Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: NOT Paying for common meals

[Ann Zabaldo (zabaldo]

When a group of us went to Denmark to visit cohousing communities in 99 we
came across just this system.  Very simple.  I remember asking what happens
if you want to cook something a little extra special that's more
expensive -- your meal would cost more to prepare.  The answer, eloquent in
its simplicity:  fix it in the summertime when most residents are on
vacation!

I bet Debbie or Fred remember more specifics about this very simple system.

Ann Zabaldo

Takoma Village Cohousing
Washington, DC. -- America's
Hometown!
zabaldo [at] earthlink.net

----- Original Message -----
From: "Chris ScottHanson" <chris [at] cohousingresources.com>
To: "Cohousing-l" <cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org>
Sent: Sunday, October 20, 2002 10:33 PM
Subject: [C-L]_NOT Paying for common meals


> Having lived in three different cohousing communities, and having visited
> many others, I have experienced a variety of meal tracking and billing
> systems and they all seemed cumbersome. Usually well managed, but
sometimes
> very complicated.
>
> Of particular concern to me was the community that ended up paying the
State
> of ??? sales tax on the money collected for meals.  Talk about
accounting...
>
> The one I heard about that I am the most impressed with, which I have not
> actually experienced, was described to me (and others) by Jan Gudman-Hoyer
> (the father of cohousing in Denmark).  If I remember correctly, and those
> who know more about this should jump right in here, he described a money
> free system that went something like this.
>
> Each night of the week there was a dinner "club" made up of those who
wished
> to attend meals regularly on that night every week.  You took your turn
> cooking on that night based on the size of your "club".  When you cooked,
> you supplied and paid for all the food.  When you were not cooking, you
> showed up to eat, without paying or tracking anything.  If you couldn't
come
> one night, you arranged to pick up your meal so you can take it home and
eat
> it, or otherwise.
>
> This system had some interesting nuances, if I remember correctly.  For
> instance, you COULD agree to make Monday nights vegan night, and Friday
> night beef night, etc.  Of course Thursday could be Thai food night.
> Second, your dinner "club." I don't remember what they did about visitors,
> or even other member of their community who wanted to join in once in a
> while.
>
> Does anyone else remember this system, and if so, can they add anything to
> my limited description of it.  It does meet one of my primary goals in
life,
> that of keeping things simple and straight forward.
>
> In community,
>
> Chris ScottHanson
>
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