Session 24 October 2009

webglider said:
If you or anyone else is interested, I can speak to the coordinators and PM the information to you if that's okay with the Moderators.

I don't think there is any reason to resort to using PMs - just post the information you have in a 'how to start a food coop' thread.
 
anart said:
I don't think there is any reason to resort to using PMs - just post the information you have in a 'how to start a food coop' thread.

Good idea. It didn't occur to me to start a thread on the subject.
 
I started a thread for "How To Start A Food Coop" in the Health and Diet section:

http://www.cassiopaea.org/forum/index.php?topic=14465.0
 
After reading the last session on Sunday, I was as surprise as many about the creation of a new religion but, before commenting I read the statement of principles of the Fellowship of the Cosmic Mind. How could I disagree with so solid a foundation for a new society? the answer is I can't. If creating or converting the QFS into a religion for the protection of it members is necessary, so be it. I received a religion from my parent as a child but never practiced it nor participated in it ceremony or really studied it. Today at 47 years old, I'm proposed to join a religion that I'm studying for the last year and practicing for the last few months,no problem, where do I sign. My application for membership will be in the mail shortly. Thank you Laura and all the members of the QFS.
 
webglider said:
LQB said:
At least in this area, there are sources for much better foods - I've had to do some serious local searching, and in doing so, found many locals are unaware of sources in their own region. And I think you are right - many are not willing to pay a premium for the better small farm-foods. But in many cases, it seems that they have not come to an understanding of the urgent need to do so. And there is a growing group that cannot afford the premium price.

I wonder if people in your area would be interested in starting a food coop. I belong to one, and I've seen it grow from just a few members to well over 10,000 active members - and that's not counting all the people who were members and dropped out.

If everyone comes together and buys in bulk, the prices go down. That's how our coop started - very small. Everyone put in an order, and then came in at a designated time to pick it up. Now, no one pre-orders, and people shop whenever they want as they would in a regular supermarket. Work shifts are required and only members can shop. In the beginning, it was very primitive and small, now, in addition to a place to buy food, it has also become a community center that offers childcare when members shop, workshops, cooking classes, lectures, movies, clothing swaps, classes in nutrition and health, dances etc. There is a shift that works in a community garden, and another that works in a soup kitchen. Every month there is a General Meeting, there are elections for certain positions, and there is a paid staff which receives a decent salary, health care, and pensions.

It's a good way to build community, keep prices down, and share information and skills. If you, or anyone else is interested I can follow up. Our coop has a mentoring program for communities that want to start their own Food Coops. If you or anyone else is interested, I can speak to the coordinators and PM the information to you if that's okay with the Moderators.

Absolutely, Webglider - the Coop marries well with other ongoing efforts (by some local organic/biodynamic folks) to bring the farm produce of local small farms to a more central distribution. The Coop would be one of these locations that could serve a local area of about 25,000 pop within a 15 min drive. You would have to extend that to 30 min to pick up significantly more. And there is plenty of central storefront space available. Help setting one up would be much appreciated. I joined the internet Frontier Coop for some products and extended the ordering to some friends, but this would be a good vehicle for some of the Coop products. Something like Azure Standard would also be a nice asset. But best of all, the Coop would provide cheap access to the best local produce, and a possible contact source for other things such as raw dairy, etc. The Coop could serve not not only a community focus, employment, etc, but also be a source for health-related info leading to education/explanation of the products carried. Costs should be competitive with the chains since overhead should be far less. So, absolutely - we would much appreciate any help that makes setting one up easier.

We have been making much contact (since arriving) with the local Amish population. Although they are all off the grid, the majority use Ag fertilizers and pesticides for their produce. This is changing slowly. I have found one family experimenting with organic and another that is going full bore organic/biodynamic. These folk would be most appreciative of an outlet for their produce. Fresh local produce that is no more than a day or two since harvest is wonderful (and much more nutritious).
 
webglider said:
I started a thread for "How To Start A Food Coop" in the Health and Diet section:

http://www.cassiopaea.org/forum/index.php?topic=14465.0

Thanks Much Webglider
 
LQB said:
Costs should be competitive with the chains since overhead should be far less. So, absolutely - we would much appreciate any help that makes setting one up easier.

In the beginning, you may be able to sell most things at cost or near cost unless you decide to have paid staff. That may not be necessary in the beginning, but later as the coop evolves and membership increases, you might need full-time staff.
 
Another amazing session - thank you for posting it. I had a feeling that some people may have strong reactions to the word "church" and all that goes with it. And, to be honest, I also had a bit of an internal jolt - "Why a church?". But then again it is really just a word, maybe not the most fortunate one to use... although for legal purposes certainly necessary.

Instead, I think of it as a "fellowship" - a group of like-minded people who work together for a common goal. It implies a safe place where the members give each other support irrespective of their placement along the cycle. Where mentorship is used to pull each other up, where knowledge is freely exchanged in an organised way. And a written set of principles forms a common understanding, a basis of deeper connection.

Like a forum on steroids.

It's something that I definitely want to participate in. First though, reading all the information provided is important. It's been an intensely challenging couple of weeks for me personally as well and I'm struggling to keep up.

Irrespective of that - keep going - this feels right. Life is religion whether anyone notices or not.
 
I would like to suggest the analemma as a basic symbol for Paleochristianity (my avatar is a photographed example).

Analemma.com said:
Have you ever seen this figure-8 on a globe and wondered what it is? It is simply this: if you could record the position of the sun in the sky at the same time every day, let’s say sometime around noon and subtracting one hour if you are observing daylight saving time, you would notice that the sun takes a rather strange path. You might notice that at certain times throughout the year the sun's position not only varies higher and lower (North and South) as you would expect with the change of the seasons, but also slightly east and west. This figure-8 path that the sun makes in the sky is called the analemma.

There many reasons to adopt this symbol:

1) Its simple- therefore easy to remember and easy to explain.
2) It almost looks as if its an extension of the Ichthys symbol of early christianity, and thus would perfectly represent "paleochristianity". Compare:
ichthy1.jpg

Analemma.png

3) It is reminiscent of the infinity symbol, so it could symbolize the possibilities for a new world.
4) It links to the megalithic cultures via astronomy.

Hi, I'm sorry, but that Analemma figure just reminds me of a noose. :nuts: But then, that's just my two cents.
 
Al Today said:
I would like to suggest the analemma as a basic symbol for Paleochristianity

That "logo" may have already been used. Looks like the jeebus fish I see on many car rear-ends, bumber stickers and such. fwiw.

Al, I think it's the lower figure we're talking about, not the Jesus fish (yeah, I cringe whenever I see that stuck on a car). At least, that's the one *I* meant.
 
Wow! This is really ground shaking! At first my reaction was: " a church? I don't like churhes!", but then thanks to the work of Laura and reading Gurdjieff, I was able to see how this too was an automatic reaction of my machine, as though having had bad experiences with church and people in Catholicism happened so I would have and adverse reaction to this idea.

I have been running away from churches and religous dogma that didn't make sense to me, but it has been in great part thatnks to Laura's work, so for all that thank you! And to all of you in SOTT thank you, I wouldn't be able to recognize any of those programs if I hadn't come accross you guys, it all makes sense a church that you can choose to be in, rather than by default or your parents tradition.

This is amazing, it has been truly amazig throuhgout the years.

Wow!! :D

So I'm in, I'll join the fellowship of the cosmic mind, thank you!! This was a great session!! :)
 
Shar said:
Hi, I'm sorry, but that Analemma figure just reminds me of a noose. :nuts: But then, that's just my two cents.

LOL. Never thought of that. My thinking was along the lines of somehing like the christian cross. If the majority of people require an external moral code, it makes sense to have a common symbol to rally around. Maybe just adapt the cross since its already an authoritative symbol?
 
Thank you ! Laura, Ark, Team 1 and of course Cassiopaea........... This is very exciting news and grand opportunity for more protection and knowledge from the PTB, as means to avoid any contact with the coming mandatory injections of this poison that the claim will solve all the issues of the problem. As always you are always light years ahead of situations that may become issues for you as well as all concerned ...."Bravo" :grad: Also the dietry food comments is good reminder to be vigilante of what one eats and too staying emotional healthy as well as physically healthy as means to keep for contracting the so called flue..Where do i sign ..............?
 
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