Journey Home

Me with Chloe and Claire - They ride in style

My husband and I are almost polar opposites in a lot of ways…I was born on a commune (which my mother left when I was very young) and raised by Yippies (Hippies turned Yuppy). My childhood included a combination of a more conventional upbringing in the “big” (250,000) city of Anchorage, Alaska and a summer wilderness life (my parents were teachers) at a homestead in Lake Clark National Park, an hour small plane ride southwest of Anchorage, and then another hour boat ride to our small, one room cabin that has no electricity and is located between towering mountains and a glacial, turquoise lake. My husband (Alex), on the other hand, was a military brat, raised conservatively and with no real ties to any one place and no real wilderness experience. This being said, it is no wonder that we have had our struggles trying to figure out a path in life that will fulfill both of our needs.

Life fairly recently brought us to Vancouver, to the amazing neighbourhood of Strathcona. Why amazing you ask? Well…I really only have to tell one story to paint a picture of this friendly and funky, eastside neighbourhood. Two months ago, my husband was out of town for 2 weeks, leaving me on my own with 7 month old twins and a barely 3 year old and my neighbourhood friend, Kirsten, arranged a meal tree for me. This meant that EVERY night that my husband was away, a different person in the neighbourhood (some that I barely knew) would make me an amazing, home cooked meal and deliver it to my door, often offering 20-30 minutes of help at the craziest time of my day. Most incredible of all, these were all women with young children too…super, super moms!!!

My handsome husband and beautiful children - More than I had originally bargained for, but I can't imagine it any other way!

Around this time, I struck up a dialogue with Kirsten regarding community and the desire to create a strong network of emotional, physical and (sometimes) financial support. We also expressed our desire to live in a more countrified setting and to live a more sustainable lifestyle than that afforded by city living. As we were already spending a lot of time together (our three year olds are best friends and our babies are only a couple of months apart in age…plus, it would seem, we were growing quite fond of each other as well), we decided that we would like to move towards combining our households.  (Doing WHAT???!!!)  We broached the subject with our husbands, not sure what kind of response we might get.

Gabe and his "girlfriend", Mirabel

Now, the “boys” were not strangers to each other. We had already started a tradition of getting together regularly for board games and, (dare I say it?) Dungeons and Dragons, but I suppose even a weekly date between families is a far cry from actually living together. To my surprise, Alex jumped on board right away and started researching farms for sale that we might be able to afford between our two families, one minor glitch being that none of us has any farming experience. At this time, Kirsten sent me a link for the Yarrow Ecovillage and Groundswell Cohousing. As I explored the Ecovillage website, tears came to my eyes as I realized that other people were already living in the way I had always seen in my mind’s eye as being the only way to REALLY live. I suppose I knew this type of community did exist somewhere, but here it was, within an hour drive of my current home. Could this be the answer to the holes in our lifestyle we had been trying to fill? Twenty acres of organic farm, 2.5 acres of all ages cohousing, and 2.5 acres reserved for mixed use such as retail and seniors cohousing. A way to reap the benefits of organic farming with little to no knowledge of farming ourselves? The amazing sense of connection that comes from working and playing with ALL of your neighbours? Then I got suspicious…surely this was just some kind of a crazy cult because there was no way these people could actually be making this work. 

Just in case this WAS the real deal, I sent an email explaining our situation (wanting to combine two families in one home) and inquiring about tours and housing possibilities that might work for us. After an initial exchange with someone named Cheryl regarding the regularly scheduled tours, I received a very long and very friendly email from someone name Viv regarding a house plan that might work for us and offering to personally give us a tour.  So, we gathered the troops and headed for the Ecovillage on the 20th of May, 2012, just one day shy of my 36th birthday.  Alex’s parents came from Chilliwack to meet us there so that they would know what we were babbling about if it WAS as good as it sounded.

The day was grey, but the mood was bright when we arrived on site, and we instantly felt at home as half of us trooped into Viv’s house to use her toilet. We met her husband Paul and her kids, and started our tour in the showroom while I nursed a baby and gave peanut butter sandwiches to the three year olds. After a brief history of the Ecovillage, we were already sold and amazed by how this place had started and what it was moving towards…a bunch of like minded people buy 25 acres of organic farmland, build some awesome eco friendly homes and a sustainable, loving, supportive, farming community is born. Well…a little more complicated than that, but more or less the gist of things. When we left Yarrow after the tour, we already knew that we had to make this happen. Even Alex’s parents, who are very conservative and don’t necessarily understand all of the choices we have made up to this point, were very clear that this was the place for us. 

The following weekend we attended a community meeting and continued to be impressed. I have never witnessed so much respect in the process of trying to make big decisions with a large group of people. There was so much support and good listening, even in the face of tension and disagreement. I kept thinking how much personal growth a living situation like this would contribute to. Not to mention the amazing benefits of community to emotional health. To quote Mother Theresa as she neared the end of her life of working with the poor and the sick: “The biggest disease today is not leprosy or tuberculosis but rather the feeling of not belonging”. I hadn’t even met everyone in this circle yet, but already I had a sense of belonging, and I confirmed with the rest of my “extended” family afterward, that we all felt the same.

The following (last) weekend, Alex and I went up with the kids to join in a work party whacking blackberry brambles along the creek. For the third weekend in a row, we were making the hour long car trek from Vancouver with our three year old and 9 month old twins…we were definitely hooked! And the only reason Kirsten’s family didn’t make it was because of illness…they were so disappointed not to be returning to the Ecovillage themselves. As Alex whacked brambles I wandered with one twin strapped on my back, and the other on my front, and Gabriel (my little boy) in tow. When I asked him if he would like to live here with Mirabel’s family, he got so excited, he was totally beside himself. He showed me in only the way a 3 year old can exactly what I was feeling inside. It has only been four weeks from the time of our first tour, but we are already counting down to the day that we can truly call the Ecovillage home.

With all of our differences, Alex and I have rediscovered something that we have always known, but something that had grown foggy with the complications of stressful job changes and drastic adjustment to our roles as parents (we REALLY were not planning on having twin babies to accompany our spirited toddler!).  The something that brought us together in the first place...and that is that our fundamental needs and wants (living a loving, supportive, environmentally friendly, sustainable, joyous, physically fit, HAPPY life) are exactly the same, and that living in Groundswell Cohousing is the answer to making this all possible for both of us.

Pro education... the best way to protect our environment is by knowing the world around us.

A group of my neighbours here at in Groundswell Cohousing have joined with other locals to form a group called "PIPE UP".  The group is working to sort out the complex issues around the Kinder Morgan Pipeline and its proposed twinning.

I admit.  This is one of those times where living in community has made me take pause and notice something that I would never normally take time for.  Not because I am a horrible person.  Just because I, like so many others, am busy keeping up with life as it swirls around me.

PIPE UP will be hosting a couple of documentary nights.  I'm sure there will a tons of information sharing and conversation about the pipeline that runs through the entire Fraser Valley's back yard.  Perhaps not exactly in your actual yard but- should there be an issue with it- believe me it will affect you in a very personal way.

Take a night to learn.  Its good for our brains, and good to get out!  Enjoy!

And if you'd like to get involved with PIPE UP let me know and I can forward your email to the right neighbours for that!

Raising the Roof

I have never done a barn raising before. Truth be told there are all sorts of things I hadn't done before moving to an ecovillage.

I've done some research now. And I can't wait to raise a barn!

The idea of a whole community coming together to bring alive something as big as a barn astounds me. To assemble walls- and then raise them into place? To support people in such an integral way as making a barn! I'll spare the rewrite- there is a good 10 minutes of wiki should you be interested in the olden day way of raising a barn. My favorite part is when they talk about how it was unheard of to skip a barn raising. The idea that every single person was expected to support their neighbour, their town, their community. Is that what is missing? Now days it is hardly taboo to skip voting, never mind helping a neighbour. What a different world we live in "nowadays".

We laughed today about the food it took to feed a barn raising.

Food for a Barn Raising

115 lemon pies

500 fat cakes (doughnuts)

15 large cakes

3 gallons applesauce

3 gallons rice pudding

3 gallons cornstarch pudding

16 chickens

3 hams

60 pounds roast beef

300 light rolls

16 loaves of bread

Red beet pickle and pickled eggs

Cucumber pickles

6 pounds dried prunes, stewed

I large crock stewed raisins

5 gallon stone jar white potatoes and the same amount of sweet potatoes

(Enough food for 175 men).

The reality is that I would never have even thought about a "barn raising" if it weren't for my neighbour Tam.

Let me tell you about Tam. (and then I pause for a good 15 minutes trying to find words for my amazing neighbour)

Tam is one of our farmers. She turns 30 in a few weeks. She has two beautiful sons, and a darn tootin' neat husband. The trick about Tam is that she is so versatile. The first time you meet her she'll probably be hauling a load of dirt, or sawing a piece of wood. The next time you see her she'll making that thrift store dress she found last week look beautiful. Two weeks later you'll learn she's also artistic AND she can use photo shop AND she can slop around in a stream looking at Tadpoles.

Truthfully I don't know very many people as versatile as Tam. She is a hard working, smiling, endeavourous creature. She is thoughtful. She is kind. She is a joy to have in our neighbourhood.

Speaking of endeavours... Tam really wants the community farm to have a barn. I don't know where she has found the time to put this little number together but here it is! A barn-raise-fund-raiser! I hope you'll be able to help us. Every penny counts. Every forward of the URL counts. Whatever you can do will be a string pulling up our barn!

Thankyou for reading!

(wiki post on barn raising linked below)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barn_raising

Easter for a Mom of four

I was asked to post the message below by Julia; one of the super moms of the ecovillage. Hope to have Easter pics to share. It was a wonderful day!

Well, as many of my neighbours know, my dearest husband is often away on business. He happend to be away for Easter this year as well, allowing me some joyful one on four time with our young family. (Yeah, the youngest is 5 months.) It has been a little hectic with a series of meetings for our village, having the easter bunny drop by for a visit and then finding out that the Tooth Fairy is also visiting tonight. (How does one keep up?) I have had many neighbours help me out today from offering me a cup of tea and a brief rest to hiding the kids eggs for our community Egg hunt.

After a full day of chocolate eating and tooth-knocking-out-trampolining(it was loose already), I adventurously went to a play at the Cultural Centre with all four kids. After that belly busting and smile inducing fun, as part of our Easter Celebration we went out to dinner. On the way home after a both grueling and enjoyable adventure, I was cringing at the thought of my messy home and wondering if my in-laws had arrived yet. As we pull into a parking spot, I see a number of kids playing and sent the oldest two off to play until called. About ten steps later, I am offered help carrying the baby into the house where I am greeted by Auntie B and another neighbour cleaning my home. My neighbour also takes my garbage up to the curb (a 300 foot trip) and Auntie V assists in folding a mound of laundry. Forty minutes later, baby is sleeping (Thanks Auntie B), beds are made, kids are chatting happily and I am having a cup of tea. What a wonderful way to be greeted as I come home. My gratitude to all.

The Village from Fresh Eyes- Devorah and David

Devorah and David are soon to officially be our next neighbours, along with Christine who is technically moving in this weekend coming up. Things are really popping around here!

Devorah and David have been thinking about something like this for a long time with friends from their home town of Maple Ridge. They overheard a radio show that we were featured on and right away knew they needed to see what we were about. The snowed out presentation in January was calling to them, but due to icy road conditions they waited and joined Ingrid for the senior's cohousing presentation a week later. They came for the Ten Mile tasty tour. they dove in to Study group One which is a ten week workshop for seniors-to-be that looks closely at aging in place and how cohousing helps that. Last weekend we got the news that they were ready to take the next steps in joining our little village. We are so pleased to have them!

Devorah mentioned she has been writing to her friends about her experiences here and I suggested that she might begin contributing to the Blog. In time I hope to give her a Blog user name and let her share her own experiences with you directly. I love the idea of more voices sharing what is going on here. More voices gives a much rounder voice to the village.

Fo now- I paste on her behalf.

PS. The pictures are hers too. I think it was very respectful of her to block our faces before sending this out to her mailing list- but I will probably ask for copies where we show. None of the people in the pictures are worried about being shared. But the thought is sweet!

The upsides of multigenerational cohousing in Yarrow

After years of discussions, questions, searching, soul-searching, anxiety, and just sitting around on our butts stuck in our unsustainable comfort, I am pleased to say that we are very close to the commitment to move out to Yarrow Ecovillage when the next housing is ready!

We have just spent a very intense weekend there, and we had so many positive moments that we beat our own deadline for decision making. Here are a few of the things we did and observed.( A few pictures are attached, but some faces are blurred to protect anyone who might object to their picture being taken. )

SATURDAY:

We arrived to one of the first gloriously sunny days in a long time, so it seemed the whole village was out on the farmland and garden working at something. Some were stacking firewood or re-mulching paths; we spent most of our time cleaning out the old fire pit, moving it over a bit, and re-constructing it. With so many helping it was both fun and fast. We started at 1, and a fire was going in the new pit by dinner time. At one point I looked out to see a group of people (including my son) tamping down the gravel and dirt by dancing to an Irish jig played on my son's phone. The whole atmosphere was one of fun!

At 3:30 some of us who are interested in the next phase of housing attended a meeting to narrow down the cabinet, counter, and flooring choices. We did a quick tour of about 4-5 kitchens to get an idea of what things looked like, and everyone's voice was heard as the choices were democratically narrowed down to a few. A flooring expert was there to discuss the choices, which in all cases were non-toxic. There were also some "realities" as some of our preferences were too costly to make "standard". However, once you move in, you can make what changes you want.

At 6:00 we took a break to join others at the fire pit. We had brought ingredients for a communal soup which Janice- who loves to cook- had kindly assembled for us. We had also contributed bread or buns, and enjoyed a wonderful meal. Then, those of us in the focus group went back to finish our discussion about kitchen and floor choices.

SUNDAY:

We arrived at 10:30 AM and met with some of the "mature" villagers and interested folk to go for a walkabout and hike for a few hours. The walk took us around the farm fields, along the creek, a little ways up a mountain, and down along the dikes. For the outdoor enthusiasts such as ourselves, the area was a gold mine of biking, hiking, walking, and probably canoeing possibilities, some just a short walk out the door.

Yarrow itself is very charming, with lots of farms, horses, produce. Along the main road, just steps from the ecovillage, are a deli, restaurants, small grocery stores, gas stations, bank, post office, and a library and school mere blocks away. No box stores.

Two of the "matures" hosted a delicious lunch, and we talked of projects that we could do, such as building a sand box for the kids, and building market tables for the CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) box pick-ups during the summer. We also talked about other gatherings for the people-without-young-kids group, such as hikes, bike rides, pot-luck dinners.

At 1:00 we all attended the monthly community meeting. Not for the first time, we were very impressed with the respect and democracy that were so evident in this meeting, as well as the commitment to keeping things on track and on time. They knew in advance what issues would be dealt with, and when it came to a potentially emotionally charged issue, techniques were called into play to give everyone a respectful voice without shouting or name-calling. (Our politicians could benefit from watching how this works!!) The next steps to deal with the problem were put into place. As a real hater of meetings myself, I was amazed and even hopeful!

It was delightful to see young children, pregnant women, people of a variety of backgrounds, "mature" folks such as ourselves, couples, singles, you name it, all coming together with the intention of making a community work. The synergy is palpable.

Hey, you might wonder, so what are the downsides? Is there any privacy? Yes. People respect your private space, and there is no pressure to constantly participate. Are there people who will irritate you? I suppose so; (we haven't met them yet.) I'm pretty sure sometimes the group dynamics can be exhausting or frustrating. For us, the opportunity for growth is worth the risks.

If you know of anyone who might be looking for a change, or might interested in this vibrant little village in Yarrow, please pass this on! There are still a few housing units left in this phase of development, and the next phase will be the seniors cohousing.

Devorah

www.cohousing.ca/www.yarrowecovillage.ca/

A Well Read Blog. Otherwise known as "Ode to a Neighbour"

Hello Neighbours, Neighbours in Waiting, and Neighbour Wish You Could Be!!

I found out today that at least one person (Hi Taryn!) reads the Blog! Well let me tell you that made me want to Blog more! So here I am...

With an impromptu Blog post with no real aim... just to give my loyal readers (Taryn) something to read.

I'll tell you what today looked like at The Village in the rain.

6:00am Wake up cuddle with all three kids. At heart we know it's "7:00" but it still feels like 6:00 to us.

7:00 am Standard Daddy Pancake Breakfast.

8:00 am (I think I'm making us sound very productive. The truth is it was more like 10:00)

10:00 am A Neighbour calls about moving the chicken coop.

Have I mentioned the coop? SO,.... when we moved here, my husband got right into the farm of things. He and A Neighbour decided they needed to have a mini chicken farm. Over the past couple months they managed- despite having 7 children between them- to build a coop. Only they built it in the barn where they could use power tools. Final location of coop? About 500 meters from where they built it.

10:30 (pooring rain) Operation Move the Coop begins. I know its going comically when I see another Laughing Neighbour racing through the farm with his camera.

10:35 Taryn and Darrel show up. Darrel right away gets whisked away into the coop movement. Taryn comes in. They've come to see what a typical day at the village looks like. They are considering making some serious life changes and we may be one of them.

11:45 We take pity on the poor men, so we whip up a Borcht and fresh bread lunch for them. I now brag about my Farming Neighbours. Almost all the produce in the Borcht is fresh from our farm. While we make and brew we talk about lacto fermenting pickles, and co-parenting, cycling whilst pregnant (her not me!) and other random awesomeness.

12:00 noon. All the while a number of stray children come and go. Some of mine are at This Neighbour's, others belong to That Neighbour. Random Neighbours call to see if I have one of theirs. Its good to have kids that can play. I end up feeding 5 kids- only two are mine. I'm still not sure who fed my son, but he assures me someone did. Thanks to Neighbour Annonymous.

1:30 Bread, Soup and Beer are enjoyed by Some Neighbours while we chat and laugh about what becoming parents did to our realities. More kids come, some go. I'm pretty proud of our parent check in system. I actually always know where mine are, and always call to let other parents know when a new one comes. These are the Sundays I live for. No particular agenda, but a whole lot of coming and going. If you've had enough, you just put a note on the door.

3:30 Taryn and Darrel head home (sad!) and Another Neighbour pops by to collect two of his.

4:00 I watch Those Gardening Neighbours in the pouring rain tend to garden spaces.

4:30 (okay it was more like 5:30) After tea and excellent conversation Another Neighbour and two kids leave to meet other off site friends for supper. (Yes. We all have friends outside the Village.)

5:30 We have 1/2 hour to eat before Hubby takes off to go next door for a night of games with Rowdy Neighbours. A regular biweekly event he really enjoys. We make Fancy Omelettes with our Egg Neighbour's Eggs. Off site friend and neighbour.

6:30 Yet-Another-Neighbour pops by. She's been away for a week with her new baby. Boy I missed my Baby Neighbour! How he grew in a week!

7:30 My kids hit the wall. We crawl in bed to read stories. Out the lights go. I begin to write this Blog post. Knock Knock Knock (Yes. We knock before we enter.) Going Shopping Neighbour pops her head in. She's off to superstore and wonders if I need anything. No need to go in for milk tomorrow! Woopee!

9:30 Finishing the Blog post. Thinking about bed. Wondering what I would have done with a Sunday in my old hood. One thing is for sure. None of my Old Neighbours there would have even noticed a chicken coop driving by. Isn't that sad!

Good Night Taryn! And anyone else that reads- go ahead! Let me know you're out there. It makes me feel good! Maybe one day you'll come on out and be my New Neighbour!

Coop moving pictures to come!

Valentine's Day Ecovillage Style

I've never really believed in Valentine's Day. The "Hallmark Day"... No point really, when you live "out there". Sure, Paul and I would "try". It never ended well. One way or another the expectation of a perfect romantic day would always crumble into either a screaming match- or a crying match... Or a scream and cry match.

The restaurants are full, the flowers are expensive, and the expectation is huge of that ONE significant other. Try as they might, you'll be let down.

So we had given up on Valentine's Day. I think a lot of realists and visionaries do. Apart from the continuous freak out about hand made cards for school parties, we've given up entirely.

Until today.

Today, every time I opened my front door, a new goodie had appeared! Today neighbours young and old brought my family chocolates, notes of appreciation, thank you cards, cookies, a hand-made door knocker, gourmet Angel Kiss.

Every hour or so I was delighted with appreciation from my neighbours. So much so that we just had to share in the joy of giving. My children and I set out to decorate organic lollipops I bought from Winners last week with paper cut out hearts.

They were filled with GLEE to take them door to door.

Then, I went for a walk with my two year old through the town of Yarrow. What I saw made me run home for my camera...

Even Hank, the barber in Yarrow for 68 years, was amazed....

Someone had Art Attacked Yarrow!
Hank's Wooly Heart door....

He though it was for his birthday!

Outside the Vedder Grill it was written in Chalk "Yummy Fries!"

Rain Proof Shiny Hearts hung all over Yarrow Central Road...

I recognize the door knocker.... I got the same one, But from who????? This was not an ecovillage initiative!

What is "Greenall"? A calling card?

MCC ladies were gleeful at the decorated store front. One shouted "We should call The Progress!"

This proves the attack was well thought out.
My two year old was in awe... pulling at the hearts in flower pots... excited by every out of place piece!

Post Office Mobile blowing in the wind.

This says it all!

The Park Monument looked like a chocolate shop!

The trees in the park.
This gives you an idea...
Wow! What a place to live. The magic of such inspiration makes it easy to want to give back. I think today built on itself. One inspiration after another. Living somewhere where people give a tiny bit of their very best does two things; it tells you that a little bit is enough, and it makes you willing to give. Simple.

Not all of today was awesome. In fact parts were really hard. I- being human- really screwed up. (More than once.) I got to a point where I just couldn't smile anymore, and I fought with a neighbour. It was the first time I have even been really angry here. I yelled. People don't often yell here. I saw red. I was horrible to my neighbour about something that seems very small now. I'm embarrassed that I yelled. Truth be told I couldn't hold it in anymore. Sometimes living here gets the best of you. Sometimes living here makes you be someone you don't like to be. Truth be told we're still human.

At the end of the day. My neighbour (that I foolishly yelled at) and I will be okay. We may even be better off. At the end of the day, the most special thing about being here is that the people around me forgive my human-ness. And because of that, I hopefully grow.

So, sometimes it is really good to live here. And minutes later it can really suck. And minutes after that it can be really good to live here all over again. The key is a willingness to be whole- hearted. It sure beats Grey's Anatomy!

So Thank you Groundswell. Thanks for reviving my belief in a day for love and hearts. Thanks to Greater Yarrow for filling my day with smiles. Thanks to my husband for the surprise chocolates on my pillow. If the point of Valentine's Day is Love... We got the message loud and clear today.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Dear new neighbours

Dear new Neighbours,

I know I haven't met you yet. Or maybe I have. I just wanted to welcome you to your new home. I can't wait to meet you. Truthfully? We can't wait to build your house so we can start to stop this whole "construction phase".

Life here is great. I imagine it will only get better when you get here. We'll have the common house, we'll have the landscaping, and best of all? We'll have you.

My kids are in bed now. Have been for a while. They played with two different sets of kids today, and were asleep as their heads hit the pillow.

I'm still up. I'm wracking my brain trying to find a way to find you. Life here is so good, so sweet, so ... common sense... that I can't imagine living anywhere else. But we're still waiting for you. Waiting to meet the last of the new neighbours who will;

- cook the odd meal... share in many cooked for them.

- enjoy children who play outside in gaggles of giggles

- most likely garden, or want to learn how.

- you probably like people- though you may actually be an introvert like many others here

- you could be single, or married. Either way you know what it means to love with your whole heart.

- you are your own person- but you like to be a part of something bigger than just you.

- you might be lonely right now... looking for a place where you can belong.

- maybe you've heard about cohousing, or maybe you're still scared it means something bigger than it does. Maybe you need to visit so we can sort all that out.

- you probably love great food...

- you definitely love great people.

Dear new neighbour, find us soon? I just can't wait to share a cup of tea, or a walk through the farm. I want to know your kids. Or have you know mine. I want to ask how you are, when I know you aren't well. I want to help. I want to be helped by you.

I want meet you. Please come soon.

Whimsy from Janice

Janice should blog. She sent this through Beverly, who shared it with me. I'm putting it up here because I think it highlights our community joy beautifully. Thanks Janice!

"There's a soft hush outside due to the thick blanket of snow outside my doors. The juncos, sparrows and finches are feasting at the feeder my husband made out of wood scraps from the barn, and their merry chatter and swift movement charm both me and the cat. Just now, a beautiful young, male, Northern Flicker perched on my upended outdoor table leg. His roseate cheeks gleaming against the mocha of his cheeks, his tufted head looking rakish in the wind, he peers around him, making sure its safe. I wouldn’t have known he was there but for his peculiar keening, whistle of a cry, telling his mate the mother lode was there on my back porch - a pile of wild bird seed, theirs for the taking.

Introducing Ingrid!

We've been somewhat hit and miss in remembering to welcome our newest neighbours on the blog as they come. As it goes in real life, we're pretty busy around here. I'm going to share with you the story of one of our newest members now, and hopefully get the opportunity to tell other stories over time.

Ingrid's story makes me laugh. Mostly because of how graceful her landing has been. Before finding Groundswell cohousing I imagine Ingrid lived in a pretty normal (even beautiful judging by her tastes!) home. She probably had a lot of time to herself, and more than enough personal space. I think she was probably a very typical single empty nester. Working days, enjoying her grandchildren, and such. Life was probably very peaceful before us- but I think we win for joyful chaos.

The first time I met Ingrid was at the community garage sale back in May. She had been around the ecovillage a few times before that, but being that I live in Edmonton, it was my first chance to meet her. She arrived with a van full of beautiful things ready for her garage sale table. She was neat and clean, and kind. I liked her instantly. By the end of the day she had decided she wanted to move here, and I don't think a week went by before her things were moved into the smallest unit available in what we call the "Quad". She will live there until her two bedroom unit is ready for her.

That was fast. I should mention that most people don't move this quickly. For some people, including my family, the decision to jump into cohousing takes longer than that. Wrapping one's head around real community, the joys, and possible pains that come with it takes time. It also usually takes time for a unit to be built, or come available, so Ingrid's story is already quite unique.

And with such grace did Ingrid leap! First, let me tell you about the Quad. We built the Quad a year ago, and to our knowledge it is a new feature for cohousing. The quad is a Strata in itself, meaning each person owns their own unit. Two upper units that are about 650 sq ft (Correct me folks, is that right?) and two lower units measuring 400 sq ft. Each unit has a private bathroom, bedroom, and living quarters, but share a kitchen, dining room, and living room. On top of that, the residents of the quad can also access the main common house and the rest of the common facilities in the neighbourhood. Mini cohousing within cohousing so to speak. It was designed for people that would normally not be able to get into the housing market, and also for people who want to have the enjoyment of room mates while still have enough private space. Let me tell you this; the quad is a special place. It is full of energy and life. People come and go, probably more than Quad livers might like for the moment. There is almost always something cooking in their kitchen, and a large amount of laughter that floats out the windows. Ingrid went from living on her own, to sharing a house with three other people who would have seemed unlikely room mates in any other place. Okay- one part of the Quad is being used as office space right now- but they're still room mates, and that's a story for another day.

So my story continues. I arrived back at the village at the end of July. Ingrid has been settled in for a couple months at this point.

The first day after my arrival Ingrid has already offered her tiny but gorgeously kept home for children to bathe and play in. Right away I note that her bookshelf houses nearly every great book ever written about cohousing. She's done her research.

The second day one of the other mother's and I decide we'll go berry picking. We plan on taking a third mom's children with us while she works on installing her floors with her husband. Hoping to even out the adult to child ratio a bit, we invite Ingrid, who jumps right in. Literally. She ends up sitting between two car seats and the smile never leaves her face. She helps pick berries amongst the chaos of 8 children and at the end of it tells us how well behaved our kids are! Music to every mother's ears!

The third day a group of us plan to meet about our "marketing strategy". Ingrid tags along and takes notes.

The fourth day I find her and another room mate up late making gourmet popcorn. 2:00 am would seem late anywhere but the quad, but not for Ingrid! She's busily transcribing the notes from the day before while laughing and drinking wine.

Not a week later Ingrid averts a near melt-down for me and my kids. My husband has now flown home and I'm on my last straw. We're in her home for bath time and I catch her snuggled up with my three rug rats reading stories. She buys me enough time to actually have my own shower AND a cup of tea. My children finish up a story about the little engine that could and then choo! choo! all the way back to our tent trailer.

Ingrid and several other neighbours show up in the barn for an impromptu dinner with some potential new comers. She delights us all with a story about her day that begins with, "Let me tell you all what an amazing place we live!" She regales us with stories about all her errands throughout the day and how people kept giving her free gourmet delights. She is gleeful.

My daughter falls in love with Ingrid's sweet little doll's house. Ingrid shares it with her openly. Sophie sits for hours playing on Ingrid's floor. Ingrid also gets roped in to performing and song and dance with my daughter. Over the next week I see her perform the routine on three separate occasions. Sophie adores her for this.

Ingrid's daughter comes to visit. She has been away in Bhutan amongst other places. Her, her daughter, and some of her daughter's friends show up around the campfire one night with ice cream and organic blueberries. We invent a new tasty treat now known as the full moon. A full moon is when you stuff blueberries and ice cream into the center of a roasted marshmellow and stuff it in your mouth. You really ought to try one. It'll make you howl, or really fat. not sure which.

Another near melt down. Ingrid joins me and my three overheated children at the spray deck where she leaves me in a spot of shade while she entertains my children on the swings and in the water for over an hour.

Ingrid's Granddaughter visits. Ingrid helps a gaggle of children "surprise the grown ups" by making us lunch, and insists on cleaning up too!




Throughout all of this Ingrid comes and goes. She has other friends and family in the area that keep her busy. One can't be certain if Ingrid will be home or not- but when she's home, she's all in. No matter what we throw at her.

Welcome Ingrid! It's a pleasure to know you!

Muddy Buddies

Our mud-buddies, Tamara and Shauna, are working away at finishing the garden tool shed with a natural building technique that seems to include straw, clay, kids spraying each other with hoses, everyone getting elbow deep in mud and laughing a lot.  I think it's the last three activities that make this 'natural building'.   And these two gals , with their arms around each other? ( Tam's hands are too muddy to touch Shauna, but Tam's shirt is dirty enough and Shauna's hands clean enough to touch her :>) )  .... they are from two of the farming families here who produce so many vegetables my fridge door won't shut properly anymore without squishing the bags of green goodness  therein. They've been friends since grade eight in a small interior BC town.  Usually they're hauling bales, washing and bagging salad mix, or hand-tilling the weeds between the rows.  But in this moment, they turned to each other and said "  When we were in high school, did we have any idea that we end up here together???"
They look happy. 

Ann

If you've been here to visit, you've seen this scene. This is Ann at home. Many a cup of tea has been enjoyed at this table.

Osprey Organic farmers prepare for the East side Saturday market in Vancouver

Tam and Joel are a husband and wife team who lease farm land, and live here. They run Osprey Organic farms from our little Village and can be seen out on the land with their big beautiful dog Joey, and two great kids Noah and Eli. Not only do they grow great veggies, but they make great peach daquaris around campfires.

Those big bags of yummy fresh greens ended up in our CSA baskets. Yes folks. Begin drooling now. These farmers, along with Ohm Farms, give me a giant Rubbermaid full of veggies every friday in exchange for a mere $30.00. It's the cheapest way to hire a personal gardener that I know of. Combine this with great lettuce with some of the Hollyhock salad dressing we've all become addicted to here and voila! Simple one mile living at it's best!

Find Hollyhock dressing here:

Projects in the bunker silo

Cheryl and Ann work on artisan market fare while bikes are fixed in the background.