Common House

The common house has a living room, kitchen, dining room and kids’ room, plus an unfinished basement with ping pong and pool tables and a wood shop.

How are meals organized? How do you pay?

Those of us that cook, take turns cooking in the restaurant-size kitchen and cleaning up. There are no rules about what to cook or serve. We know about each other's allergies and dietary preferences. Most cooked meals have thirty to fifty attendees. We have two potluck dinners and one or two cooked meals per week.

Cooks announce a meal and state the signup deadline, usually one or two days before the meal; sign-up is by email, phone, or a list in the common house. One neighbor tallies the meal attendance and bills us monthly. Any extra funds from meals or donations from resident renters are used for some fun or useful addition to the common house. We have recently used surplus on vacuum cleaners, stage lights, and windows and lights in the basement.

Does everybody participate in meals?

No. Some families come to almost every cooked meal and frequently cook or clean up. A very small number of families rarely come to meals. There is no requirement.

What else do you use the common house for?

The common house is used frequently and for varied activities. There are classes in drama, yoga, and exercise; dance performances; woodworking; ping pong and pool; a community food co-op; work meetings; art days; game nights; concerts; community plays; birthday parties for adults and kids; wedding celebrations; political fundraisers; educational slide shows; movies; computer LAN parties; meetings of town committees and environmental action groups; school parties; and more!