No doubt you have noted that when you go to buy a house, the realtor very carefully shows you all the wonderful features of the home and garden, makes note of the local school and bus stop locations and advises that you should hire an home inspector to let you know if there are problems hidden in the walls or foundation. And it's rare if ever, that you are introduced to the people who can make living there heaven or hell... the neighbours.
Around here, it's totally the other way around. Meeting the neighbours is the very first thing you do.
Neighbours are the people you can turn to ask about house financing, whether the gutters overflow in the rain, canoe storage and where you can let your dog off-leash.
And we'll tell all we know about living here--- the rough and the smooth. We're the folks who will bring you dinner on the day you move in ... we'll lend a dolly if you need one and keep an eye on the kids while you empty boxes. All of us will smile and greet you, and some of us will become your best friends ... or your kids' best friends. Imagine this different way. Welcome!
The Village Tales
News and whimsy from Groundswell Cohousing at Yarrow Ecovillage
Monday, May 30, 2011
NutShell Niblets #30- May 30, 2011
Ann's very personal, highly biased and incomplete guide to the ecovillage ... in a nutshell, and with only a little no hyperbole.
Distracted by Cows
There’s been a lot going on around here recently. It’s spring, after all, and vigourous house construction and accompanying interest from ecovillage-wannabees has kept me on the hop*. I have hardly any time for writing :>(
It’s been intense in a wonderfully productive way. But this morning, with my mind completely focused on all the important doings and what I was going to be doing about the most crucial of them, I marched the black dog smartly down our lane to pastures at the back for some good uninterrupted thinking time. Our neighbours on the other side of the creek are cows – five brown and white adults and one calf, - free and carefree in the long grass, with nothing to do all day. And darned if they didn’t notice me as I was concentrating. And they came closer and kept staring at me. For the longest time, gazing at me as I gazed back. . Thank goodness I’d already written the following news to share with you or this would have been a very short report from the ecovillage indeed!.
* hop –see haiku contest.
Organic Farm News- vegetables growing, grant granted
The farmers are growing vegetables as fast as they can. Ohm sells at the Saturday market in Abbotsford and Osprey at both East Vancouver and Kitsilano markets --- swapping between them on Saturdays and Sundays.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Frontpage super models!
Maureen alerted us to our most recent appearance: the front cover of the Real Estate Weekly. Rumour has it that some realtors regard cohousing as the future of housing. If I can find a realtor to comment on this, I'll share.
It was quite a surprise to Maureen to find her half-built house (and Linda's and Cheryl's) on the cover when she got to that section of her local paper!
It was quite a surprise to Maureen to find her half-built house (and Linda's and Cheryl's) on the cover when she got to that section of her local paper!
Monday, May 23, 2011
Open House and Radio Show a HIT!
I can't tell you how good it felt to sit around an old radio with my neighbours to listen to Behind the Beaded curtain on CBC Radio One. Of course you know I'll try.
We had an amazing day. Myself and so many neighbours were up early in anticipation of the Open House. We set up tables and tents in case of rain. We put out flags and parking signs and garage sale items. People cleaned things and opened doors in anticipation of friendly faces that might come to see what we're about.
And they came! I think I can safely say we had over two hundred people through over the course of the day. There were farm tours, and home tours. For my kids a highlight was the treasure hunt hosted by one of the Dads. People had yummy smokies and Hot dogs from the deli. Every where you looked people were happy and relaxed. I was supposed to be at the Garage Sale table all day- but I got tied up in so many great conversations with fantastic people who really get what it is we're about.
I had to laugh at times as I answered questions I once asked myself. "Is this a Commune?" (no.) "Do you have to work on the farm?" (no.) "Is there some sort of religious affiliation?" (no.) "Can you own your own home?" (yes.) "Do you like it here?" (yes!) All good questions. Important things for people to figure out if they are looking for something they've never really seen before. That was my husband and I but a short year ago. It seems silly to me now to think I'd have asked these questions. We haven't even managed to move here yet (my house is next in the pipeline) but it feels so much like home here now that I can't imagine living anywhere else.
And then the day was nearly done when the radio came out. As people finished up with their clean up they slowly gathered in the bunker silo we use as a temporary Community Building. Tea in hand, we sat and listened. There were laughs, and knowing smiles while the (amazing) Hostess of the show Willow Yamauchi wove her magic. In the end we were proud. Shayne and Joel did an amazing job representing who we are; normal people from all walks of life who are willing to really know their neighbours.
If you've landed on this site because of the Open House- thanks so much for coming out! If you've come because you heard about us on CBC- I really hope you'll swing by and meet some of my neighbours! I have to say they're really great people, and an even better group.
I'll do my best to get the Radio Show link up soon and pictures will follow!
We had an amazing day. Myself and so many neighbours were up early in anticipation of the Open House. We set up tables and tents in case of rain. We put out flags and parking signs and garage sale items. People cleaned things and opened doors in anticipation of friendly faces that might come to see what we're about.
And they came! I think I can safely say we had over two hundred people through over the course of the day. There were farm tours, and home tours. For my kids a highlight was the treasure hunt hosted by one of the Dads. People had yummy smokies and Hot dogs from the deli. Every where you looked people were happy and relaxed. I was supposed to be at the Garage Sale table all day- but I got tied up in so many great conversations with fantastic people who really get what it is we're about.
I had to laugh at times as I answered questions I once asked myself. "Is this a Commune?" (no.) "Do you have to work on the farm?" (no.) "Is there some sort of religious affiliation?" (no.) "Can you own your own home?" (yes.) "Do you like it here?" (yes!) All good questions. Important things for people to figure out if they are looking for something they've never really seen before. That was my husband and I but a short year ago. It seems silly to me now to think I'd have asked these questions. We haven't even managed to move here yet (my house is next in the pipeline) but it feels so much like home here now that I can't imagine living anywhere else.
And then the day was nearly done when the radio came out. As people finished up with their clean up they slowly gathered in the bunker silo we use as a temporary Community Building. Tea in hand, we sat and listened. There were laughs, and knowing smiles while the (amazing) Hostess of the show Willow Yamauchi wove her magic. In the end we were proud. Shayne and Joel did an amazing job representing who we are; normal people from all walks of life who are willing to really know their neighbours.
If you've landed on this site because of the Open House- thanks so much for coming out! If you've come because you heard about us on CBC- I really hope you'll swing by and meet some of my neighbours! I have to say they're really great people, and an even better group.
I'll do my best to get the Radio Show link up soon and pictures will follow!
This is Vivian playing a balloon game with feisty ecovillage kids at the Open house. The game was supposed to involve carrying the balloons between their knees back and forth through an obstacle course. The funny thing about free range kids is that they have their own ideas about what fun is and aren't scared to share them. After a round or two of putting up with the obstacle course the kids quickly changed the rules of the game until every balloon had been played with, sat on and squished. Popping balloons makes kids giggle. What can I tell you?
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Open House May 23 10am to 3pm
Be sure to come to our OPEN HOUSE this Monday 10am- 3pm
Rain or shine there's lots to see and do! Tour houses, farm and creek.
Refreshments served. Garage and plant sales too! Fun for kids!
and listen to CBC Radio One on Monday 4pm to 6 pm to hear some of our voices on a fun programme about new back-to-the-land community life-styles, We're in the last half hour.
Rain or shine there's lots to see and do! Tour houses, farm and creek.
Refreshments served. Garage and plant sales too! Fun for kids!
and listen to CBC Radio One on Monday 4pm to 6 pm to hear some of our voices on a fun programme about new back-to-the-land community life-styles, We're in the last half hour.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Wagon ride
Today was fun and busy: the bunker silo was cleaned, the garage sale was fun, kids played in wagons (!), and about half a dozen of us ended the day around the fire.
Only eight more days until the open house: come see!
Friday, May 13, 2011
Ecovillage appears on CBC radio
Tune your radios on Victoria Day May 23rd between 4 and 6pm ( 4:30- 6:30 in Newfoundland) to hear a programme from humourous author Willow Yamiguchi about rediscovering back-to-the-land lifestyles. We'll make our appearance in the last half hour, I'm told. Willow wrote an hilarious book called Adult Child of Hippies and I can't wait to hear her funny take on our village.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Swarms of workers on the Triplex
Monday, May 2, 2011
Are you gathering for Garage Sale May14th?
Saturday May 14th is Chilliwack's district-wide Garage Sale day. You're welcome to put up a table along side ours, or share with one of us. Also you may donate items to the Hope International funding-raising table. (We're working towards providing a well for a village in Cambodia.) And we're looking for help at the Hope and the refreshment tables.
For more info- email welcome@yarrowecovillage.ca and I'll pass you over to Viv - the Sale diva
For more info- email welcome@yarrowecovillage.ca and I'll pass you over to Viv - the Sale diva
Sunday, May 1, 2011
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