The Power of 2
Numerology is any belief in the mystical relationship between
a number and a coinciding event(s) ~
Wikipedia
When planning our first ever online conference, we absolutely noticed something unique about the date we chose, specifically the multiple appearance of the number two.
2 / 22 / 2020
When taking a bit of a brain break we got looking into numerology and what attributes are represented by the number two. It was so interesting to see many descriptive words used that we see represented in the cohousing world: cooperation, awareness, partnership, teamwork, problem solvers, flexibility, idealism, companionship, diplomacy, coexistence ... it's all about the relationships. This phrase caught my eye:
"The number 2 feels extremely lonely when it's by itself,
with no other numbers to interact with"
You might be wondering what does that have to do with Affordability in COhousing which was our focus of the conference held on the 22nd ... I suppose nothing directly, except that if we are connected to the number 2, inherently we have the desire for more people to access information about cohousing and for more people to choose cohousing; an online conference can be more affordable and together we can work to create solutions for affordable cohousing.
Our online Affordable Conference on Affordable Cohousing (AConAC) was a great success! We started off networking in small groups to get to know a bit more about each other. David Dworkin, CEO and President of National Housing Conference, shared with us statistics on housing and it's challenges across the US. Twelve different sessions were offered and we wrapped up with opportunity to have further discussions all in relation to affordable cohousing.
If you missed the opportunity to attend this online conference but would like the information, it's not too late to register for access to recordings (
click here
)
If you registered to attend AConAC and/or view the recordings, PLEASE share with us your feedback
(
click here
).
We rely on your feedback to make improvements in your experience.
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What a fantastic day we had on Saturday February 22, 2020!
Thank to attendees and speakers for joining us!
Thank you to our AConAC sponsor Wonderland Hill Development Company
Thank you to SOFA, specifically Ted Rau for advising us and preparing us to host our first ever online conference!
For registrants, recordings are posted, access them through
You can still
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Want to help create future online conferences? Brainstorm keynote speakers, solicit and review RFP's, create program, chat up sponsors, contact us ASAP to apply for the committee!
karincohous@gmail.com
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Rocky Corner
Cohousing Simple Series Event
in Bethany, CT
April 25, 2020
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Fair Oaks EcoHousing
Simple Series Event
near Sacramento, CA
Sept 12-13, 2020
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The Commons on The Alameda Simple Series Event
in Santa Fe, NM
Oct 9-11, 2020
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Thur, Mar 12, 2020 –
Keep Cohousers Healthy: a conversation facilitated by Karen Gimnig
As communities listen and respond to current events, it seems like a good moment to come together online and talk about how cohousing interfaces with public health concerns. What practices do communities use to stay healthy? How do we take action as a community in the face of individual differences when the stakes are high? How do we balance the competing needs for safety, connection and mutual support?
We’ll gather on zoom in our usual way for a time of sharing and discussion. What is your community doing? What is working? What isn’t? What are the ways in which living in community makes us resilient? What are the unique concerns and resources that come with living together? Bring your questions and answers.
5pm Pacific, 6pm Mountain, 7pm Central, 8pm Eastern
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Thur, Mar 19, 2020 –
Open House Options with Raines Cohen and Alan O’Hashi
An Open House is a great way for a community to share the good news about cohousing, which is why we do one on a national scale each spring. This year we’re thinking some communities may be looking for some alternative approaches to sharing with others. In this WebChat, Raines and Alan will share some ideas, including an example of a tour video. Bring your ideas too, the more the merrier as we get creative in the face of challenges.
5pm Pacific, 6pm Mountain, 7pm Central, 8pm Eastern
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Previous WebChats are
available for view at the button below.
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National Cohousing Open House Day Sunday April 26, 2020
Register your community
here
For more information, click
here
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MADISON, WISCONSIN
HERE WE COME!!!
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We are thrilled to announce the 2021 National Cohousing Conference will be in Madison, Wisconsin!
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The spotlight is on:
Rocky Corner Cohousing
On a recent afternoon, Rich Wilber stood at the window of his nearly finished home looking over a muddy February landscape. He saw the fruit trees and berry bushes; naturalized pollinator plantings and tidy garden rows; and neighbors grazing on ripe fruit—all of which are in the plans for his community, but not yet reality. It takes vision and heart to see a lush green landscape in the middle of a construction site.
Fortunately the members of Rocky Corner cohousing have an abundance of both. As they look over their 33 acres in rural Connecticut, the vision is clear. “Creating an edible landscape, regenerating soil, and increasing biodiversity are goals that are part of our vision statement,” according to Rich. The edible landscape interspersed with their 30 homes and large common house will enable them to live sustainably. The permaculture plan includes a working organic farm that can provide produce for common house meals; and each household will have access to a large garden plot. This will be a place where all the residents of the land—people young and old, animals and plants—thrive together.
Part of thriving is commitment to a collaborative lifestyle that leaves space for plenty of individual preference. Many members are eager to get their hands in the dirt. They can’t wait to plant seeds that will grow with their community, and they know that they will have some neighbors who aren’t able to get into the dirt or just don’t want to. “That’s fine,” says Beth Bradley, Rich’s nextdoor neighbor. “We want everyone to gravitate toward what they love—and once in a while clean a toilet.” Their shared work agreement is a guideline for how many hours are needed from each person.
They point to their longstanding study and practice of sociocracy as a source of their overall success. They like that the work is distributed among small, efficient circles with defined authority, making it possible for everyone to speak and be heard in every round; and they believe they make better decisions than they would without it. “When we have a decision that we thought was pretty good, and someone objects, we work through it; and we always end up with a better decision,” says Beth. Sociocracy has already led to a culture of working hard to create the community together.
As in most cohousing neighborhoods, the common house is the center of activity. Maker spaces designed for arts, crafts, and woodworking are planned. Rich looks forward to swing dancing in the dining room. Beth can’t wait to be leading everyone in singing songs she has written. Residents will use a commercial kitchen for common meals and can rent it out to create food products to sell.
Rocky Corner folks have had a vision to create housing for different income levels. Thirteen of the 30 homes are income-qualified affordable units, subsidized by a $2.6 million dollar grant from the State of Connecticut. Those homes are reserved by people of all ages with limited incomes. Even the buyers who are paying market rate prices realize that cohousing is benefiting them financially. Energy-efficient houses, shared vehicles, food from the land, and more ways of sharing will keep money in many pockets.
With 18 homes nearing completion and 12 more planned, Rich and Beth are eager to meet the rest of their neighbors. As committed buyers arrive, funds become available from the bank to start the next building.
In the meantime, they are waiting for topsoil to be spread and plotting where to plant the trees and perennials they will bring with them from other properties. It’s an exciting time as they watch their community take shape, already enjoying strong bonds and shared vision for stewarding this land and nurturing one another. If you’d like to join them, you can find everything you need to know at
www.rockycorner.org
.
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Cohousing: The Future of Community and Human Connection
Trish Becker-Hafnor ~ TEDx
Trish Becker-Hafnor is a founding member of Denver’s newest cohousing community, Aria Cohousing, and a passionate advocate for housing solutions that address both the crisis of affordability and the global loneliness epidemic. She is in the process of establishing a micro-village in Wheat Ridge that addresses both. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community.
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The Nuclear Family Was a Mistake
story by David Brooks ~ The Atlantic
"The family structure we've held up as the cultural ideal for the past half century has been a catastrophe for many. It's time to figure out better ways to live together
This article is about ... how Americans are now groping to build new kinds of family and find better ways to live."
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Classified Ads
Forming Communities and Communities Seeking Members
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Directory -
Find your community now!
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If your community has not created a new and accurate listing for the new website, please do that now. As part of that process you will need to create a new user account which will allow you to update your directory listing and access other website features.
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Thanks for reading
Cohousing Now!
provides news and events on Cohousing... Now! provided by The Cohousing Association of the United States. Please forward to your friends, communities, and other lists to spread the word about cohousing!
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The Cohousing Association is funded by donations from people like you. Thanks so much for your support.
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