1. Public & Collaborative Services: Case Study
Baby-food Swap
San Franciso, California, United States: http://shareable.net/blog/trade-mushy-peas-for-
strained-carrots-how-hosting-a-babyfood-swap-saved-my-sanity-and-fed-my
Description
A local baby food exchange: everyone makes a lot of one certain meal—10 one cup
containers of homemade baby food, the members then meet at a certain place and time,
and then they trade. The result is that all members of the swap leave with a variety of
baby food.
Citizen Role
Members help each other save time in the kitchen. There is a combined effort to feed
their babies healthy, nutritious, diverse meals. Members meet like-minded community
members that share similar values.
Degrees of Involvement
Members can solely attend the swaps; or they can help organize the swaps or volunteer
to host a swap, which can further involve community members. Members contribute
specific knowledge on child rearing, children’s nutrition, cooking tips, healthy recipes,
and so on.
Public Role
None
Service Diagram
Caring for Children and Elderly: Kara, Rosalind, Jennifer
2. Public & Collaborative Services: Case Study
Enabling Systems
The swaps are held at 18Reasons – a non-profit food and arts space. The invites are
sent via email to the 18Reasons parenting listserves. The primary source of resources
and information is through social media. Mums can join and learn about the swap on
Facebook and Twitter, through the organizers blog, or through the 18Reasons website.
Role of Digital Environment
Digital platforms are used for organizing the swaps, social networking, and logistical
coordination. The invites are sent via email, so all of the information and instructions on
the event are communicated digitally.
Background / History
Karen Soloman who is a food writer and food advocate started the baby food swap. Her
morals related to food meant that buying baby food was not an option. She supports the
slow food movement, so she did not want to purchase processed foods that come with
unwanted packaging, and the organic baby foods available were out of her budget. As
she is a working mother, she did not have the time to prepare flavorful and varied meals
for her baby. This motivated her to create and host a local baby food exchange.
Caring for Children and Elderly: Kara, Rosalind, Jennifer
