Cohousing-L Mailing List: Master list for kitchen/common house/garden/workshop?

[Jodi Allison-Bunnell (jodi]

Hello all:
Greetings from Bozeman, MT, where Bozeman Cohousing is building and looking 
forward to having people move in starting this fall/winter! We have 43 homes 
that range from small studios to 4-bedroom townhouses, a common house, a 
workshop, and bike storage.  

Like everyone, we have many, many offers of donations for the common house 
(guest rooms, kitchen, other) and tools for gardens and the workshop. One of 
the other members has done a stellar job of organizing the process of offering 
donations, but we’re missing a key element:

        We don’t know what we need.

In visiting some cohousing communities over the years, I’ve seen the results of 
not starting with needs: Closets with a dozen abandoned rice cookers, 
overstuffed guest rooms, in general too much stuff that is a burden to store 
and care for rather than a gift to the community.  

I’ve searched the backfield of this list and found some helpful lists specific 
to kitchens, but many of the broader lists are on the older side (fax machine, 
anyone?). Can anyone offer a more contemporary list?

I will be happy to post whatever I cobble together with the kind assistance of 
you all. 

Best, Jodi AB
Bozeman Cohousing