 This is the question Charles Durrett and his associates Bernice Gonzales and Erik Bonnett seek to answer in their book: Happily Ever Aftering in Cohousing: A Handbook for Community Living Last week (November 17, 2015) I began at the end of the book exploring “The Community Tax.” This week, I begin at the beginning with the introduction because this is important thinking on what makes cohousing “work.” “…cohousing… is a collaborative construction, built not brick by brick but decision by decision. The architecture is just the picture frame; the folks living and laughing in the community are the picture.” Charles (Chuck) Durrett. Decision by decision. This is key. This is the “work” of the group. Each decision building a firm foundation for the next decision and the formation of group cohesion. This is the sometimes “heavy lifting” in community that gives rise to good decision making, connection, bonding and … wisdom. Wisdom? Yes. Because, as Chuck writes: “if it doesn’t work socially, why bother?” How is the “wisdom” of the group attained? Here is one of the book’s important offerings: studying* what contributes to the group’s “creating and maintaining healthy relationships.” Chuck suggests communities “measure social solutions, from a management point of view, to foster healthy relationships. Most importantly, focus on proactively preventing problems from developing in the first place.” (Short editorial digression beginneth.) This measuring, studying, evaluating and implementing is built into Sociocracy which is a governance structure that uses consensus decision-making. Sociocracy or Dynamic Governance is being used or considered for use by many cohousing groups as the difficulty in running a sometimes multimillion dollar complex on a simple form of consensus decision-making becomes apparent. I will talk more about Sociocracy, governance and cohousing values when reviewing the section on group process. What is important here is that when adopting Sociocracy, the studying from a “management point of view” Chuck speaks so strongly about, is inherent in the Sociocratic or Dynamic Governance process. Why not adopt a form of governance in which these management practices for improving the health of a community is built in? (Thus endeth short editorial digression.) Key Groups & Best Practices But how to make it work socially? in his book, Chuck looks at "best practices" of four “key groups":
As an example, Chuck cites clarifying the requirements around common dinners which he believes to be the most important of the skills required in a health cohousing community. If your expectation is that everyone cooks at least once a month … make that clear to everyone who comes into the community. It’s not an option. It’s that important. (In fact, Chuck argues that breaking bread together is so important that to rebuild a struggling community, start with common meals.) The importance of expected minimums is true for participation in the work of the community both in workshare and in governance and decision-making. While there is always a range of contribution from folks who do too much to folks who contribute little, if there are minimum expectations in place there will be enough resiliency in the community to keep the community running smoothly. Chuck suggests codifying these expected minimums in an “agreement of understanding” signed by each person in the community. That way, each person is clear as to what his or her expected minimum participation actually is. The expectations, the clarification, the codification is done before move in. And if well done, this process is carried out over the life of the community. The history of my own community, Takoma Village, Washington, DC, supports this view of the necessity of clear expectations. For the founders, these expectations were fairly clear. However, as folks moved out and new folks moved in, we did not have a solid orientation program in place and consequently the knowledge and wisdom of the group was not handed down to new folks in an organized way. In the last two years, we have developed a rigorous orientation program designed to help people learn about our community BEFORE buying here. Once they are homeowners the orientation continues to bring new owners up to speed on what expectations are in place. The difference in the participation of new homeowners pre-orientation program and those who have come in since the orientation program has been initiated is striking. People who have been through this rigorous orientation show up for meetings, dinners, work days and serve on teams as a matter of course. It's All in the "Attitudes" In addition, Chuck lists three attitudes he believes are essential to making cohousing work: 1. Community is worth it. The advantages outweigh the disadvantages. 2. A desire of integrity: I will live my values more fully. 3. A commitment to community: We can solve this problem together. I add two more: 4. Don’t let perfection be the enemy of the good. 5. It’s all about practice, practice, practice. Even when you are “happily ever altering” it’s still all about practice. Feeding The Soul Cohousing communities diverge from standard condos in many ways. Circling back to offering dinners on a regular basis -- cohousing is outstanding. It's the SOUL of the community. “If your really want to make a friend, go to someone’s house and eat with him — the people who give you their food give you their hearts.” Caesar Chavez * Note: Words in italics are for emphasis by me not the author.  Mid Atlantic Cohousing's First Ever Thanksgiving |
| Alice is co-founder of Durham Central Park Cohousing Community, based in a 24-unit building self-developed in downtown Durham, NC. Originally from Northern Virginia, with some time in Ohio, Alice moved to Durham in 2001 and immediately felt at home. Alice is a baby boomer with a need to make an impact and can think of no better investment than to serve CohoUS as its Executive Director. |  |
Here is what The Judges, Robbin Phelps and Bruce Jones of Takoma Village, said about Sweet Potato Ginger:
Delicious!
Authentic Thanksgiving flavors of sweet potatoes and toasted walnuts, with the zing from ginger that awakens the taste buds. It is gluten free and vegetarian, and we guess that you could make it vegan by eliminating the butter and using either olive oil or coconut oil. Nice and easy: just bake the potatoes, and mash everything together. Fun, too – you can mash with your hands. We do not anticipate that there would be leftovers. But, if you want to set some aside ahead of time just for that, the dish would heat up well in the microwave, on the stovetop, or in the oven.
Thank you to Ruth Hirsch, Cantine's Island, Saugerties, New York, Betsy Mendelshohn, Takoma Village, Washington, DC, Barbara Buckram, Meadow Wood, Bremerton, WA, Jessica Gaitan, Enright Ridge Urban EcoVillage, Cincinnati, OH. You can meet everyone who submitted a recipe and download them all. These recipes are the beginnings our book on the collective wisdom of cohousing. Get all the recipes! Who's up for cooking? Leave comments on our blog for this entry!
The Judges
Bruce Jones and Robbin Phelps live at Takoma Village Cohousing in Washington, DC. They are married with a son away for his first year in college. Here is what Robbin says about Bruce: "He has been a foodie since he was a kid. Seriously into cooking by age 9, according to his Mom. Loves reading cookbooks and watching cooking shows. By day, an IT director for DC Government. Father of a fabulous 18 year old who at least can make his own mac and cheese, and has been known to make a mean plate of fried green tomatoes." (Robbin is no slouch as a cook, either!)
Delicious!
Authentic Thanksgiving flavors of sweet potatoes and toasted walnuts, with the zing from ginger that awakens the taste buds. It is gluten free and vegetarian, and we guess that you could make it vegan by eliminating the butter and using either olive oil or coconut oil. Nice and easy: just bake the potatoes, and mash everything together. Fun, too – you can mash with your hands. We do not anticipate that there would be leftovers. But, if you want to set some aside ahead of time just for that, the dish would heat up well in the microwave, on the stovetop, or in the oven.
Thank you to Ruth Hirsch, Cantine's Island, Saugerties, New York, Betsy Mendelshohn, Takoma Village, Washington, DC, Barbara Buckram, Meadow Wood, Bremerton, WA, Jessica Gaitan, Enright Ridge Urban EcoVillage, Cincinnati, OH. You can meet everyone who submitted a recipe and download them all. These recipes are the beginnings our book on the collective wisdom of cohousing. Get all the recipes! Who's up for cooking? Leave comments on our blog for this entry!
The Judges
Bruce Jones and Robbin Phelps live at Takoma Village Cohousing in Washington, DC. They are married with a son away for his first year in college. Here is what Robbin says about Bruce: "He has been a foodie since he was a kid. Seriously into cooking by age 9, according to his Mom. Loves reading cookbooks and watching cooking shows. By day, an IT director for DC Government. Father of a fabulous 18 year old who at least can make his own mac and cheese, and has been known to make a mean plate of fried green tomatoes." (Robbin is no slouch as a cook, either!)
 Bruce Jones, The Judge |  Robbin Phelps, The Judge 2 |
What fun contests about "life in cohousing" would you like to see? Send your suggestions to: Ann Zabaldo. Or you can comment on our blog site under this posting. Open to all clean & green, natural, organic, cage & steroid-free contests ...
Edi-bits
A Tree House that sleeps 4, is beautiful and meets code. And is built around a tree. Move over Falling Waters ...
For your dose of the weird: an entire issue of DEZEEN. Public sauna in the photo. Just keep scrolling ...
Window to balcony transformation. You have to see the video ...
A Tree House that sleeps 4, is beautiful and meets code. And is built around a tree. Move over Falling Waters ...
For your dose of the weird: an entire issue of DEZEEN. Public sauna in the photo. Just keep scrolling ...
Window to balcony transformation. You have to see the video ...
0 Comments
Happily Ever Aftering in Cohousing: A Handbook for Community Living is a slim book that packs a big message. (The title is almost longer than the total word count of the book!)
Written by Charles (a.k.a Chuck) Durrett with Bernice Gonzalez and Erik Bonnett of McCamant & Durrett Architects, the book compiles best practices for living in cohousing.
This is the second most important book those in cohousing should read. Whether you are just starting your cohousing adventure, a member of a forming, building or built community this is THE book to read. In fact, I would go so far as to suggest with a very understated declaration:
READ THIS BOOK FIRST!
The introduction alone is the single best constructed argument of why do cohousing in the first place posing the singular question: “If it doesn’t work socially, why bother?”
In the book, Chuck and company describe four areas of best practices for insuring a healthy, working, collaborative community:
Today, let’s begin at the very end with …
Written by Charles (a.k.a Chuck) Durrett with Bernice Gonzalez and Erik Bonnett of McCamant & Durrett Architects, the book compiles best practices for living in cohousing.
This is the second most important book those in cohousing should read. Whether you are just starting your cohousing adventure, a member of a forming, building or built community this is THE book to read. In fact, I would go so far as to suggest with a very understated declaration:
READ THIS BOOK FIRST!
The introduction alone is the single best constructed argument of why do cohousing in the first place posing the singular question: “If it doesn’t work socially, why bother?”
In the book, Chuck and company describe four areas of best practices for insuring a healthy, working, collaborative community:
- Group Process
- Management
- Common Dinners
- Maintenance.
Today, let’s begin at the very end with …
The Cohousing Tax
The dictionary defines a tax as “a sum of money demanded by a government for its support or for specific facilities or services, levied upon incomes, property, sales, etc.”
Who wants to pay taxes? Who ever thought there was a tax to pay in cohousing?
So what is “The Cohousing Tax?” Here is Chuck's description:
Who wants to pay taxes? Who ever thought there was a tax to pay in cohousing?
So what is “The Cohousing Tax?” Here is Chuck's description:
We all have to pay taxes to government, that’s a given. Cohousing is no different. The cohousing tax is what we pay to receive all the gifts we get day after day, big and small. …Every day it seems I receive 20 to 40 warm smiles… However, every month or so I get a frown.
Some days you’re awesome and once in a while you’re ridiculous. Oh well, that’s the community (cohousing) tax.
… the occasional frown is a small price to pay to have someone teach my child how to sing; for common dinners four or five nights a week; for being able to borrow a car occasionally; to taste great homemade beer, great homemade sauces and homemade cookies, and to enjoy the wonderful conversations that become richer and deeper by the year as I get to know my neighbors better and better.
Some days you’re awesome and once in a while you’re ridiculous. Oh well, that’s the community (cohousing) tax.
… the occasional frown is a small price to pay to have someone teach my child how to sing; for common dinners four or five nights a week; for being able to borrow a car occasionally; to taste great homemade beer, great homemade sauces and homemade cookies, and to enjoy the wonderful conversations that become richer and deeper by the year as I get to know my neighbors better and better.
I, too, believe the occasional frown is a small price to pay.
However, in some communities and maybe even most communities, the cohousing tax exceeds an “occasional” frown. Sometimes the cohousing tax is fraught with downright upset, conflict, hurt feelings, frustration and confusion. On balance, this may be a small tax to pay for the rich life found in a cohousing community where living is by far more than something “homemade."
Sometimes the cohousing tax is great and sometime small. It’s the love, labor and time I commit every day to this investment called community.
Let's not forget that sometimes the cohousing tax is too much for some folks and they choose to leave. When too many people leave perhaps it's time to revisit the tax code!
So far, for me, the gifts of community living in Takoma Village in Washington, DC far outweigh the cohousing tax. We run surplus revenue not deficit spending. But not everyone would agree. It's not for everyone. People do move away.
Chuck is fond of saying at every opportunity that living in cohousing is “easy.”
It is not "easy."
It's hard.
But it is, oh, so much richer, far more dimensional, and a more integrated way of living.
Read this book.
Start with the ending.
It will put into perspective the “taxes paid” to live in cohousing.
However, in some communities and maybe even most communities, the cohousing tax exceeds an “occasional” frown. Sometimes the cohousing tax is fraught with downright upset, conflict, hurt feelings, frustration and confusion. On balance, this may be a small tax to pay for the rich life found in a cohousing community where living is by far more than something “homemade."
Sometimes the cohousing tax is great and sometime small. It’s the love, labor and time I commit every day to this investment called community.
- It’s staying up with neighbors long nights grieving the loss of a child, spouse or parent.
- It’s connecting across sometimes serious differences to find common ground on which to move the community forward.
- It’s rallying around and supporting projects that seem completely out of reach financially and logistically.
- It's celebrating the rounds of birthdays, anniversaries, and milestones making each one new.
Let's not forget that sometimes the cohousing tax is too much for some folks and they choose to leave. When too many people leave perhaps it's time to revisit the tax code!
So far, for me, the gifts of community living in Takoma Village in Washington, DC far outweigh the cohousing tax. We run surplus revenue not deficit spending. But not everyone would agree. It's not for everyone. People do move away.
Chuck is fond of saying at every opportunity that living in cohousing is “easy.”
It is not "easy."
It's hard.
But it is, oh, so much richer, far more dimensional, and a more integrated way of living.
Read this book.
Start with the ending.
It will put into perspective the “taxes paid” to live in cohousing.
Mid Atlantic Cohousing's First Ever Thanksgiving
Quantity Cooking Recipe Contest!
Quantity Cooking Recipe Contest!
Last week, we announced this first ever contest designed to gather those super good delicious recipes from cohousing communities around the world. Scroll down to "Don't Be a Turkey!"
This week, we are announcing an increase in the prize: $50.00 to the winner!
For contest rules, check out the blog post for last week "Don't Be A Turkey!" November 11, 2015.
Deadline: Friday, November 20, 2015, 5:00 p.m. EST.
Send in those yummy recipes! Let's collect them into a book!
This week, we are announcing an increase in the prize: $50.00 to the winner!
For contest rules, check out the blog post for last week "Don't Be A Turkey!" November 11, 2015.
Deadline: Friday, November 20, 2015, 5:00 p.m. EST.
Send in those yummy recipes! Let's collect them into a book!
What fun contests about "life in cohousing" would you like to see? Send your suggestions to: Ann Zabaldo. Or you can comment on our blog site under this posting. Open to all clean & green, natural, organic, cage & steroid-free contests ...
Edi-bits
You Can't Put REAL Dirt in a Rooftop Garden ... No! No! Bad Dog!
World Building of the Year 2015 -- Eric Chang discusses the importance of community courtyards! Watch the video. See the photos of this staggering project. May change your mind about high-density living.
They said it couldn't be done! This Year 1st World Country Germany will get 33% of its energy from renewables!
You Can't Put REAL Dirt in a Rooftop Garden ... No! No! Bad Dog!
World Building of the Year 2015 -- Eric Chang discusses the importance of community courtyards! Watch the video. See the photos of this staggering project. May change your mind about high-density living.
They said it couldn't be done! This Year 1st World Country Germany will get 33% of its energy from renewables!
World Building of the Year 2015
November 10, 2015
Bringing you more of the weird, the bizarre and edifying in cohousing.
In this Post:
Edifying: Enter First Ever MAC Contest! $25.00 Cash Prize!
Veterans: Are service men and women living in cohousing a "hidden" population?
Edi-bits Housetrucks
Pre-fab You Can Love
Tiny 258 s/f Transformation
Bringing you more of the weird, the bizarre and edifying in cohousing.
In this Post:
Edifying: Enter First Ever MAC Contest! $25.00 Cash Prize!
Veterans: Are service men and women living in cohousing a "hidden" population?
Edi-bits Housetrucks
Pre-fab You Can Love
Tiny 258 s/f Transformation
The First Ever Mid Atlantic Cohousing
THANKSGIVING QUANTITY COOKING RECIPE CONTEST!
Chance to win a $25.00 CASH PRIZE!
THANKSGIVING QUANTITY COOKING RECIPE CONTEST!
Chance to win a $25.00 CASH PRIZE!
Traditions!
What cohousing does best!
And what better tradition or ritual than EATING!
What is your favorite recipe for a community meal?
Inquiring minds want to know!
We want to know so much so that Mid Atlantic Cohousing is sponsoring a contest:
What cohousing does best!
And what better tradition or ritual than EATING!
What is your favorite recipe for a community meal?
Inquiring minds want to know!
We want to know so much so that Mid Atlantic Cohousing is sponsoring a contest:
The Rules
1. Anyone can enter who is a member -- or even thinking of becoming a member -- of a forming, building or built cohousing community. Basically ... if you're reading this newsletter you can enter the contest!
2. QUANTITY COOKING RECIPES can focus on appetizers, salads, main course, veggies, desserts, drinks ...
3. One entry per person.
4. Recipe must serve at least 10-12 people or more. We're talking quantityhere ...
5. If submitting photos please use .JPG format. If you are not the photographer please include approval for use.
6. By entering this contest you agree to give Mid Atlantic Cohousing permission and rights to use the recipe text and photos for educational and informational purposes for print, digital, audio, etc. reproduction both for free and resale distribution (For example, with enough entries through this contest and other avenues we might publish a book the proceeds of which will be used to fund even more outreach and education about cohousing!) Attribution to you, of course!
7. Judges will be “disinterested” cohousers living in the Washington, DC area. They are not on the Cohousing-L, not on the Board of either MAC or CohoUS and did not attend the latest CohoUS conference in 2015. Believe me … they don’t know you and won’t recognize your name. BUT they are a member of either a forming, building or built community -- and they love to eat!
8. Please include the following information with your submission right at the top of the page:
10. Email to: Mid Atlantic Cohousing
11. In the event of a problem ... we'll figure out ...
12. One prize and one prize only = $25.00. All decisions final ...
2. QUANTITY COOKING RECIPES can focus on appetizers, salads, main course, veggies, desserts, drinks ...
3. One entry per person.
4. Recipe must serve at least 10-12 people or more. We're talking quantityhere ...
5. If submitting photos please use .JPG format. If you are not the photographer please include approval for use.
6. By entering this contest you agree to give Mid Atlantic Cohousing permission and rights to use the recipe text and photos for educational and informational purposes for print, digital, audio, etc. reproduction both for free and resale distribution (For example, with enough entries through this contest and other avenues we might publish a book the proceeds of which will be used to fund even more outreach and education about cohousing!) Attribution to you, of course!
7. Judges will be “disinterested” cohousers living in the Washington, DC area. They are not on the Cohousing-L, not on the Board of either MAC or CohoUS and did not attend the latest CohoUS conference in 2015. Believe me … they don’t know you and won’t recognize your name. BUT they are a member of either a forming, building or built community -- and they love to eat!
8. Please include the following information with your submission right at the top of the page:
- First and Last Names
- Name of the Recipe
- Name of Your Forming, Building or Built Cohousing Community
- Website/FB/Meetup address if you have one
- Your location in this universe e.g. City/State/Province/Country
- Telephone number
- Email address
10. Email to: Mid Atlantic Cohousing
11. In the event of a problem ... we'll figure out ...
12. One prize and one prize only = $25.00. All decisions final ...
What fun contests about "life in cohousing" would you like to see? Send your suggestions to: Ann Zabaldo. Or you can comment on our blog site under this posting. Open to all clean & green, natural, organic, cage & steroid-free contests ...
Are veterans a "hidden" population in cohousing? Do you have vets in your community? This Veteran's Day, Wednesday, November 11th, what will you be doing to acknowledge the service of veterans who live with you?
Share with us your stories about either being a Vet living in cohousing or living with a Vet in cohousing. How is that for you? Leave your comments on our blog under this post.
Thank you to the service men and women who live with us in cohousing and to those beyond our communities. Thank you!
Share with us your stories about either being a Vet living in cohousing or living with a Vet in cohousing. How is that for you? Leave your comments on our blog under this post.
Thank you to the service men and women who live with us in cohousing and to those beyond our communities. Thank you!
Edi-bits
Speaking of homes for the hoiidays ... check out these homes ...
Housetrucks -- adorable homes on wheels -- you can go anywhere!
Pre-Fab -- getting the quality and price right.
258 s/f = really cool transformation! Watch the video!
Speaking of homes for the hoiidays ... check out these homes ...
Housetrucks -- adorable homes on wheels -- you can go anywhere!
Pre-Fab -- getting the quality and price right.
258 s/f = really cool transformation! Watch the video!
House on Wheels = Housetruck Modern Pre-Fab You Can Love!
Open ME!
If your email in-box looks like mine … it is littered with announcements, invitations, press releases, newsletters, daily updates, etc. about cohousing and cohousing events.
By far the biggest snafu I find is figuring out WHERE in this galaxy the cohousing community is located and the cohousing event I want to attend is being held.
For the past 25+ years, I've been involved in marketing and outreach for cohousing communities. I've learned a few things. To wit: here are my candidates for the Top 5 All-Time Mistakes in Outreach Promotion cohousers routinely make in communications of all sorts. I was going to include the term “NOVICE” in the title but you know what? Really BIG publications makes these same errors!
By far the biggest snafu I find is figuring out WHERE in this galaxy the cohousing community is located and the cohousing event I want to attend is being held.
For the past 25+ years, I've been involved in marketing and outreach for cohousing communities. I've learned a few things. To wit: here are my candidates for the Top 5 All-Time Mistakes in Outreach Promotion cohousers routinely make in communications of all sorts. I was going to include the term “NOVICE” in the title but you know what? Really BIG publications makes these same errors!
1. "Come to our BBQ on Sunday!" Sending a print, digital, audio, or visual communication missing one or all three of these:
- date
- time
- place
2. "Meet at Dale and Susan’s!"
Indicating a place known only to the “in-crowd” or locals ...makes everyone else “out.”
Indicating a place known only to the “in-crowd” or locals ...makes everyone else “out.”
3. "Reach us on Facebook!" Providing only one avenue of contact may be convenient for you but it seriously reduces your pool of prospective neighbors.
Unless you are targeting just one market segment remember that not everyone uses every social platform. Need it to be digital? Go for the most common one: email. Too narrow? Provide ALL forms of contact you can handle.
In addition, always include a phone number because not everyone is on email and for emergencies.
Don't want to use your personal phone number? Use Google Voice to get an internet phone number that rings through to a number of your choice or just takes messages. Google Voice sends you an email indicating you have a message. Remember to MONITOR email for these messages and answer ASAP.
Unless you are targeting just one market segment remember that not everyone uses every social platform. Need it to be digital? Go for the most common one: email. Too narrow? Provide ALL forms of contact you can handle.
In addition, always include a phone number because not everyone is on email and for emergencies.
Don't want to use your personal phone number? Use Google Voice to get an internet phone number that rings through to a number of your choice or just takes messages. Google Voice sends you an email indicating you have a message. Remember to MONITOR email for these messages and answer ASAP.
4. "We'll get back to you within 48 hours." Failing to respond to inquiries IMMEDIATELY I believe is THE most serious mistake.
A “We’ll get back to you within 48 hours” message on an outgoing voice mail is 47 hours too late. When people contact you for information they are predisposed to listen to you. Act while they are in a listening posture.
A “We’ll get back to you within 48 hours” message on an outgoing voice mail is 47 hours too late. When people contact you for information they are predisposed to listen to you. Act while they are in a listening posture.
5. "Use GPS for directions." Finding you is not a board game.
The exhortation to “use GPS” is useless if you don’t include the address. Remember, also, that some people still don’t use GPS so having written directions in your announcement or someone one to contact for directions is absolutely imperative.
A website or Meet Up group are still two of the easiest, most common digital ways to communicate that can house your permanent data about you in one place. Make sure it’s simple and easy to navigate. (A very easy to use digital medium, Meet Up reduces options but keeps information very structured and easy to find.)
Do you have a "pet peeve" about marketing and outreach communications? A favorite story? Leave us a comment! Keep it gentle ...
The exhortation to “use GPS” is useless if you don’t include the address. Remember, also, that some people still don’t use GPS so having written directions in your announcement or someone one to contact for directions is absolutely imperative.
A website or Meet Up group are still two of the easiest, most common digital ways to communicate that can house your permanent data about you in one place. Make sure it’s simple and easy to navigate. (A very easy to use digital medium, Meet Up reduces options but keeps information very structured and easy to find.)
Do you have a "pet peeve" about marketing and outreach communications? A favorite story? Leave us a comment! Keep it gentle ...
Edi-bits
Awesome Clay Refrigerator Requires ZERO Energy to Keep Food Cool. MittiCool refrigerator requires no or very little maintenance and is guaranteed to continue working when the power goes out! Quote in Article by Lidija Grozdanic in Inhabitat
Groundfrige chills food with out electricity! The company claims the in-ground storage unit's capacity is comparable to that of 20 standard refrigerators, meaning it can hold up to 500 kilograms of food. Quoted in Dezeen.
Awesome Clay Refrigerator Requires ZERO Energy to Keep Food Cool. MittiCool refrigerator requires no or very little maintenance and is guaranteed to continue working when the power goes out! Quote in Article by Lidija Grozdanic in Inhabitat
Groundfrige chills food with out electricity! The company claims the in-ground storage unit's capacity is comparable to that of 20 standard refrigerators, meaning it can hold up to 500 kilograms of food. Quoted in Dezeen.
Categories |
Author
Ann Zabaldo is a passionate promoter of cohousing. She was on the develoment team for Eastern Village in Silver Spring, MD and Takoma Village in Washington, DC where she lives. She serves on the Board for MAC.
Archives
February 2017
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
RSS Feed
See cool blog for Emerson Commons.