Fruitland Books

Hello!  You are all invited to participate in my newest madcap scheme.  If you know me, you know I want to open a bookstore.  Also, I’m interested in alternative communities – call them communes if you will – and ways of creating a life style that is more self-sufficient and focused on things that matter – and less on things that we are taught to value.

So…the goal is to create a commune of 8 people or so with a used bookstore on the ground level of the house.  But this isn’t your typical used bookstore, no sir.  This bookstore lets the purchaser decide how much a book is worth and pay accordingly. Also, if the purchaser does not have the cash to pay for the book they want they can exchange it for something of equal value (value determined by purchaser, not the store).  What money we get will go back into the store for shelving, a POS system, event advertising (events of all kinds will be important, I think: classes, workshops, author signings, musical events, etc), etc. 

Since eight or so people will be living in the house, rent will not be a huge issue, and this may free up some who would rather commit more time to the store and the workings of the house – not that I foresee an unequal distribution of labor.  My vision for this group is (among other things) the chance to have the time to create a more sustainable life and break away from the micro-culture that is making us move faster and faster, to foster the idea of long-term thinking, and to share literature, art, and life with each other and the community.  The above is a very sketchy definition of what I’m proposing.  Here is a very sketchy mission statement:

We are Fruitland Books

 

We are self-supporting commune (for the most part) that exists to challenge the current economic and social system.  We are single professionals, married couples, children, and retirees.   We practice creative anarchy, recycling, gardening, and art among other things.  We hold the belief that creating a space to share our time and talent with each other and our greater community is one of the highest goods.  We are here to test our ideas, and to prove (or disprove) our theory that this way of life can be the salvation of the planet (or at least our society).  Ask us how it is going.  Stay for tea.  

If you want a book you can take one of two options: 

• Pay what you think the book is worth

 

• Exchange something for the book that you believe is of equal value. (Value to be determined by you – not us.)

 

• Have books you need to say goodbye to?  Bring them to us.  And thank you!

 

Do you have talent or time you would like to share?  Let’s talk. 
 

You may think this is nuts.  That’s fine.  I still would like you to participate in a meeting sometime in mid July (when I’ll be back to PA to visit).  If you are interested and willing to meet and discuss this, let me know.  Also, please feel free to mention this to others who you think may have some good advice and feedback regarding this.  I think 12 people or so at this initial meeting is a good number.  I’d like to get people at this meeting who are in all stages of life – from the young ones to the parents to the students to the older ones.  Let me know what you think, if you want to participate in this meeting, and if you know of others who may have some good thoughts to share. 

Thanks!  

-- Lisa Winn