Wolf Creek Lodge Newsletter

Cohousing in Grass Valley, CA since 2012

July 2025

Three Wolf Creek Lodge homes are currently available, although a potential buyer continues to work on financing.

In this newsletter we revisit the topic of "Getting the Work Done." Nearly all those considering cohousing ask us about this. Members of cohousing communities also discuss it, especially when the work is not getting done.

Thanks to Pam, Judith, Jimmy, Richard, Deleaua, and others for contributed photos.

Bob Miller - editor,

Suzanne Marriott - commas and columnist.

Three Homes Available

There are two one-bedroom/one-bath homes and a two-bedroom/two-bath home.

We recommend you explore them on our website at:

www.wolfcreeklodge.org

Open House

Find out more at our Open House, in person or by Zoom, on Saturday 12th July at 2:00 PM.

You can contact us by replying to this newsletter or sending an email to info@wolfcreeklodge.org.

You can also call us and leave a voice message at: (800) 558-3775

The Challenge

There are well over 100 cohousing communities within the United States. Although they follow cohousing practices, there is a great variety in the land they own, the layout, and the design of the homes. They all do similar work relating to financial management, maintaining the community interaction so fundamental to cohousing, and maybe marketing. The work relating to the infrastructure is very different.

Some are urban, have a single structure, and fully occupy their lot. Washington Commons, in West Sacramento, is an example of this.

Others own vast acreage with maybe gardens, orchards, or even farms. Heartwood Cohousing in Colorado is an example. Getting the work done here involves maintenance of potable and irrigation water systems, septic systems, tractors, and heavy manual labor.

Wolf Creek Lodge is essentially a single structure with a row of detached garages. It does included an outdoor patio, gardens, and open space along Wolf Creek.

If you are contemplating joining a cohousing community make sure you choose one that fits your appetite for work. Be wary of any romantic notions of farming. Farming is hard work and is financially precarious.

Wolf Creek Lodge is designed to be low maintenance. Many members moved from large homes on significant acreage and were happy to escape the maintenance burden.

Getting Organized at Wolf Creek Lodge

The Participation Team creates and maintains the organizational structure to get the work done.

They organize many teams, including:

• Finance and Legal
• Common House Management
• Marketing and Membership
• Common Meals
• Landscape and Open Space
• Process
• Spa
• Welfare
• E-communications (IT support)
• CoCo (Coordinating Committee)
• Garage and Parking
• Participation

Which team works for you?

Members also sign up for individual tasks that have not been assigned to a team.

Some work is done by hiring in the appropriate help. For example, much of the management of trees on the open space and the patio is undertaken by arborists. Air conditioning, elevator, window washing, and washer/drier maintenance are also done by hiring in the appropriate technicians. This still requires members to recognize the need, identify responsible companies, and schedule the work.

Wolf Creek Lodge is fortunate to have Gary, a skilled handyman, who comes regularly, usually on Mondays. Deleaua maintains a list of community-related tasks and tasks requested by individual homeowners.

Jimmy does some research in support of an administrative task. He is an advocate for Artificial Intelligence, but as a retired CEO of a Credit Union, his natural intelligence is also useful.

Gayle vacuums the mats at the entrance to the common house. Some members contribute more to getting the work done than others. Gayle is noted for her many contributions.

Much other work is done by members, as indicated by the list of teams above. Some work is administrative while other work is manual labor. The Landscape and Open Space Team does a lot of work in the gardens. We hope they mostly enjoy this. The community certainly benefits from their work. The Welfare Team responds as needed. When someone has a medical issue, they will help with transportation to the hospital, meals, shopping, etc. The Common House Management Team oversees the common house making sure members fulfill their cleaning tasks and that supplies are available in the kitchen.

Jacque mops the dining room floor. This is done once each week by a rotating team of four members.

About every quarter Sue declares a workday. This is for special work that is not done on a day-to-day basis. This mostly involves extra cleaning, such as removing cobwebs along the walkways and a deep clean of the kitchen

And Finally

Working together to get the work done strengthens connections within the community. Much like common meals, working together is part of the glue that builds the community.



If you're wondering, 'Is the work getting done at Wolf Creek Lodge?' you'll be relieved to know that it is, demonstrating a functioning cohousing community.

Letter from 104



By Suzanne Marriott

Jimmy’s Excellent Birthday Party

Jimmy had this to say: “I was grateful to have so many of my family come for my 79th birthday celebration. They also came to visit in July, 2017, one month after my 71st birthday. I was in ICU at Sierra Memorial. Then, the mood was funereal. This week it was fun.”

And fun it was. In addition to the many Wolf Creek Lodge cohousers who turned out to celebrate Jimmy’s birthday, Jimmy’s extended family was well represented, some flying in from Hawaii, Minnesota, and Virginia, while others drove in from six different California cities.

Judith, Jimmy’s wife, came up with the idea of this lavish party, and, in true cohousing spirit, there were many hands to help her make it happen. The day after, Judith wrote in an email to the community: “Marathon yesterday! Jimmy’s 79th birthday party was an impressive cohousing production, with former residents and all of Jimmy’s surviving siblings, his sons, his granddaughter and two of her three grandmothers being well fed.” According to Judith, “Food was provided by La Gastronomia which is nearby. The chef made moussaka, garlic chicken with rice and lentil pilaf. He also contributed garlic bread and pita. . . . The huge strawberry and whipped cream cake was provided by Jimmy’s brother Luis and sister-in-law Irma Rios.” To round things out, the feast included pancit (Filipino noodles with tofu), lumpia, salads, and champagne.

Although this event was in honor of Jimmy’s 79^th birthday, the center of attention was often his charming granddaughter, Marlowe, soon to be five. She was most intrigued by her grandfather’s huge birthday cake, as can be seen in the picture below.

So Happy Birthday, Jimmy, and thank you to Judith and her merry band of helpers! We can’t wait until Jimmy turns 80!

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