Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: data on the benefits of cooking together (Irmgard Kravogel)

[Irmgard Kravogel (i.kravogel]

Hi Daniel,

some observations of our community.

We have tried many different things on how to make the regular cooking  
work. For 1,5 years we seem to have found what works best for us: We  
cook 4 times a week, the group consist of about 30 people. Not  
everyone participates in the cooking circle due to different working  
hours. Commuters need 60-90 minutes to travel home from work.
Still, sometimes people who are not part of the cooking circle join  
our meals with their own dishes.
We have cooking teams of 2 persons, they do the planning, shopping,  
cooking, laying tables and cleaning of the kitchen and equipment.   
Those who eat clean the dishes, cutlery and tables. And usually there  
is someone who helps the kitchen team with drying and putting away  
because they have time left. That is always a gift.

The benefits are many:
- cooking for a group is more economical engergywise, than using 15  
different stoves in 15 different unites.
- cooking together is a lot of fun. We have teams of two persons and  
we chat and laugh in the kitchen. Others pop in and talk a bit.  
Children are playing in the common house - there is a lot of everyday  
life going on.
- the smell dwells all around the area which is a nice welcome when  
you come home. Usually this smell is very delicious.
- Many of us are communters and we love to come home at night and  
dinner is ready and we just sit down and enjoy good organic food and   
the company of our fellow-eaters.
- at dinner there is time to fill people in about things going on in  
your life. We generate ideas or discuss issues after the meal.
- since I eat at the common house at night I do not need to go to a  
pub during my lunch-break like I did before. So my monthly eating  
costs are considerably lower now. Other people have reported the same.

Cooking and eating together is one of the best things in Cohousing.  
Sometimes it takes time and trial and error to find out what works  
best for the group. And people who are willing to participate. As said  
before it is very helpful to have a burning soul in the kitchen  
committee.

Kind regards from Austria
Irmgard

founding member of Lebensraum, Austrias first cohousing community
office manager, life coach and cohousing ambassador

-----------------------
Irmgard Kravogel
Tannengasse 1/16
2230 Gänserndorf
0676-523 89 44
i.kravogel [at] gmx.at



> > > hi, i am working on a conceptual project for an urban planning
> > > class at nyu.we
> > > need to put a significant # of residential units into a large
> > > development in
> > > east harlem.
> > > i'd like to propose that kitchen spaces be communal.
> > > i am looking for data that shows economic, health and other
> > > benefits of
> > > cooking and eating together.  hard data is most helpful, but
> > > anecdotal
> > > evidence is welcome as well.
> > > also, any photos and rules for such kitchens would be nice to know.
> > >
> > > thanks,
> > > daniel
> > > _________________________________________________________________
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> > > http://www.cohousing.org/cohousing-L/