Diversifying Economic Practices in Meal Sharing and Community Gardening

Abstract

Core Ideas: Diverse economic practices are shaped in everyday, domestic activities. People explore diverse economic practices to expand their repertoires of action. Practices can combine aspects of different economic spheres. Boundary crossing opens up space for alternative economic practices. This article aims to contribute to the diverse economies program of Gibson-Graham. By studying the economic activities of participants of two Dutch food initiatives, we make diverse economic practices visible. Semi-structured interviews were our main research method. Our analysis shows alternative, nonmarket, and noncapitalist elements, displaying inventiveness, creativity, and ease to cross borders between mainstream and alternative economic options. We explored the microscale reality of creating alternatives, focusing on how participants explore economic spaces and shape these. We demonstrate that people diversify their economic practices so as to better fit these into their daily lives. Especially the crossing of the public–private divide makes space for these alternative economic practices. Hence, respondents aim to expand their “repertoires of action”, looking to engage in activities that are useful, challenging, and enjoyable, and that enable the inclusion of ethical and pragmatic values. However, while rewarding, these alternative economic practices are also insecure and precarious. We suggest that rather than assessing diverse economic practices on their effects of ending the dominance of mainstream capitalist economies, they should be evaluated regarding the way in and degree to which they enable an expansion of repertoires of economic action.