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…
Our Land
Our land is a precious resource to us and also a lot of work! The Landscaping Committee has morphed into the Grounds Administration Team (GAT). Work parties (half-day and full-day) usually feature several GAT projects to help us maintain our property.
You can play tug of war with your neighbors.
Garden space has expanded beyond the central large garden area. CoHoots garden around their units and at larger plots across the street owned by southtown neighbors. A rhuartigus (rhubarb, artichokes, and asparagus) garden is now in front of the common house. Deer and nutria have also discovered some of our garden areas and feasted on some of our crops.
Garlic has continued to be a popular crop; an annual garlic tasting is a culinary highlight of the year.
One area that we have not harvested is the camas meadow. It will remain a wetland area and there are no plans to expand into the space with gardens or buildings.
Our compost area has expanded from 8 bins at the east end of the Bike Barn to dozens of bins bordering the main garden area.
For those who either don’t want to “grow their own” or want to supplement what they grow, the Rainshine Farms Tuesday farm stand and CSA program is a huge benefit. Within a few feet of our main garden area, CoHoots can fill up on VERY local produce.
Land Use Vision (LUV)
In 2012 and 2013, we invested time/energy in extensive community discussions about our land and worked with a permaculture consultant to take a fresh look at how our spaces could be used. The Land Use Vision (LUV) process continues as some projects are starting to move forward with the enthusiastic championing of smaller groups of CoHoots.
Music
The photo of musicians in Issue 13 highlights a delightful ongoing feature of community life–music! At the Monday night music jam, musicians gather after dinner for a free-form session. Several of these musicians (and many more) are featured in CoHo’s annual Madrigal and our many Talent Shows. Music wafts down The Path on a regular basis, especially during warmer weather.
Though life may not always be harmonious living in community, the music goes on.