Insights

Across the U.S., there’s a little mini-revolution happening that might just help change the way you look at business – cow-pooling.

Based around the same idea of car-pooling (where you share travel and commute duties to save money and help the environment), cow-pooling sees you partnering with other families and buying your beef products direct from the farmer.

But instead of a normal purchase – burgers, steak, etc – you can buy a whole cow. And that’s where the magic begins.

Pooling Resources

If you go to a normal supermarket like Whole Foods, you might pay around $16 per lb. for a strip steak. Go the cow-pooling route, however, and you’re looking at around $3 to $5 per lb. for a side of grass-fed beef – quite the difference.

It’s not just the saving of money where you benefit, either – there’s no industrial feedlots involved in the raising of the beef that you’re buying. Instead, it’s all natural grass-fed, and the result is that your beef is… well, beef-tasting. Add to the fact that you’re making new friends (you find details of local cow-pooling farms online) and buying locally, what’s not to love? But it doesn’t stop there.

Friendly Economy

As well as the social and local aspect of cow-pooling, it’s now becoming clear that it’s benefiting the overall economy as well. The directory of local food producers LocalHarvest.org reports that cow-pooling is expanding, especially since you can negotiate what cuts each person gets.

Over at Bay Area Meat CSA, consumers can join this social network and buy locally-produced meat and have it delivered as and when required – perfect for Thanksgiving, Fourth of July, Superbowl and Christmas, to name just a few options.

Freezer sales have increased as well. The Appliance Manufacturers Association reported an increase of 14% in freezer sales in the 12 months between April 2008 and 2009 – more than just a coincidence, no?

Pooling More Than Cows

Cow-pooling’s taken the idea behind car-pooling and made it a profitable and local-centric business success. Think of the ways you could take the idea of cow-pooling and transfer it to your business or local economy.

Say you’re an art fan. You have a local artist that needs a little recognition. You and some friends decide to pool together to buy two or three of the artist’s work. That artist then buys from the local art supply store to work on new projects.

Or you’re wanting to get your kids a swimming pool but can’t afford it. However, you pool with other parents and rent out a piece of land from a local property management company. Your kids can play in the pool, and if you really wanted to go one step further, open it up to other local kids as well. They buy new swimsuits from the local beachwear store…. you can see how this all joins together.

Some communities are doing this already, with full backing from businesses. Wouldn’t it be great if we could all learn from what’s happening with cow-pooling and turn both our businesses and local communities into success stories too?

photo credit: _Shogo_