Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Meal Tracking Programs

[Fred-List manager (fholson]

Randa Johnson <cohoranda [at] yahoo.com>
is the author of the message below.  It was posted by
Fred, the Cohousing-L list manager <fholson [at] cohousing.org>
after deleting quoted digest and restoring subject line.
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re: Meal tracking

We have a system where we all have to take a turn in the cooking, and
eating is optional.  No money is exchanged: you control your costs by
controlling the menu.  Sometimes we add a third person to the
cooking/cleaning crew for a larger, fancier or more expensive meal.
Guests have to be signed up ahead of time. Last minute guests are
usually welcome, and expected to bring something to contribute to the
meal (a side dish, some drinks,etc... Since we are all required to
cook, we do out best to accommodate every one's meal needs, and
succeed most of the time.  We do have to remind people regularly to
sign out if they aren't coming; for example if the no tomatoes/no
peppers people or the vegan/no salt/oil/sugar folk won't be there, we
often have a big tomato/pepperfest or a meat meal.  We are feeling
some strain adjusting to the no salt/sugar/oil, but it seems to be
coming along okay.  We have one person who is boycotting.  Other
than that person, we have full participation in cooking and 20- 25 at
our weekend meal and 6-18 at our weeknight meal.  We have a few
regular guests who occasionally join in and help cook a meal.  I'm
not sure it would work for a larger group, and the people who eat less
often and don't take a late plate contribute a little more than their
share, but the group feels the lack of tracking needed was worth it. 

Randa Johnson
New Brighton Cohousing
Aptos, CA