A driving cooperative is a group of people who join together by agreement to take turns sharing the responsibility of picking up vegetables from the farm site in Sunset, Texas and returning them to a designated drop-off locale or in their own neighborhood.

How pickup co-ops operate: Each group is made up of 1 to 12 shares. More than this number of shares won't fit in small cars. Each week, a different household comes to the farm and picks up the veggies for everyone and takes them back to the group's local pickup site. In the beginning of the new season the group has a meeting and sets the driving schedule, (new groups) decide on a local pickup site and sets their internal rules: When the produce must be back and when people can pick them up at the site, how to pick up the shares, collect tote bags and give them to the next person who will pick up from the farm. 

For farm members interested in joining a pickup co-op who are not already a member of one, please send an email to the farm with your phone number and email address to: pamela (at) rosecreekfarms.com. The information will only be made available to others near you who are interested in joining or forming a pickup co-op. 

• Please remember if you agree to join a group you must fullfill your driving and delivery commitments. Exceptions only if you work out something prior to the pickup date with the group leader or all group members. 

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• If you buy a share from the farm and join a driving group it is your responsibility to see that your share is picked up from the farm. The farm is not liable for unpicked up shares. Please do not ask the farmer to become involved in matters of your driving group. There will be no membership fee refunds for any reasons due to pick up or delivery issues.

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• If you quit the CSA for any reason during the current harvest season you are still required to full-fill your pick up days or work it out with the group prior to your pick up turn. 

Suggestions for your driving group

The following was originally written to help farmers organize pickup co-ops, but it may be helpful to anyone who wishes to organize such a group in their neighborhood. - Rose Creek Farms. 

Advantages of pickup cooperatives:

• A way to involve urban people without requiring the farmer to spend time driving vegetables into town.
• Members get to the farm more often than in delivery CSA's, which creates a greater connection to the farm.
• They are small, easy to organize, and easy to maintain.
• They promote neighborhood-based community.

How pickup co-ops operate: Each group is made up of 1 to 12 shares. More than this number of shares won't fit in small cars. Each week, a different household comes to the farm and picks up the veggies for everyone and takes them back to the group's local pickup site. In the spring, the group has a meeting and sets the driving schedule, (new groups) decide on a local pickup site and sets their internal rules: When the produce must be back and when people can pick them up at the site, how to pick up the shares (numbered canvas bags, plastic bags, etc.), whether to have a trading table, etc. Some groups plan a group volunteer day to perform their work commitment at the farm, and hold potlucks.
Basic things needed for a pickup co-op to function:

• The people
• Group administrator
• Local pickup spot: shady porch, garage or basement
• Members must take the responsibility seriously

Forming neighborhood-based* pickup co-op's house party organizing approach: *Groups can also be workplace- or organization-based.
1) Recruit a few people to join you in an urban member expansion campaign (e.g. star CSA members, dedicated friends with organizing skills).
2) Set goals - number of pickup co-ops, general location of co-ops, diversity, timeframe for the campaign.
3) With your committee, identify people who might be the foundation of new pickup co-ops.
4) Meet in person with these people and ask them to help your committee to recruit people to attend a gathering at their house in which you'll explain about the farm and how they could participate in the farm by forming a co-op.
5) Organizing the meetings:

• Make an invite list: Neighbors and friends of the person hosting the party, people committee members know who live in the area, people from the area who's  contacted the farm.
• Mail invites 3 weeks in advance. The meeting host can also go door-knocking in their neighborhood.
• Do follow-up calls shortly after people receive the mailing
• Do reminder calls 1-2 days before the meeting

6) Holding the meeting Incorporate the following:

• Be sure to have some food and drink available.
• Ask host to say why they're excited about the farm
• Explain the history and purpose of the farm, how the CSA works, how pick-up co-ops work
• Answer questions
• Put a big piece of paper on the wall and sign people up
• Decide on a pickup day (with farmer approval)
• Discuss possibilities for the pickup site
• Collect payments, or agree on a date for payments or deposits to be sent
• Schedule later meeting to do driving schedule and make other logistical plants

7) Follow-up meeting Allow at least 2 hours. Incorporate the following:

• Introductions
• History/purpose/vision of the farm/CSA
• Determine/review where pickup site will be and how it will be organized (bulletin board for list of share items, etc.)
• Review farm pickup routine
• Make driving schedule (and decide if there will be reminder calls, what to do if someone needs to change their driving date mid-season, etc.)
• Determine who will be the group's administrator(s) and what their role is
• Schedule any volunteer days or potlucks