I've been dreaming about cohousing lately
And here's what it looks like....
A 4-plex, or townhomes, or apt bldg.
A garden space large enough to feed the residents
Fruit trees
A chicken coop
A green house
A shop for woodworking
A shop for auto/bike repair
Car share
Bike share
Optional meal sharing
Solar dehydrators and an enormous solar oven.
TeePee as Gathering space for music and community building.
It's off the grid - made possible by economies of scale.
We catch water and have grey water systems.
It's on the greenbelt to support car-free lifestlyles.
It's not downwind from IdahoEnergyTerrorism.com
Sigh. A girl can dream.
Boise Sustainable Living Community
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June 16th, 2007
Some more
Some more thoughts-
Central/shared laundry space - between four units we'd only need one machine I'm guessing. And we'd use that great ol' solar drier of course.
How about considering smaller spaces? We're swimming in 900sqft and could easily do less. Perhaps if we cut back on the dwelling sizes our land requirement would go down. We could build in a minimalist studio apt to accommodate the occasional guest(s)/visitors.
Gotta add that if Lucky Peak fails, I see the greenbelt, uh, relocating. No?
John, did you design this for an existing cohousing group? I'm scoping out the current cohousing scene.
No accidents are happening here. -Rumi
June 18th, 2007
additional thoughts
I designed the place because I was thinking it would be a good idea to be able to share many of the expenses of homeownership and car ownership. I agree with the shared spaces for laundry. Yes, small sounds good and can keep the cost down. I thought some of the units would be occupied by families and the other units by individuals. I was thinking some of the individuals would live together as roommates. Your studio idea is good also! Now, I've got to find those plans. I don't think I tossed them. Yes, the green belt would re-locate if the dam failed. I just don't want the house to re-locate during the flood.
June 15th, 2007
down wind
We'll have to work on the not down wind part of your dream!
June 14th, 2007
Amy - I'll tend the goats
Amy - I'll tend the goats and make butter for whatever might want to come outta that oven.
John - Very cool about those plans. Can you tell me more?
No accidents are happening here. -Rumi
June 15th, 2007
cohousing
I will have to find those plans. I actually spoke with Jay about them a couple of months ago. I was thinking 1-2 acres, One building with 4 living areas, if I remember each living area has an inside and outside entrance, 3 bedrooms per living area, one garage for bikes and car sharing, passive/active solar, off the grid, and pretty much everything else you and Ann listed!
Biking supports food stamps for oil executives
June 15th, 2007
John - that's pretty much
John - that's pretty much the layout I was thinking. How coincidental. Just gotta nix that nuke plant down the road.
No accidents are happening here. -Rumi
June 16th, 2007
cohousing
Good points. I am checking out what would flood if the Lucky Peak dam fails. This could be good information to use for the location of cohousing. The trick will be to be high and dry if the dam breaks and still close enough to the Green Belt (or maybe a spur to get on the Green Belt).
June 14th, 2007
Oh and dont forget solar
Oh and dont forget solar ovens built into the kichen and solar dehydrators built into the south side!!!
Dreaming along with you!
June 14th, 2007
Cohousing
I actually designed a place a couple of months ago that will do all you have listed. I'll have to find the plans. I think this may be someithing to look into seriously. I do believe oil has peaked. We may stay on the top of the peak for the next 5 years but then it's all down hill as they say.
biking supports food stamps for oil executives
June 13th, 2007
Oh, and a goat. Let's have a
Oh, and a goat.
Let's have a goat. Okay? Great!
Use it up. Wear it out. Make it do. Do without.