Cohousing-L Mailing List: RE: _Stories from your Community

[Robyn (pov]

Hello Mary


1. A clothing exchange area (an area to leave clothes or other items you

don't want, and to pick up same).

- There is a spot near the commonhouse where people leave clothes.  

3. Special bulk buying arrangements.

- The commonhouse as a central store is still in escrow. We have ad hoc
situations - deliveries of mulch/compost; group discounts for
theatre/movies; share trays of mangoes, avocadoes, peaches, etc.

4. Interesting car pooling arrangements or stories.

- The Western Australian Government supports the use of institutional
coercion, by suspending a person's driver's licence, as part of the
Fines Enforcement policy. This is for all fines, not just traffic
offences. Several years ago I was arrested during one of the forest
blockades (ironically the current Govt was elected on the back of the
campaign to save the old growth forests).  I chose to plead not guilty,
was tried, found guilty, fined and refused to pay.  Subsequently my
licence was suspended, coming up to three years.  A strong factor in my
ability to maintain this stand was my life in community.  I get myself
around on public transport, and I do have a partner who drives however
he has limits on his availability and willingness to act as family
'chauffer'.  However, transporting my daughter is often shared because
of common interests and activities and I can organise lifts to obscure
places, even spontaneously.  Another aspect is that most of the vehicles
here are old vans while we have a small, newish car that people enjoy
driving. 

5. Community supported agriculture (either rural, or pick-up
arrangements 
in an urban community).

- Late every Friday afternoon Werner arrives from his organic farm, with
freshly picked fruit and vegetables and some bio-dynamic food items
(tofu, rice, milk) as well as honey and homemade jams.  He sets up in
our car park and rings the bell.  Community members mingle with other
neighbours in the sunset.


Hope it's useful.

Regards
Robyn Williams
Pinakarri Community
Fremantle, Western Australia

www.pinakarri.org.au

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