Recommended Readings

Cohousing: A Contemporary Approach to Housing Ourselves (1988, 1994) by Kathryn McCamant & Charles Durrett

Creating a life together : practical tools to grow ecovillages and intentional communities (2003) by Diana Leafe Christian ; foreword by Patch Adams.

The Senior Cohousing Handbook (2009) by Charles Durrett

Guidelines for Success

With the excellent assistance of our professional facilitator, Peggy Jessome of Idea Gardens, the following members:

Cher King-Scobie, Alan Carpenter, Alan Dobbs, Tom Hoy, Ann Clement, Britta Jongkind Julia Jongking, Yonas Jongkind, Lois White, Matthew Redekop, Gerry Kilgannon

collaborated to bring together the following results:

We each chose a lived experience which represented how we want Yarrow Ecovillage to be; an experience when things came together, or when we had a sense that we were on to something. After sharing those experiences and the insights that came from them, we crafted the following guidelines that we think will keep us on course to develop the community we desire.

GUIDELINES FOR SUCCESS

1. Communicate to build community.

                        Work on mutual trust; It's the ground for collaboration.

                        Listen to others' experience and concerns

                        Address conflicts early

                        Make sure people feel heard

                        Honesty and openness in neighbours

                        Communicate important information

                        Promoter to “sound out” the group

                        Accept help

                        We manage expectations well

             

2. Agree on plans and strategies.

                        Teamwork furthers common goals

                        Define goals and timeline

                        Alignment and focus

                        Seek agreement on goals and purpose

                        Shared vision = Positive action

                        Plan with goal in mind

                        Trust in our process

                        Work collaboratively

                        Group inform and empower the “doer”

                        Never lose sight of the future

                        We are tidy; it shows caring

3. Be present

                        Share life now;ust in the future

                        Never lose sight of NOW

                        Commit to participate

                        Strengthen relationships through PARTICIPATION

                        Think of others

                        Take time for each other

    

4. Balance doing and being; head and heart.

                        Balance business and social

                        Balance pleasure with business

5. Accept and appreciate each other

                        Appreciate efforts of members

                        Provide/show appreciation        

                        Understand and accept one another

                        Look for the positive in actions

                        Allow mistakes; respond with generosity

                        Contribute your talent

                        Allow creativity

                        Find humour in events

                                                    

6.  Make space for joy and fun.

               Working hands-on together brings joy

                Get to know your neighbours

                Only give willingly, not begrudgingly

                 Make time for social events

                 Share meals often (at least once per week)

                 Have fun

WHAT WILL SUCCESS LOOK LIKE?

1.             A thriving community of all ages

2.            A vibrant local economy

3.            Living lightly on the la nd

4.            Land sustainable

5.            Successful part of Yarrow