NYT: Food Co-op Exile's Story Demands 2,000 Words
Comrades, a new bar has just been set for Park Slope Food Co-op navel gazing: “For such a scrutinized institution, little public attention is paid to people like me—co-op failures and near-failures who have struggled to stay in good standing and have stumbled in the cramped aisles. Like every other aspect of the much-loved and…
Comrades, a new bar has just been set for Park Slope Food Co-op navel gazing: “For such a scrutinized institution, little public attention is paid to people like me—co-op failures and near-failures who have struggled to stay in good standing and have stumbled in the cramped aisles. Like every other aspect of the much-loved and much-hated co-op, the topic of members in trouble draws a bushel of opinions. An organic bushel, of course…The co-op, a place that raises aspirations for society, makes us raise aspirations for ourselves. I am still suspended, but imagine myself someday returning and remaining in good standing. Nostalgically, I envision old friends and former roommates in the aisles, examining the white nectarines. But I wonder: couldn’t it be a little mellower?” —Flunking Out at the Food Co-op
Photo by Betty Blade.
I know a couple of families who make their teenage kids serve their hours. This is the only time this place makes sense to me…
quote:
“If you live with other adults with whom you share food and/or household products, then all of you must join the Coop together
LOL omfg seriously? then every adult who has a crotchfruit should have to put in 1/2 the amount of an hour. wtf? seriously what a bunch of loons
*rob*
Nevermind $75/hr. What about a more modest sum of $40/hr. That’s $120 a month! There’s no way you’re “saving” that much. And if you are, you’re you’re just breaking even…. and you’re probably spending WAY too much on food and throwing a lot away. Tsk tsk. Very wasteful.
And if you stick with a $12/hr rate that you might make working a real job in a store… it’s $36/month which *is* probably in the ballpark of how much you’re saving. The difference is, if you actually worked at a shop they might hire you to work more than 3 hrs per month and (a) you might become proficient at your tasks and (b) they would actually pay you.
All that said, I guess the typical “creative professional” doesn’t get to ‘connect’ with their community very much and have the chance to work in retail. So, I guess the opportunity to “feel” how the other side lives is worth far more than the discount on food!!
The calculation of professional salary into value of groceries is kind of strange to me. Do you not go play in the park for a couple of hours because you could be earning income instead? The jobs at the co-op aren’t rocket science. I find my shift is actually fun.
I thought the article was interesting and it justifies my decision to avoid the coop like the plague. Winelover hits the nail on the head. Those couple of hours a month are worth more to me than I could ever save on groceries.
Why is this chick whining? Either follow the rules or don’t work at the co-op. Give me a break.
“if you make $75 per hour lets say, then 3 hours there costs $225. how much can you really save?”
Don’t forget that “all adult members of the household” must work, so if you are married or have a roommate, that’s 6 hours.
“If you live with other adults with whom you share food and/or household products, then all of you must join the Coop together. Under certain circumstances, the Coop may make an exception to this policy. If you think your living situation constitutes an exception to the household policy, please talk with the person who assists you with joining the Coop. The Coop will not make exceptions to the household policy for (1) parents and adult children nor (2) spouses/domestic partners/couples who live together. People who have the above living arrangements must always join the Coop as households whether or not they intend to share Coop products.”
Fresh Direct, on the other hand, only requires a credit card and internet access.
Exactly, Wine Lover. Considering our freelancer/consultant quotes that’s how we’d have to calculate it. And if you have to do two extra shifts after missing one? For EACH adult in the household? Forget it. Not possible for us. It’s clear looking at the huge number of members they have and hearing these stories they need to require fewer hours of members. It’s surely been proposed. Probably some very rigid board members are shooting it down.
i think im going to go to the halloween store and buy a buncgh of stink bombs and start throwing them into the co-op when i pass by it. why not? fyi: stink bombs are just that. STINK bombs. not real bombs. they are totally legal.
ugh now im an organic terrorist
*rob*