The future of carpentry deck you! : An appeal to the Michaelnbacher

The future of carpentry deck you! : An appeal to the Michaelnbacher

in Michaelnbach places the foodcoop "Tischlein deck yourself!" their activities until Christmas 2024. This initiative was launched in December 2021 when the first Kisterl full of regional products was handed over to the former Brunnmair carpentry on the Sonnenhang. Magdalena Stockinger, one of the four founders, emphasizes that the goal behind the foodcoop was to promote regional local supply that had become more important during pandemic.

With a lot of enthusiasm, women began to work to create a central place that bundles the products of regional providers and makes it easier for people to shop. "We launched the initiative because the topic of regional local supply under our nails burned us," explains Stockinger. But times are changing, and the team has now noticed that the importance of regional products is no longer as high as in the past. "We have very loyal customers, but many look again to buy only as cheaply as possible," continued Stockinger.

challenges for the foodcoop

The current challenges are diverse. In addition to maintaining the foodcoop, the founders also have to manage all organizational and financial aspects themselves. "The foodcoop also causes running costs. It is about software, accounting, electricity costs," explains Stockinger. It is not only the time that is missing, since many of the women are working more professionally than at the beginning of the project, but also the commitment of the community.

The original concept provided for people to give up their orders on the Internet until Wednesday, in order to then collect the freshly diverse products on Friday afternoon. But the dynamic has changed. The team notices that many buyers invest less time in planning their weekly purchase.

The future of "Tischlein deck yourself!"

The upcoming discussion about the future of the project is crucial for the team. "We will probably discuss whether and how it will go on as part of the Michaelbach 2035 future process that starts this October," explains Stockinger. She hopes that new committed people will be willing to continue the project and strengthen regional local supply in the community.

For the period until Christmas 2024, the foodcoop remains, and vouchers and credit can continue to be redeemed. The call to the population is unmistakable: "We would be happy if we could put the initiative on other and wider feet. But the commitment of the population must also come," emphasizes Stockinger. This support is crucial to maintain the positive effects of the initiative, such as promoting friendships and professional synergies.

The women behind the foodcoop have now received several awards, including the regionality award 2022. This recognition not only underlines their efforts, but also the importance of regional cooperation. It remains to be seen whether the population will actively participate in the continued existence of the foodcoop in order to further promote the positive aspects of regional local supply and to enjoy it in the future.