Client Spotlight: Mission Peak Village Gets a "Taste" for Cooking Common Meals

Common Meals are a big part of life in cohousing, but it's also one of the topics that can make palms sweaty. So, to get a "taste" of large-scale cooking and to put their nerves to rest, CS client Mission Peak Village (Fremont, CA) recently attended a class at Spectrum Community Services in San Leandro, CA to learn how to turn a meal for 4 into a meal for 30.

Full disclosure that MPV Members experienced a little bit of that anxiety at the start of the class, but as it turns out, cooking for groups is actually easier than they thought!

"I hadn't realized what fun it is to cook with a group of friends," said MPV Member Evelyn. 

By the end of the class, they had both a fantastic meal and reassurance that Common Meals ARE possible without stress!

"I'm looking forward to taking my turn at making a common meal and eating meals with my fellow cohousers," Evelyn added.

To read a non-cohouser's experience of cooking Common Meals, see "Andrea Cooks Common Dinner" below! Article credit to MPV.

Addressing Holiday Loneliness

The holiday season comes with many joys and celebrations, but for those who don't have people to celebrate with, it can magnify the feelings of isolation. Surrounded by scenes of happy families and people shuffling between events, we may feel as if we're the only one celebrating alone. The good news is...it doesn't have to be this way!

In cohousing, there are, innately, neighbors who care and with whom to celebrate and partake in tradition. No matter the occasion, there is nearly always a correlating community event being held. People no longer need to dread the holidays, or worry about who they'll celebrate with or any of the other thoughts and feelings that can come with loneliness. In cohousing, you always have a seat at the table.

Community-Created Traditions

Each winter, Members of Nevada City Cohousing celebrate The Solstice Spiral, which, like most winter festivals around the world, is about bringing light to the darkness. The community comes together to celebrate the walk of life that honors each individual's journey in the world. The Community creates a spiral defined with evergreens and lit with a single candle in the center. Each person walks a simple spiral path to the center candle from which they light their own, and begin spiraling outward placing the candle somewhere along the path. As one can imagine, there is a huge range of potential symbolic and metaphoric meaning that can be personalized to whatever one’s interpretation may be. This is a beautiful, quiet, and reverent ritual. The power is palpable as even the little ones find themselves enjoying the quiet moment of reflection.

How does your community celebrate the holidays? Submit a story to us below!

Katie Interviewed for N. California Real Estate Podcast

We love talking about cohousing!

LivXplore - a real estate consulting firm serving San Francisco/North Bay - recently invited CS President Katie McCamant to be a guest on their podcast. Along with hosts Sean and Isaiah, she discussed cohousing development, navigating zoning, the relevance of cohousing in today’s world, and much more. The episode can be found on most major podcast platforms, and on LivXplore's YouTube channel. Thanks for inviting us, Sean and Isaiah!

Thanksgiving, Wolf Creek Lodge Style!

Members of Wolf Creek Lodge in Grass Valley, CA were busy over Thanksgiving - some members left the lodge to spend Thanksgiving with their families, especially if they are within driving distance, but a handful of members and family celebrated together on-site. It is not uncommon for cohousers to invite family and friends to join them at the community dinner, creating a community extended family. Let's see how they spent the day!

Andrea Cooks Common Dinner at Nevada City Cohousing

Meal prep was already underway when I arrived; Katie seasoned the chicken thighs while Diane sliced potatoes. Around 30 people were expected for dinner in t-minus 2 hours, and I appeared to be the only one with some anxiety.

"Aprons are in there if you'd like one!" Katie told me, pointing to the large Common House pantry.

I threw on an apron, washed my hands, and was assigned the tear-jerking duty of slicing onions. "How would you like them cut?" I asked, concerned I'd spoil the meal if done incorrectly. "Slices are fine," Diane advised. "Can I show you how I cut them to avoid getting watery eyes?" Of course I wanted to learn, so she happily paused from cutting potatoes to teach me.

As meal prep continued, a Member came by, toddler on their hip, asking if they could take their meal "to go" - their other kiddo was sick and their partner was working. Soon another Member came by asking the same as they too weren't feeling well. As it turned out, a whopping 10 individuals/households were under the weather, ultimately opting to eat at home instead of the Common House. As I watched this (what I later learned was an unusual) situation unfold, I realized that Common Meals aren't just convenient; they are a way to support neighbors in need. These Members didn't need to muscle through cooking while feeling ill; they didn't need to stress over feeding the rest of the family while tending to a sick child. Once food was ready, they simply came back with to-go containers, scooped up their portions and returned home. It was a profoundly powerful moment.

Pans were finally being slid into the oven. "That's everything?" I asked Katie and Diane. My slice of the work was so manageable that I assumed there was more to do. "Yep! Now we crack open the wine and pull out some hors d'oeuvres." Ok, so being a Common Meal chef has its perks!

I was sipping cabernet when Ann walked in. "Hi Ann!" I said, having met her a couple of times prior when we discovered a shared love for crafting. Her face lit up seeing me, and without hesitation and as if old friends, we went in for a big hug. My heart filled with the warmth that comes from connection, and I realized that without cohousing I'd never have had this experience - an opportunity to care, and be cared by, someone I very likely wouldn't have met outside of community.

Soon, the table was being set and pans pulled from the oven. Salads were being dressed and bread sliced (ok, so the work wasn't really over, but this wasn't exactly a heavy lift). As those eating in the Common House started taking their seats, 3-year old cohouser Oaklyn astutely noticed that Diane was looking for a place to sit.

"You can sit at the end, Diane!" he said, enthusiastically pointing to the end of our already full table. "Come sit with us!" While she ultimately chose a spot at a less crowded table, it was a clear testament to the bonds that cohousers hold, and of the ways we show care for one another, both big and small. As Members came through to collect their to-go items, Oaklyn said hi to everyone - by name! "How incredible is it that this little guy gets to grow up surrounded by dozens of caring people that he knows and trusts?" I thought.

Dinner wrapped up and with bellies full, Members slowly headed back to their homes. Katie, Diane and I returned to the kitchen for cleanup, which, like the other tasks, turned out to be a cinch when done with the help of others. Rinsing dishes, I felt the full power of all I had experienced during our Common Meal - the opportunity to learn something new, to meet new people, to spend time with familiar friends, to both give and receive care, to nurture the next generation. It's truly more than words can capture.



Andrea Budde

Marketing + Outreach

Save The Date for CohoUS's National Conference!

Be sure to save the date and join CoHousing Solutions and the Cohousing Association of the U.S. for the 2024 National Cohousing Conference in Denver. The biennial conference will be a space for connection, learning and growth.

We will listen deeply, share openly and reflect on the past, present and future of the cohousing movement. While grounded in our commitment to belonging, we will explore strategies to make cohousing a more equitable and diverse space.

Learn More

Let's make your dream

neighborhood a reality.

We provide development consulting services to help you create your sustainable neighborhood. Our team pioneered the development of cohousing in North America, and we have helped create dozens of successful communities.