Site Tour: Sunday, May 27, 2018
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Be a Better Neighbor,
Build a Better Neighborhood
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Remember the joys of your youth? Riding around the neighborhood on your bike, playing ball with your friends, getting lemonade from the grandma up the street, building a fort in your front yard? You knew everyone around, and they knew you.
These days we are insulating ourselves from our neighbors, hosting "safe" activities for our kids at home, driving everywhere, and rarely getting to know our neighbors.
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As she says:
Maybe it’s time to flip those habits, get outside, and meet the people who live nearby. Let's put the neighborliness back in neighborhoods
Introduce yourself. Be respectful. Keep an eye out for each other. Check in on old folks. Tutor a kid. Dog sit. Assume the best. Chip in and help when you recognize a need. And remember that the word "community" means we’re all in this together.
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Getting to Know Each Other
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Discovering the Common and Not So Common Interests of
Future Residents of Fair Oaks EcoHousing
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As trenches are dug and pipes laid on the site of Fair Oaks EcoHousing, members are also busy building community--getting to know each other, developing trust, sharing ideas and experiences. To a great extent, this is fostered by the process of working together: to finalize details of the home designs, establish policies for everything from pets to smoking, lead tours or staff tables to attract new members, and plan for the use of common facilities like the community owned workshop or common house.
As another way to get to know each other better during this time of preparation, we recently explored each others' hobbies and interests.
Here is what we learned:
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Members have a broad range of interests. One of the most popular activities was walking, as were many of the outdoor activities/sports. Gardening was popular with many, followed by hiking, kayaking, nature exploration, camping, swimming, and downhill skiing.
Fortunately, the Fair Oaks EcoHousing site is within walking distance of the American River Parkway. With its miles of trails and water activities, it is the perfect spot for impromptu walkabouts. In addition, the San Francisco Bay is only 2 hours west and the Sierras are 2 hours east, so we plan on many outdoor activities!
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For entertainment, many members mentioned going to see plays and other theatrical performances, live concerts, and movies. Many also hope to take part in group outings, such as trips to the Ashland Shakespeare festival or Monterey Bay Aquarium. Others enjoy thrifting expeditions or attending street fairs and festivals.
A number of people listed games, including classics like Chess, Backgammon, Soduku, and Monopoly, with cards (Rummy, Bridge, Poker, Hearts) mentioned the most frequently. Game Night, anyone?
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The most diverse category, by far, was that of arts and crafts, with members listing 11 different activities/hobbies, including painting, sewing, quilting, felting, mask-making, ceramics, collage, beading, cooking, paper mache, and card-making. There will be space for crafts in the community, and the opportunity for members to share their skills and knowledge with each other.
Many members like to dance (contra dancing, folk, and ballroom), sing and play instruments (12 string guitar, violin, flute, drums). Musical evenings in the Common House are in our future.
Intellectual pursuits include reading and creative writing. The 3800 sq. ft. Common House, with its library, lounge, and large porch will provide a variety of comfortable spaces for people to gather for book group discussions and to explore creative writing endeavors.
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Members listed many skills they would like to learn, including ceramics, drumming, cooking, and keeping chickens. We also are lucky enough to have many who want to teach in areas including Spanish, creative writing, beading, cooking and A Course in Miracles.
Many expressed interest in Yoga, Tai Chi, Quigong, and meditation, and we have two members who will be teaching Tai Chi.
Volunteering and being socially and politically active are also prime activities. This includes serving as a mediator/facilitator in Small Claims Court; making dresses for the
Dress a Girl Around the World project, and teaching parenting, anger management, and communication skills at local shelters.
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One of the ideas behind cohousing is that the design, balancing smaller private homes with generous common space and facilities, allows residents to enjoy resources many would otherwise be unable to afford---gardens, a workshop, pool and spa, guest rooms, spaces for music, crafts, and exercise, etc. But in addition to these valuable physical resources, cohousing residents benefit from sharing the human resources of skill, knowledge, experience, and talent represented by members of the community.
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COMMUNITY NEWS
Find Out About Our Community
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Enjoying the stories of John Muir
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Recently several members and friends gathered at a nearby restaurant for poke bowls followed by Lee Stetson’s performance of
John Muir is Back, And Boy! Is He Ticked Off! We enjoyed this wonderful storyteller perform in Yosemite before and it was a fun to share seeing him again closer to home.
We are looking forward to doing more this summer: a picnic by the river in August and a variety of plays and music performances in the Fair Oaks Village Park.
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On Saturday, May 12, a Fair Oaks EcoHousing group of 11 enthusiastic fans attended the River Cats home game against the Tacoma Rainiers. We were delighted when the home team won, 6 to 1. The lovely spring weather and the fireworks after the game were special treats.
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As construction progresses on our project,
Fair Oaks EcoHousing has only a few homes left. Call now to tour the site and reserve either a popular downstairs 2 bedroom flat, a 2+ bedroom townhome, a three bedroom flat, or a spacious 2-story 4 bedroom townhome that is now available.
Key features for all include:
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Large windows, allowing natural light to penetrate deep into the home and make rooms feel light and spacious
• Open design for living and dining areas, providing more space and flexibility in use
• Modern kitchen
with ample storage and counter space
• Porch or deck for visiting with neighbors
The downstairs 2 bedroom flat features:
• Wide doors and open space in the unit
• Easy access to yard, porch, and common areas
The 2-story 2+ bedroom townhome includes:
• Bathroom upstairs and downstairs
• "Plus" room, ideal for a home office, craft room, or play room
The 3 bedroom upstairs flat features:
• All rooms on one floor for easy access
• Lots of light
• Wrap-around deck for enjoying the weather
The 4 bedroom townhome includes:
• Spacious upstairs master bedroom with a full master bath and walk-through closet
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First-floor bedroom, perfect for a home office, an aging family member, or single-floor downstairs living
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Large wrap-around porch that provides roomy outdoor living space
Like all homes in Fair Oaks EcoHousing, these homes are designed for efficient living, with eco-friendly construction and high-quality fixtures and finishes.
Fair Oaks EcoHousing is a pedestrian-friendly village for residents of all ages, with a centrally-located clubhouse, pool and spa, and garden.
The location is close to Fair Oaks Village and the American River Parkway, with many nearby dining and entertainment options, plus easy access to the freeway.
If you are interested in learning about the community, please come to the site tour on Sunday May 27.
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Fair Oaks EcoHousing Site Tour
Sunday
,
May 27 at
10:30am
Fair Oaks EcoHousing will be a neighborhood of 30 homes on 3.7 acres in Fair Oaks, CA, 18 miles east of downtown Sacramento. Come see the site and our architectural plans, and meet members at an upcoming tour. Kids are welcome.
Act now! Fair Oaks EcoHousing has only a few homes left. If you are interested, please come to the Site Tour (details below). Other h
omes do become available on occasion. If you like what you see at the tour, please join our interest list to be notified of new availability.
To go on the Site Tour, meet at 10:30 am
at the
Fair Oaks Coffeehouse in Fair Oaks Village,
at 10223 Fair Oaks Blvd
, at the intersection with Park Drive. Look for us on the side of the Coffeehouse, in the patio area or in the building at the back. We will introduce you to the project, and then we can carpool to the site.
The tour will last about an hour and a half, with an optional lunch afterwards at the Siam Patio Restaurant or the Smokey Oaks Tavern. If you can't make it Sunday, the next tour is Saturday June 9.
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Want to Learn More About Fair Oaks & Sacramento?
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Pictured: Fair Oaks Village, Fair Oaks Theatre Festival, Floating the American River.
Click below for useful links, there's a lot to keep us busy here!
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