SC - Is period cooking "different" from the other arts?

[Mordonna22 at aol.com]

I'm with Ras on this one.  
I can enjoy looking at all the period garments I like, but if I want to 
experience one for myself, that involves wearing it.  If I want to do that, I 
have to pay, either by buying it from a vendor, or making it myself.
I can watch all the fighting I want, but if I want to experience it myself, I 
must pay, by learning the skills involved, and obtaining at least minimal 
armor.
I can admire all the period armor I want, but if I want to own it, I must 
either purchase it with money, or build it myself.
I can watch all the feasters, or I can pay, either by purchasing from a 
vendor, or learning to make it myself.
What's different?
The only thing I see different is that sometimes Society money is used for 
the up front purchasing of materials.  This kind of "sponsorship" is not 
often offered in the other arts, except that Calligraphers who are making 
official scrolls may have their supplies paid for by the Society funds.  
I even know of at least one event where the entire feast was paid for by 
Society funds.  SunDragon Barony's share of the volunteer funds from Estrella 
XV were so great that the Baron and Baroness declared that the funds be spent 
to offer a free feast for the populace at the Baronial Investiture last fall.
Does anyone know of this kind of thing happening in the other arts?
Does any local group provide funds for making garb for newcomers, perhaps?
Does any local group provide funds for making minimal armor or weaponry for 
their fighters?
Well, yes, if you get down to the lowest levels.  House Warrior Haven works 
together on getting a new fighter in armor.  We don't provide everything, but 
if someone needs a gorget, say, and can't afford the raw materials, we see 
that she gets a gorget, AND learns how to make one.  Second hand armor is 
passed down freely.  Garb is passed down.  If a newbie does not have garb, he 
is given second hand garb, or it's made for him as a gift, and we teach him 
how to make his own.  Household funds quite often go for the raw materials of 
quite a few things that are later sold or given away.  We often use Household 
funds for the purchase of raw materials for gifts to Royalty.  Household 
funds are used to purchase raw material for anything used for the House as a 
whole, too, such as the Encampment walls we are building for future Wars.  

Mordonna the Cook,
SunDragon's Western Reaches
Atenveldt
(m.k.a. Buckeye, AZ)