Topic

Proposal for A Community Kitchen

UPDATE - January 23, 2012
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A group called Community Kitchen has been formed and is now in operation. You can learn more about that group and it's current activities by visiting the Community Kitchen group discussions. Everything I've written below about how the Community Kitchen operates, sharing keys, etc. is now obsolete. If you wish to become involved in the Community Kitchen group, please read About the Community Kitchen and request an invitation.

UPDATE - January 2, 2012
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I've set up my house for use as a shared cooking station by those who want to prepare food for the community. Of course, people can cook anywhere and give the food away anywhere. The purpose of having designated places is to create social spaces. A private house (with shared keys) for cooking and a public space for distribution create two different kinds of social space. 

The purpose of the cooking station is to provide an opportunity for people to work together in a private space where their actions will not impact others and where the actions of others will not impact them. Also, I will be trying to stock my house with ingredients, so there's the convenience of that. I'd be glad to rotate houses designated as a cooking station rather than use my house for this full-time. All it takes is for someone to say "Let's use my house next week" and for others to agree. 

I'm not sure yet what's the best way to distribute the food that's been cooked.  For now, I'll be putting some in front of my house and taking some to the large model home in Alakol. Ur is a big place, so it might be a good idea to rotate or have multiple places where food is made available for the community. I welcome ideas and continued discussion about this. Those who wish to join in using my house as a cooking station should make the food they prepare available to the community as they best see fit.

I am willing to share a key with anyone who is at least level 25 and who (1) wishes to cook for the community, (2) is willing to cooperate with others in deciding what's OK and what's not OK in houses we share for this purpose, and (3) who clearly indicates that they want a key and that they understand the purpose of having a key.  If you're not yet level 25, you're welcome to come and cook anytime I'm at home. If I get to know you, I may, at my discretion give you a key before you reach level 25.  If you want a key and you haven't yet gotten one, you can post here, send me in-game mail, or IM me.  Just let me know that you've read this post and that you want a key.

I'm not sure yet what's the best way to distribute the food that's been cooked.  For now, I'll be putting some in front of my house and taking some to the large model home in Alakol. Ur is a big place, so it might be a good idea to rotate or have multiple places where food is made available for the community.

Everything below is older stuff that I've left for reference.
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UPDATE - January 1, 2012
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Because of the way house keys work, my original idea will not work. The alternative suggested is to use one or more private homes to prepare food, and then to share food in a public area.  Several have suggested using a public area in a residential quarter.  The downside to this is that it may create traffic and activities in a residential quarter that have a negative impact on residents of that quarter.

There's another current thread Take a walk and take a rest in Commune Model Home! that describes using a model home for a purpose similar to what I have in mind. That venue could be used instead of a residential quarter as a place for sharing food.  I'm not sure if this is better than using a residential quarter, but I thought I'd bring it up for comment.

So I'm now proposing that we use private homes with shared keys for food preparation and that we rotate which home we use on a weekly basis.  I'm also proposing that we create a "network of trust" for sharing keys.  That means I'm willing to give a key to anyone I've come to know and trust, and to anyone they tell me they've come to know and trust.  If someone who hasn't made contacts wants to help, I will be glad to let them into my home when I'm there so we can work together and get to know each other.
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WindBorn has called my attention to an old thread that has ideas for creating social spaces in Glitch.  One of those ideas was to create a community kitchen.  I like this idea, and I propose to try to implement it using my house.  I will give keys to my house to anyone who wants to help staff the community kitchen.  I can't make it work on my own, because I'm not online often enough.  A community kitchen will be most effective if it is available 24/7.

I currently have a cottage house in Groddle Meadow.  I moved there from my treehouse in Aranna (which I still love!) because I hoped to somehow make my house into a resource for others -- and I realized that a more central location would be helpful.  There's currently food on the floor, intended for drop-by visitors.  There's a crops garden that could be used to raise food for the kitchen. It also could be used by people who have crops-related quests and no crops garden of their own. There's five patches. One currently has a bean tree, the others are empty with a seasoned bean sitting by each (for possible use by those needing to plant for a quest).

The kitchen could be a place where anyone can come and eat, bring ingredients, cook, or just hang out. Anyone interested in helping with this?

UPDATE:  Big problem with this is that I don't think people with keys can open the door - only the owner.  Perhaps TS would be willing to let a bunch of us create a shared alt that could function as the house "owner" and thus be able to open the door 24/7? 

UPDATE 2:  If key holders can open the door, then I'm glad to go forward using my house for this.

UPDATE 3:  Multiple sources have confirmed that only the owners of a house can open the door to anyone who knocks.  I've put in a help case asking TS about creating a shared alt.  In the meantime, alternative ways of making this happened are being discussed below.

If you want to read a rather lengthly account of the thinking that brought me to this proposal, you can find it here.

Posted 12 months ago by Splendora Subscriber! | Permalink

Replies

  • I would be glad to donate stuff and help. I'll contact you when I get back to my computer. I'm not a go-getter but I follow orders really well.
    Posted 12 months ago by Flowerry Pott Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Yes key holders can open doors.
    Posted 12 months ago by Flowerry Pott Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I think this is a great idea :D I'd really like to help out and drop ingredients off for people to use.  I would love a key when you get it set up!
    Posted 12 months ago by Silhouette Subscriber! | Permalink
  • If we don't have enough people to make this work 24/7, we can still give it a try.  Just announce on global when the kitchen is "open" (i.e. where there is a key-holder there to let people in). 

    I would propose for starters to do this rather than trying to sign people up for shifts.  Just come and hang around for a while to let people in whenever your're online and are up for it.
    Posted 12 months ago by Splendora Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Double check.  I don't believe a key holder can "hear" the knock.
    Posted 12 months ago by WindBorn Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I see now that I misunderstood your "update 1", Splendora. I guess that someone other than the house owner - even if they are a key holder - can't let anyone else into the house. (I now realize I read your update like I was a complete idiot; that's what I get for trying to read on a bumpy car ride duh!) I would bet money that WindBorn is correct.

    Perhaps we could consider the idea of doing the "community cooking" and hanging around outside your house and key holders could just bring out any items that are needed.

    At the same time, we could still try to work with the developers to find a way to create a space for this, although I'm not sure how possible it would be this early, because of the whole "group halls" idea thang that's coming up sometime.
    Posted 12 months ago by Flowerry Pott Subscriber! | Permalink
  • A kitchen outside on the roof of a cave or treehouse seems like a great compromise. The staffer can bring stuff out, hang out watching it, and then put it inside when the kitchen "closes".  I think it's a fun idea!
    Posted 12 months ago by Miel Subscriber! | Permalink
  • or even on the 'block' of most tree house streets.  I've got a house that would work well for that, actually.

    It is ground level, and I have a key to the adjacent ground level house.
    Posted 12 months ago by WindBorn Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I've put in a help case asking TS about creating a shared alt that could be used for this.  A shared house would be nice because it would provide a place where ingredients could be stored and allow even a lot of people to hang around without creating lag or any other kind of problem in a public space. It would have a garden and patches that could be made available for questers. Also, someone who was being really disruptive could be ejected.

    In the meantime, I'm glad to work with those who are interested in making something work in a public space.  I'm glad to make the keys to my house available and use the space in front of it. I'm also glad to work with another location. I do think it's important to have a location that is easy to get to (which my old house in Aranna was not).

    Perhaps people who are willing to volunteer their house and think it provides a suitable venue could post where they live.  I live at 1217 Broxhurst Green Quarter in Groddle Meadow.

    I'm going offline now until tomorrow.  Happy New Year everyone!
    Posted 12 months ago by Splendora Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Where do you live? My house can act as an extended kitchen, if that would be nice:) I am on mostly at night (in USA). Please IM me or mail me when I do not respond to the IM's! :D
    Posted 12 months ago by Avariella Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I would be glad to help!
    Posted 12 months ago by Emilia Rosalinda Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I just bought a 5k herb garden. Everyone who wants to HELP shoudl IM me or mail me if I do not respond lol. Thanks!
    Posted 12 months ago by usterka Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Thanks, Splendora.

    Perhaps we could circulate the community kitchen around to different houses (unless we can get a shared alt thing with a dedicated space which would be really cool), so that you can get your playtime too! :D
    Posted 12 months ago by Flowerry Pott Subscriber! | Permalink
  • If I understand the TOS correctly having an alt and a house for the alt is perfectly fine as long as the alt is actually played and not left unlogged in for months & as long as the main/first character isnt using the alts house like a second home/using it extensively. 

    If so, you could create an alt with the purpose of being the owner of this community kitchen, roleplaying him/her as a master chef/charity bigshot, and it would be perfectly fine, no need to wait for TS approval. 
    Posted 12 months ago by Merope Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Is this free or do we get paid?
    Posted 12 months ago by Miss Purple Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I'd love to help, can you send me a key?
    Posted 12 months ago by Miss Purple Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Where do you live?
    Posted 12 months ago by Miss Purple Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @Merope -  When someone creates an account for the purpose of creating a Glitch character, they are asked to give their real name and working email address.  An account represents a legal agreement between an individual and TS.  It's one thing to give others access to a Glitchy house, knowing that they may take anything that's there, kill trees, etc.  It's quite another thing to give others access to something for which you are legally responsible in the real world.  I don't recommend that anyone do that without having a clear prior understanding with TS.
    Posted 12 months ago by Splendora Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Aaaah, the actual issue is that even when someone has a key they cant enter at will if the owner is at home, they can enter at will only when the owner is offline. 
    This seems difficult indeed.
    Posted 12 months ago by Roox Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @Roox - We are reworking the idea so that the home(s) are for storing ingredients and preparing food. In that case, if the owner is home they can simply open the door to others who may want to enter in order to drop ingredients, cook, or pick up food to take to whatever public area we use for serving the food.

    However, since the original idea may be close to what TS has in mind for group halls, perhaps TS will decide to help us out a bit so that we can create something closer to that original idea. Might be a good way for them to try out something like a group hall.
    Posted 12 months ago by Splendora Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Roox,

    When someone has a key to a house, they can  enter and leave the house any time whether the owner is online or offline.

    A person with a key has access to everything in the house: cupboard (and anything stored in it),  tree patches, garden plots, animals, feeders, stills, etc.  

    The issue that stalls this idea is that someone who has a key cannot let anyone else into the house.  Only the house owner, when they are online, can let non-keyholders into the house.  
    Posted 12 months ago by WindBorn Subscriber! | Permalink
  • How about following someone inside the house? Does that work?
    Any online keyholder could pop out for a second and let the waiting Glitches in.
    Posted 12 months ago by Merlen Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @Miss Purple - Got the note you left outside my house.  The following information is for you and for anyone else who may be wondering.

    Right now there is no Community Kitchen per se.  It's an idea we're discussing.  When I'm in-game and in my home, I'm glad to open my door to people who knock. However, during the 24-hour day, there are going to be lots of times when I'm not in-game. Furthermore, since I actually play the game, I may be in-game but not in my Glitch home.  

    When I'm in-game, I don't always monitor the screen.  I may go AFK.  I may not see local chat or an IM.  When I'm in my Glitch home, I try to monitor audio so I'll hear knocking at the door. However, I may not be looking at the screen.

    I can't run an effective community kitchen on my own, so I'm not saying that my home is a community kitchen right now.  If other people want to work together on this, I think we could create an effective community kitchen.  There are various ways people could participate, including small ways such as providing some beans or cherries from time-to-time.  All participation would be on a volunteer basis.  I don't envision paid positions of any kind.  Also, while I'm putting out an idea for others to consider, I don't envision myself as the "boss" of this. I'm proposing a collaborative activity with collaborative decision making.  That can be a slow process, but it can produce good results.
    Posted 12 months ago by Splendora Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @Merlen - Haven't tried that, but have been told in Live Help that only a home owner can let in people who don't have a key. So I assume that wouldn't work.
    Posted 12 months ago by Splendora Subscriber! | Permalink
  • As my update to the original post indicates, I've now set up my house to be used as a shared kitchen by those who want to cook for the community.  If you want a key let me know. Right now there's not much in the house in the way of ingredients.  If people have suggestions for ingredients they think are most useful, let me know.

    Here are my expectations for key holders:

    1) Use anything in the house, including in the cupboard, to prepare food for the community. Feel free to add items or to re-organize.

    2) If you are hungry, by all means feel free to eat anything in the house or anything you prepare using things in the house.

    3) Don't leave anything on the ground that you're not willing to have taken by me, by another keyholder, or by a stranger I may decide to let into the house. Don't leave anything in the cupboard that your not willing to have taken by me or by another keyholder. I won't take anything myself unless I see it as causing a problem, but I also don't want to be responsible for stuff you leave.

    4) Feel free to use the garden to grow crops for shared use.  Feel free to harvest mature crops.  Re-plant with something if you can.  If you want to plant crops for your own use or for a quest, that's OK too as long as there's no one else around who objects to that.

    5) Feel free to water, pet, and harvest the trees in the garden. Please do not kill trees without consulting with me first.

    6) Please do not add animals.  I like animals, but right now they add a complication I would rather not have to deal with.  If I decide to put animals in the yard, feel free to pet, nibble, squeeze, massage, milk, sing, etc.  Just don't add more animals.

    7) If you don't like something that someone else is doing, talk to them about it and not to me.  If you don't like something I'm doing, by all means talk to me.
    Posted 12 months ago by Splendora Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I would be interested :) I do a lot of cooking at the alokal model home and enjoy cooking and sharing.
    Posted 12 months ago by Anya Karenya Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Can you give me a bit clearer idea of food you're wanting made? As I've been learning at the model home, :D, it is safer to make the attractive but lower energy foods and Drinks are Hot items. I just need a bit of help with cherries to keep things plugging along.

    Also. My early day times are free, evening when I'm glued to model home :D

    *Edit...I in no way desire payment lol This is my desired type of gameplay.
    Posted 11 months ago by Anya Karenya Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Lower energy food is probably best because lower level players may not have the capacity for high energy foods. Hash is good if you can use a frying pan.  I have put ingredients for hash in the cupboard at the cooking station (aka my house).

    I'll add a stock of cherries tomorrow as well as some milk. Using a fruit changer and blender, you can make cloud 11 smoothies.

    Anyone else have suggestions as to good food and drink to make for serving up the the community?
    Posted 11 months ago by Splendora Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I'm in Arizona so 2 hours behind Eastern time..US. I'll head over there around 12pm est. time and do some cooking.

    Something has come up do to the forums :D So some of my time will be divided again lol. Don't like forum Business spam ....I gonna be giving out freebies lol.

    Any materials I use at your place will be cooked and left at your place for you to distribute!
    You'll shortly see my response to a certain forum spammer :D
    Posted 11 months ago by Anya Karenya Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I'm not a huge cook but I'm really happy people are doing this!
    Posted 11 months ago by ruptures Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Ruptures! Discover the Zen with cooking :D
    Posted 11 months ago by Anya Karenya Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Splendora..serious issue with someone here. IM me the Second you catch me ingame tomorrow!!! I can't do anything if a certain person has access :(
    Posted 11 months ago by Anya Karenya Subscriber! | Permalink