Re: Landscape | <– Date –> <– Thread –> |
From: PattyMara (PattyMaraaol.com) | |
Date: Thu, 1 Apr 1999 09:44:06 -0600 |
In a message dated 3/30/99 10:32:19 PM Pacific Standard Time, ScottCoho [at] aol.com writes: << After move-in, did your group have any unexpected issues regarding the landscape or gardens? >> At Tierra Nueva, central CA coast, the unexpected issue was and still is, the overwhelming gut wrenching sheer force labor required to do the work of landscaping. It has been touted in cohousing circles as the way to "save money" by using sweat labor of the membership. It is SO much work to do the infrastructure of trenching and pipework for the irrigation system, then there is the final grading, mulching, juting hillsides for erosion control, plant procuring, unloading, transporting around the site, and only then, planting, and finally, installing driplines. Much of this labor needs skilled personnel, and at very least, strong backs and muscles. No one in our 27 member group (50% seniors) (except for the landscape committee of 3) was prepared for the exertion and the "burden" of the expectation to work what feels like every weekend, forever it seems, when everyone is already burned out from the rigors of moving in. What would I do differently? Bid it out. The design, the installation of irrigation systems, the erosion control and the heavy lifting. Maybe, even the planting. Let the professionals do the job. There will be enough work to do maintaining the landscaping once the plants are in. All of the work I described above dealt with common landscaping, not individual yards, so after we did the sweat work for the community, we still have our own yards to attend to. So much work. As far as any "rules" for individual yards, there are none. Plant whatever you wish, water and maintain it; it is on your property. We are planting a community garden, and the burning souls will be very involved, and others will appreciate from a distance. coheartedly, Patty Mara Gourley who is packing up the VW camper for a long weekend of camping at Montana de Oro with many of our community members, to celebrate my 50th birthday. Cheers!
-
Landscape ScottCoho, March 30 1999
- Re: Landscape PattyMara, April 1 1999
- Re: Landscape Bsetzler, April 6 1999
Results generated by Tiger Technologies Web hosting using MHonArc.