If you live in Brooklyn, somewhat close to Park Slope, it’s pretty neat to join the Food Coop. Member owned, the coop offers cheap and organic everything since their mark-up is far below the typical grocery store mark-up because they don’t have to pay for labor: Everybody works 2.75 hours every four weeks. I’ve been a member and cashier for over a year and, even though the Coop is a 10 minute bike ride from my house, I still much rather shop there than at the Met on the corner of my block. The price difference is truly remarkable and I often feel like I’ve spent far too much money if I even just buy ingredients for one pasta dinner at the Met.

While there are many people who don’t like the Coop for many reasons, I have to say that my experience there has been almost entirely pleasurable. Aside from the occasional self-important member I really enjoy the people and the environment, especially the fact that you don’t feel like the people working there resent you and resent working there. In a world that is dominated by workers alienated from their labor, the coop is a place where that is not the case (of course the whole working every four weeks thing has something to do with it.)

And when my shift ends with snacking on freshly prepared guacamole with chips and the squad leader starts a little conversation on the dis/advantages of private property I feel like I’m in a good place.