Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Themed, affinity, or specialty cohousing

[Emilie Parker (emilie.v.parker]

On Tue, Apr 4, 2017 at 7:17 PM, Roger Studley <roger [at] urbanmoshav.org> 
wrote:

> I would like to know if these sorts of communities
> have been attempted and what the experience has been
>

Now in Longmont, CO we are a forming an affinity cohousing community --
Bohn Farm Cohousing Community of Art and Farming.  We have everything lined
up for ground breaking late this year or early next for 40 homes.  We have
our CSA committee (Community Supported Agriculture, which is a new business
model for farming happening everywhere now.)

The CSA committee is planning the farming business.  The art committee is
creating an art business plan.  Not everyone is an artist.  Most people
have said they are interested in participating in art events.  So far most
everyone is onboard with both interests and with keeping an open mind
toward generating income for the HOA through enterprises related to art and
farming.  We will be attempting to make our common areas tailored to
support those interests - for example a barn, a commercial kitchen will
support farming.  We are working towards having other specific designated
areas hopefully be wired, ventilated, lighted and plumbed, etc to work for
wood/ceramics and welding workshop, art gallery lighting and sound proof
music practice and recording space.  We define art very broadly -- very
inclusive -- dance and yoga, entertainment and education are inclusive.
Our group seems to be about 1/3 artists, I think.

We haven't surveyed how many people are interested in farming but probably
all of us.  Our CSA committee has about 1/3 of of our 21 member families
interested in participating in the Community Supported Agriculture planning
committee.  The organic farm and art facilities will be an income
generating business.  Anyone can join our community and they know going in
that we have those two affinities as well as the commercial bent.  We've
come this far in 4 years.  For 3 years we were 2 communities one art and
one farming.  When Bohn Farm land purchase deadline was upon us we joined
forces.  The farming component was much more robust in every way at the
point we combined last summer. Artists are finding a foothold.

So far so good.

Emilie



-----------------
Emilie Parker
emilie.v.parker [at] gmail.com
303-317-4558 main
240-350-8533 cell
My website: www.emilieparker.com
Bohn Farm Cohousing Community of Art and Farming: www.bfcc.me
Artists Cohousing website: www.artistscohousing.com
Art Cohousing Meetup:  www.meetup.com/artists-housing-community