From the Neighborhood Cooperative Food Project:
In 2020, a group of Kensington /Windsor Terrace/Ditmas Park neighbors launched a small bulk buying experiment to prioritize solidarity and safety in the way we buy food and support the local community and economy. Our experiment is proving fruitful! And we welcome involvement from more members as our neighborhood needs continue to shift and grow.
Our volunteers currently fulfill 30-40 orders every other week, with around $1,000 of food going towards solidarity needs every round. We order directly from nearby Lancaster Farm Co-Op and they deliver bi-weekly in bulk. Neighbors pick up their farm-fresh items every other Wednesday morning in front of volunteers' homes, one located in Kensington and one in Flatbush/Ditmas Park. We are considering adding a third distribution location, and/or coordinating an evening pick-up time, now that more members of our community are commuting again.
Sample items:
- Organic Produce Box, mix of seasonal items: $35.10
- Organic Spicy Greens/Arugula/Baby Spinach: $4.84/5 oz box
- Kombucha: $3.32/12 oz bottle
- Whole or 2% Milk, half gallon: $3.71-$3.97
- Organic Yogurt: $4.21/32 oz
- Organic Tofu: $2.90/15 oz
- Organic Ground Beef: $10.46/lb
- Organic Flour: $13.85/5 lb bag
The food is fresh and delicious! Every paying order helps to cover the cost of an order for those who need support. Each time you order, you can request a solidarity discount as needed, or contribute money towards groceries for others.
Participating in this project is a fantastic way to feel connected to your neighbors, plus the flexibility and adaptability make it really easy, as you do not need to worry about committing to a whole season of CSA deliveries when you may be traveling or unable to get through all of your items in just a couple of weeks. However, the flexibility also makes the project tricky, as we never know exactly what the need will be with each order, nor do we know exactly how much coverage we will have to fulfill those needs.
Please get in touch if you are interested in helping out with your time and labor, a space for an additional distribution spot, a car to help move orders around the neighborhood, or new ideas for fundraising and support.
We are connected to the Kensington-Windsor Terrace Mutual Aid group. Reach us at foodcoopproject@gmail.com to sign up and receive details and access to order forms. We can always use extra funds to help cover the gaps, so if you would like to make a donation to support solidarity orders, please send through Venmo to @murberry.