Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Kitchen Inventory?

[Kathryn McCamant (kmccamant]

Gosh, Ruth, this sounds so much like my own community, Nevada City Cohousing. 
It’s fluid, and yet it works.

Once many years ago, one of our heavy butcher block dining tables disappeared 
and it took us a surprising amount of time to figure it out because we all just 
assumed someone borrowed it.

Sometimes I get annoyed about something I liked using in the common house 
kitchen no longer being there….. but mostly I feel so lucky to live in such a 
great community with so many people who treat the common house like an 
extension of their own home, feeling our own ownership of it.


Katie



Nevada City Cohousing

CoHousing Solutions




From: Cohousing-L <cohousing-l-bounces+kmccamant=cohousing-solutions.com [at] 
cohousing.org> on behalf of Ruth Hirsch <heidinys [at] earthlink.net>
Date: Monday, January 26, 2026 at 6:32 AM
To: ann [at] zimmerman-lehman.com <ann [at] zimmerman-lehman.com>, 
lauranelsonlcsw [at] gmail.com <lauranelsonlcsw [at] gmail.com>, cohousing 
cohousing <cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org>
Subject: Re: [C-L]_ Kitchen Inventory?

Hi,

re: inventory.
Well, it’s an idea.  We never have done an inventory.  We do have labels in our 
pantry indicating where items belong.  Sometimes  folks put items in that 
actual spot.
And that is how it goes, at least here, with 19 households.

It seems folks borrow something,  intending to bring it right back.
And eventually, they do.  So an inventory would be a fluid thing.  Not a bad 
idea.  It is somewhat like the rest of life,  out breath and in-breath—  it 
would seem that items belong to the Kitchen would always be there—but they 
sometimes take a time out.  Then re-appear.
We have had times of no ‘what we are missing’ announcements.  For a while,  
during our Committee Report, we’d ask for a couple items to be returned.  For a 
while,  a number of serrated knives, usually on a magnet,  were gone.  Then 
returned.

We—and this you may want to do:  ask folks not to donate anything to the 
CommonHouse until checking with us [Committee Co-chairs.]  And not to buy 
anything for the CommonHouse without prior approval.
Some years ago I was at a meeting w a few Museum Directors.  They were talking 
about the quandary re:        ‘de-aquisitioning’  ie what to do with the items 
folks have donated to them —  and which they no longer can/want to store.  We 
periodically do go thru and remove items that have strayed in and that seem not 
to belong.  We first put out a table,  offering these items to any taker for 
the next week.  Then donate to a thrift shop.  And those things may bring 
pleasure to some,  annoyance to more.
One time,  and I’ll close w this,  sorry it has become a little lengthy,   
years ago,  we came in and found a wrought iron, glass topped dining table.  
Yes, in the Commonhouse.  No one acknowledged bringing it there ——  and it was 
v v heavy.  I don’t remember what we did with it.  And another time,  more 
recently,  someone proudly gave us a piece of furniture they’d bought at a 
fundraiser,  got a tax write off,  and did not have space for it in their home. 
 We housed it for some yrs—— and it seems it has now disappeared.
We have become more definite at declining items.
So, an inventory is an idea— first we are doing a kitchen overhaul——  flooring, 
paint, cabinetry, etc.  Then,  may be an inventory.  But if you come to visit, 
please don’t ask to see it.  Also, a surprising number of good ideas v 
surprisingly disappear during/after move-in.
best,
Ruth
Cantines Island,  Saugerties


Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2026 20:28:49 -0800
From: Ann Lehman <ann [at] zimmerman-lehman.com>
Cc: Laura Nelson <lauranelsonlcsw [at] gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [C-L]_ Kitchen Inventory?

Berkeley Moshav is just under a year from completion.  Folks setting up our
kitchen asked, "Do you keep an inventory of the items (not of food but pots,
dishes, spatulas, plates, etc.) that are in your communal kitchen. If so,
can you share it with us?

Please be sure to respond to Laura Nelson, cc'd.




*Ann Lehman*
*ann [at] zimmerman-lehman.com <ann [at] zimmerman-lehman.com>**510.755.5701 *
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