A Step by Step Guide to Organising a Garden Cooperative
March 25, 2010 by Editor · Leave a Comment
Ideally, we would all like to eat natural foods all the time that are grown with organic farming techniques and the appropriate vegetable seeds. This can ensure the health of our families by making sure that what they eat is free of harmful chemicals and pesticides. The increasing demand for organic foods has made them expensive but there are ways in which they can be made more affordable.
One method that you could adopt is to undertake the responsibility of organizing a garden cooperative. This means that you pool resources with other members to organize a cooperative that will be collectively owned by all the members. The cooperative will be able to obtain a continuous supply of fresh produce at an affordable price because of the volume discounts that would be available.
First determine what kind of foods you would like to procure and then identify the sources that give you the best deals. Ensure that you can compile a list of the products that are available and the prices that you have negotiated. It may be a good idea to see if there is a Community Supported Agriculture garden (CSA) in your vicinity. CSAs are generally highly committed to high standards of organic farming.
Next, announce your intention to form a cooperative and try and enlist as many members as you can. Use the local press and signs in local stores where possible. Distribute the product and price lists to members who sign up and provide them with an order form and a cut-off date for submission. Furthermore, get a commitment from them to contribute free time to help out in the running of the cooperative. Phone suppliers and place the firm order after reconfirming prices.
On the delivery date decided, pick up the order and, with the help of other members, redistribute the foods into various boxes or bags along with a copy of each member’s order. Inform members that they may now pick up their orders. As you can see, the bulk discount plus the savings in overheads should translate into substantial discounts for members.
