CoHousing Solutions Newsletter | March 2022
Agrihoods are saving
farmland with community
Cohousing is not a prerequisite for an agrihood, but they seem to pair naturally. The first agrihood was developed about 20 years ago in Arizona, with a vision for sustainability and farming in community. Young farmers can't afford land near cities, where their markets calls home. By clustering their homes instead of subdividing farmland into the typical 5-10 acre lots common in rural America, cohousing agrihoods save agricultural land. More local, fresh produce is an added bonus!

Right now, CoHousing Solutions is working with not one, but two agrihoods! Katie is the Development Consultant for Rooted Northwest in Washington, and Burns Village & Farm in Tennessee. Due to an abundance of interest, Rooted Northwest has limited their search to farmers only, but Burns Village & Farm is actively looking for members. Be sure to check out their websites if you're interested in learning more!

Burns Village & Farm partnered with a family farm to purchase 15 acres of land. You don't need to be a farmer to live in an agrihood; cohousing simply gives farmers a more affordable way to purchase and work land. Burns Village & Farm will support a professional farmer(s), who will manage the land in exchange for some of the farm's products. Learn more about how to be part of this development, and join Burns Village & Farm for their Kick-off Workshop, April 29 - May 1!

Agrihoods are highly sought after and tend to sell quickly when they do go on the market. People are interested in their environmental impact now more than ever. They want to know where their food is coming from, and down the dirt path is better than national grocery chains. The demand for locally grown produce is evident in the 395% rise in farmers' markets from 1994 to 2017. Communities benefit from agricultural education. Of course, community farm participation requirements vary, because every agrihood is different.
Cohousers support Ukraine
Americans understand that gas prices are changing, but Ukraine has experienced atrocities beyond our comprehension. These Nevada City cohousers took a moment to perform the Ukrainian national anthem, and remember just how lucky they are to be together. The first line of the song goes "Ukraine is not yet dead, nor its glory and freedom" an eerie sentiment in light of recent events. Sending love and hope from Cohousing Solutions.
Don't forget to breathe
I've noticed cohousers either have a lot happening at once, or they feel like their projects are stagnant. Maybe your progress isn't what you originally thought it would be, or maybe a teammate isn't carrying their weight right now, but you will push forward together. It's normal to feel stressed when you're emotionally invested in something like your home!

Real estate is a risky business, but we strive to reduce the risk, so you can build the community of your dreams. Developing land isn't for the faint of heart, but we're here to remind you it can and has been done by people just like you! No matter what stage of development you're in, we're here to support your efforts.

-Erin Harris, Marketing & Outreach
Seeing is believing
SEEKERS: Are you interested to learn more about cohousing? Are you are looking for a community in a particular part of the US? National Cohousing Open House Day is a fantastic opportunity to visit them! Some communities are offering LIVE EVENTS, please see community specific COVD-19 precautions. Others are offering VIRTUAL EVENTS, says one attendee of previous year’s open house day "I took full advantage of the move to zoom and visited eight communities in one day; this year, I am helping to host …"

COMMUNITIES: An Open House is a great way for a community to share about their specific community, what makes them unique and what cohousing life is like. We encourage INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITIES to host a virtual meet and greet, post a tour video, give tours of your property or host an outdoor gathering. Multiple Communities representing a REGIONAL GROUP may want to host an online panel discussion or a introduction to cohousing talk at a public venue.

To REGISTER your community as participating for this day, click here
Northern California's Open House
If you only care about what's going on with cohousing in Northern California, we've got you covered. Several communities in Northern California are partnering for a Zoom session on Saturday, April 23. The session will start with an introduction from Katie about cohousing, and the latest trends. After, each community will go into their updates before accepting questions. Please join us to hear from some of our nearby groups! Participants will include:

  • Washington Commons - broke ground in November 2021
  • Southside Park - moved in 1993
  • Fair Oaks EcoHousing - moved in 2020
  • Auburn Cohousing - forming
  • Wolf Creek Lodge - moved in 2012
  • Nevada City Cohousing - moved in 2006
  • Truckee Cohousing (TBD) - reforming
Save the date: National Cohousing Conference

The Cohousing Association has announced the next In-person National Cohousing Conference will be August 25-28, 2022 in Madison WI. These conferences offer a wealth of information and connections for anyone interested in cohousing and any stage of cohousing (seeking, forming, and long-time living in cohousers). We look forward to seeing lots of new and old friends there.
We're Here to Help
We provide development consulting services to help you create your sustainable neighborhood. Our team pioneered the development of cohousing in North America, and we have helped create dozens of successful communities.
Our newest venture involves training passionate cohousing entrepreneurs through the year-long 500 Communities Program.
CoHousing Solutions
(530) 478-1970
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