INTRODUCTION TO THE “THEN AND NOW” SERIES
Visitors touring CoHo sometimes ask how our expectations for community prior to move-in differ from our current day-to-day reality.
Comparing “then and now” is the framework for this series of blog postings. The source of historical perspective is the CoHo newsletters published in 2006 and 2007 (they are still available on our website). This was an intensive time, with the primary focus on actively building the community (both in terms of actual construction of buildings and the collection of folks who would be our neighbors).
What were our dreams in 2006? What is our daily life like now in 2014?
First, read the original newsletter (link below), then return to this posting for current perspectives.
THEN…
AND NOW…
Construction
CoHo’s construction projects since move-in have been varied.
We finished the 4th wall of the Bike Barn for better security, added a fence (using wood harvested from our property) along the parking lot for more privacy, and added a roof over our garbage/recycling area for more comfort.
A toy parking structure is nearing completion at one end of the community and a newly constructed deck supports a hot tub at the other end of the community.
Future projects include a tool/equipment shed at the east end of our Bike Barn and a garden shed in the main garden area.
All projects were constructed with CoHo labor, with technical support from talented members of our Buildings Team.
Visitors
In the past year, CoHo had booths at local events such as Farmers Market and the February 2014 gathering Transformation without Apocalypse. Most contacts, however, are via public and private tours. Our Neighbors Team coordinates tours and our Friends of CoHo program while our Membership Team assists folks in becoming renters, owners, or Associate Members.
The old Maple tree is a good spot to stop for questions at the end of a summer tour.
Finance Team
Our Finance Team has guided us through our community budgets and financial dealings year after year. The Treasurer typically serves a two-year term because the team discovered there is so much to learn.
A separate nonprofit was created to keep meal program funds separate from HOA funds. In typical CoHo fashion, we had a naming contest and the winner was CoHoTopia. Who knew “coho” could be fashioned into so many clever words?
Meals and CSA (Community Supported Agriculture)
Prior to move-in, a full meal program was designed with lots and lots of input from members. This month, CoHoots took part in a Skype call with Belfast Cohousing & Ecovillage in Belfast, Maine to share our experiences with meals and answer their questions (along with two cohousers from Songaia Cohousing).
CoHo’s CSA experiences have been varied. We have been a drop-off location for two different CSAs. We have supported a neighborhood CSA (and farmstand). And we have become home to a CSB (Community Supported Bakery) owned by two CoHoots.
Miscellaneous
Doggie Swim at the local pool continues to be a highlight of the early fall.
Marfa, the therapy dog, continues to visit hospice patients.
Teams continue to have periodic retreats–typically not at the coast, but in some interesting locations close to home, such as the Food Bank.