
I mean, this was one of the reasons I feared moving to PS, the "passionate " (yes, I'm being polite here) Co-op"ees"
it works for you. it doesn't work for me, doesn't make either one of us bad people. Although I truly adore the looks I get when I walk past w/ my Union Market shopping bags. -
What judgemental bullshit.
I did 7+ months of FULL-TIME volunteer work after Sept. 11 (60+ hours a week) standing up the whole time on a concrete floor and feeding rescue workers, etc. In the beginning we didn't even have food, so I handed out water.
If I want to drive to Fairway or order from Fresh Direct or pick my fucking nose and eat it (I don't, though), it doesn't mean I'm spoiled. -
Subject: Re: PSFC not always cheap
kensingtonian wrote: I never seemed to save that much money at the Co-op, to be honest. Shopping for a single person, one who eats meat, I never left there without spending $70 on groceries. I get about the same quantity of food at Trader Joe's now for $25, maybe $40 at Fairway.
The same quantity, maybe. But I doubt it's the same food. When I shop at Fairway, I'll sometimes save money on items, but it's because I'm substituting an item that is cheaper at base: I'll get nonorganic produce instead of organic because the organic at Fairway is more expensive, or regular beef in stead of grass-fed, major brand detergent instead of 7th Gen, and so on.
But if I bought the identical item at Fairway that I usually get at the co-op, I'd be paying far more. 98% of the time the item is more expensive at Fairway. (The exceptions tend to be nonperishables like aluminum foil, which have a lower markup at grocery stores.)
Honestly, if I could buy exactly the same items at Fairway and cut my bill by 40%, as you say, I'd quit the co-op tomorrow. -
That's me above.
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trixieNYC wrote: this was one of the reasons I feared moving to PS, the "passionate " (yes, I'm being polite here) Co-op"ees"
You want "passionate" food lectures? I respectfully refer you here:
http://brooklynian.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4306
None of the scolds in that foie gras thread, at least as far as they've mentioned, are food co-op members. I've encountered more sanctimonious food zealotry in this forum than I ever have at the co-op. -
Subject: working members
linusvanpelt wrote: Seriously, people often bring up the pay-instead-of-work suggestion. I used to shop at smaller co-ops that did this. I have nothing against it (many co-op members do, saying it undercuts the sense of community, but I don't care). But... smaller co-ops tend to do it because they have to -- because they're small and need to bring in shoppers.
I bet you"re right--that this is the case for some smaller co-ops., but the largest single-site co-op in the countryâ€â€The Wedge, in Minnneapolis ( http://www.wedge.coop/ )â€â€doesn't have any working members. It's a great, well-run co-op. (I'm a member.)
Of the other 6 co-ops I'm familiar with in the Twin Cities, most of them have working members, but none require it, which made me feel it's loopy that there are no co-ops with that model that I know of around here. The PS Co-op is probably going to keep being what it is. What it could use, what I want, is competition. -
linusvanpelt wrote: [quote=trixieNYC]this was one of the reasons I feared moving to PS, the "passionate " (yes, I'm being polite here) Co-op"ees"
You want "passionate" food lectures? I respectfully refer you here:
http://brooklynian.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4306
None of the scolds in that foie gras thread, at least as far as they've mentioned, are food co-op members. I've encountered more sanctimonious food zealotry in this forum than I ever have at the co-op.
you know what, my problem isn't with the food, it's the attitude....------------------------------------------------------------------------
I mean really now, let's give it a rest.
Darjeeling wrote:
And while Park Slope has in the past decade, with more privileged people moving in who have never had to work for the nice things they have, the coop has been successful because of the sweat equity people have in it. If you don't want to work then shop someplace else!
TriixieNYC wrote:
hmm. ok, well I guess I'm one of those "more privileged people" however I have to say, I bust my ASS for all the "nice things they have". My time is precious, I will not work for food, I'd rather spend the 20 minutes online ordering Fresh Direct than have to work 2.75 hours a month (or whatever it is) to get a break on my organics. -
Subject: Re: working members
linusvanpelt wrote: [quote=trixieNYC]this was one of the reasons I feared moving to PS, the "passionate " (yes, I'm being polite here) Co-op"ees"
You want "passionate" food lectures? I respectfully refer you here:
http://brooklynian.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4306
None of the scolds in that foie gras thread, at least as far as they've mentioned, are food co-op members. I've encountered more sanctimonious food zealotry in this forum than I ever have at the co-op.
In all fairness, I have to point out Genetically modified foods at the Food CoopCHE wrote: I bet you"re right--that this is the case for some smaller co-ops., but the largest single-site co-op in the countryâ€â€The Wedge, in Minnneapolis ( http://www.wedge.coop/ )â€â€doesn't have any working members. It's a great, well-run co-op. (I'm a member.)
Yeah, but Minnesotans just have their shit together!
Of the other 6 co-ops I'm familiar with in the Twin Cities, most of them have working members, but none require it...
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linusvanpelt wrote: But if I bought the identical item at Fairway that I usually get at the co-op, I'd be paying far more. Honestly, if I could buy exactly the same items at Fairway and cut my bill by 40%, as you say, I'd quit the co-op tomorrow
Actually the organic milk at Fairway is cheaper than the coop--and I noticed a couple other things too. I think the coop seems like a fair system. I don't have time to work the shifts so it isn't for me. But I have a lot of friends who shop there just to save money and for no political agenda whatsoever and one is even vehmently anti-organic.linusvanpelt wrote: You want "passionate" food lectures? I respectfully refer you here:
I guess I don't think being passionate about a cause means being sanctimonious. I haven't gotten that jaded yet to stop believing the world can be improved.
http://brooklynian.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4306
None of the scolds in that foie gras thread, at least as far as they've mentioned, are food co-op members. I've encountered more sanctimonious food zealotry in this forum than I ever have at the co-op. -
armchair_warrior wrote: i never understood people why go to that stupid cult of a coop. i mean you paid for your own god damn food why bother to work there.
I guess it's easy to hate/be jealous the things you don't understand, or compare such things to a cult, it's logic from the beginning of time - biblical examples abound.
I am a former member of the co-op and even though my co-op days are behind me, the premise is quite simple. Members like quality/organic foods without paying retail mark-up, they instead defray the cost by taking part in collective economics through sweat equity, an alternative method of human co-existence to hatred and marginalization, albeit one that has supported the growth of many ancient and modern civilizations - where as hate, well, we know where that gets us, on to this message board, which after reading sometimes, I feel sad for how terrible most of you are. -
Anonymous wrote: on to this message board, which after reading sometimes, I feel sad for how terrible most of you are.
I am a true monster, and the last of my kind.
I'm so bad that reading that guy's post actually made my day. -
there are 13 THOUSAND members, which transfers to that many "workers."
why would a store need that many employees? -
Subject: Re: working members
WhyFi wrote: [quote=linusvanpelt][quote=trixieNYC]this was one of the reasons I feared moving to PS, the "passionate " (yes, I'm being polite here) Co-op"ees"
You want "passionate" food lectures? I respectfully refer you here:
http://brooklynian.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4306
None of the scolds in that foie gras thread, at least as far as they've mentioned, are food co-op members. I've encountered more sanctimonious food zealotry in this forum than I ever have at the co-op.
In all fairness, I have to point out Genetically modified foods at the Food Coop
You're right. However, nobody at the co-op in my five years or so of shopping has ever said a word to me about my buying my Cheerios or Heinz ketchup or whatever. I have to come to this forum for that. -
I feel sad about how terrible I am too. Then I get over it. Usually with a beer.
Put some clothes on, Guest. -
I give up trying to defend myself for working hard, sorry, working my ass off, to own the home I live in and being a monster for shopping at Key Food, Fresh Direct or the Union Market. nail me to the cross for all the above. heck, I'll throw in my friggen Prada bag too.
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brooklynpotter wrote: there are 13 THOUSAND members, which transfers to that many "workers."
A few answers I can think of:
why would a store need that many employees?
First, that's 13,000 workers putting in 2.75 hours every four weeks. That's the equivalent of, what, a couple hundred full-timers? Add in that the co-op offers some services most grocery stores don't, like on-site child care, workers who walk members carts several blocks to their homes or cars (so the shopper doesn't have to return the cart to the co-op). And figure in that most co-op members, like me, are fairly incompetent, so one of our man-hours does not equal a man-hour by someone who actually does the job for a living.
For all that, now that the membership has grown so much in the past few years, a lot of members want to get the work obligation reduced -- fewer hours or more weeks between them. Sure, more members means more food to stock, etc., but I bet we have enough people to cut back the work hours. But change takes forever at the co-op.
Anyway, your post underscores another point. Even with the pain-in-the a$$ work requirement, long lines and fear of militant cultists like the ranting Guests above -- as unpleasant, smug and horrible a place as people make the co-op out to be, we still have 13,000 members, which makes for more workers than we need, and the aforementioned long lines. So why start letting nonmembers shop when -- judging by the number of people here who say they'd shop if they didn't have to work -- it would just make the place insanely crowded?
In any event, as far as I'm concerned, trixieNYC can shop whenever she likes, and I promise not to get out the Co-Op's crucifix (which is fashioned by Zapatista peasants from sustainable wood and 100% post-consumer-recycled nails). -
linusvanpelt wrote: [quote=brooklynpotter]there are 13 THOUSAND members, which transfers to that many "workers."
A few answers I can think of:
why would a store need that many employees?
First, that's 13,000 workers putting in 2.75 hours every four weeks. That's the equivalent of, what, a couple hundred full-timers? Add in that the co-op offers some services most grocery stores don't, like on-site child care, workers who walk members carts several blocks to their homes or cars (so the shopper doesn't have to return the cart to the co-op). And figure in that most co-op members, like me, are fairly incompetent, so one of our man-hours does not equal a man-hour by someone who actually does the job for a living.
For all that, now that the membership has grown so much in the past few years, a lot of members want to get the work obligation reduced -- fewer hours or more weeks between them. Sure, more members means more food to stock, etc., but I bet we have enough people to cut back the work hours. But change takes forever at the co-op.
Anyway, your post underscores another point. Even with the pain-in-the a$$ work requirement, long lines and fear of militant cultists like the ranting Guests above -- as unpleasant, smug and horrible a place as people make the co-op out to be, we still have 13,000 members, which makes for more workers than we need, and the aforementioned long lines. So why start letting nonmembers shop when -- judging by the number of people here who say they'd shop if they didn't have to work -- it would just make the place insanely crowded?
In any event, as far as I'm concerned, trixieNYC can shop whenever she likes, and I promise not to get out the Co-Op's crucifix (which is fashioned by Zapatista peasants from sustainable wood and 100% post-consumer-recycled nails).
Thanks for doing the math - I was going to but I'm feeling too lazy today... oops:
If I'm reading you correctly you're saying there's a couple of hundred people working there at any one time? That sounds extremely inefficient - and where do they fit all those people at once? They're probably at or close to the number of people allowed by the fire code before any customers walk through the door. :?
Edited to note that I just played with the numbers and - assuming an average 14 hour work day - that's about 91 people working during any given hour. But I am just not feeling like Mr. Math Whiz today - more like my brain's made of Cheez Whiz. Do they sell that at the Coop?
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ma' word, this subject is more fragile than gay marriage.....GAY MARRIAGE, DISCUSS....
might I quote Rodney King for a moment......? -
Flexichick wrote: I feel sad about how terrible I am too. Then I get over it. Usually with a beer.
Um, I might suggest the same to you, given the strange photographic representation of yourself, revealing your obvious narcissistic nature and what I can only assume as a strong willingness to define yourself the general public as some kind of slut (which I read in the NYT is now a form of gender empowerment, more power to you.)
Put some clothes on, Guest.
I guess I'm just appalled by the hatred expressed on this board and how that seems just fine with everyone. Most of you seem to revel in this type of vitriolic discourse directed toward people who paved the way for your ability to economically co-opt a an entire neighborhood culture through capitalism and class. The joke is ultimately on you as the rents continue to rise and you can homestead out Flatbush and start complaining about the homeless in Ditmas Park or Kensington (those poor, poor people to have to ever endure such a fate), wait, you probably wouldn't want to live near black people, who as expressed on this board just want to yell obscenities and ask for your spare change...well you'll find somewhere to have these miserable, hateful and racist conversations somewhere else in the near future, I suppose.
This message board is a cult, I have right not to register and provide input and I will check in for time to time, to witness the decline of the western (Brooklyn) civilization. -
Anonymous wrote: [quote=Flexichick]I feel sad about how terrible I am too. Then I get over it. Usually with a beer.
Um, I might suggest the same to you, given the strange photographic representation of yourself, revealing your obvious narcissistic nature and what I can only assume as a strong willingness to define yourself the general public as some kind of slut
Put some clothes on, Guest.
whelp, in Flexi's defense I have to say she is certainly ain't no whore.
let's leave it at that.
guys, do you all realize we're fighting over food? christ, haven't done that since junior high, mind you it was fun back then.
this is not fun.
this is borderline retarded. -
Anonymous wrote:
Um, that's a yoga posture in her picture, not a sexual position.
Um, I might suggest the same to you, given the strange photographic representation of yourself, revealing your obvious narcissistic nature and what I can only assume as a strong willingness to define yourself the general public as some kind of slut (which I read in the NYT is now a form of gender empowerment, more power to you.) -
It's called yoga, and many people practice it wearing far less clothing than I'm wearing in that photo. Ask around, there might even be people at the co-op who practice it.
As for calling me a slut, well, that's been the best laugh I've had all day. What's even funnier is that you go on in the next paragraph putting down people on this board for putting people down.
I suggest you go in front of a mirror and take a good, long look at yourself before you start calling other people (especially those you don't know) names. -
Flexichick wrote: It's called yoga, and many people practice it wearing far less clothing than I'm wearing in that photo. Ask around, there might even be people at the co-op who practice it.
You're all right, hatred and racism are good things for the future of our community, your cult has shown me the light.
As for calling me a slut, well, that's been the best laugh I've had all day. What's even funnier is that you go on in the next paragraph putting down people on this board for putting people down.
I suggest you go in front of a mirror and take a good, long look at yourself before you start calling other people (especially those you don't know) names. -
If you want to join our cult, you have to put in 2.75 hours worth of work. Don't come here trying to get something for nothing.
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