Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Kitchen Inventory?

[Margo Solod (margosolod]

Tara, I could have written that almost verbatim about our kitchen ways.

Margo Solod
River Song Cohousing
Eugene OR

Margo Solod
Author of *Cuttyhunk: Life on the Rock, Coyote Summer and Washed Up in the
Waves*
www.summerhoodisland.blogspot.com
www.margosolod.com

On Thu, Jan 29, 2026, 5:36 AM Tara Gallen via Cohousing-L <
cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org> wrote:

> We've followed much the same path as others have mentioned. We purge 1-2
> times per year, putting things out on a table to be claimed before
> donating.
> We found that 75% of our kitchen needs were satisfied by people offloading
> their extra stuff. Our dish collection is therefore eclectic. So far I
> haven't heard a strong call for greater uniformity. It was mostly free -
> why look a gift horse in the mouth?
>
> We did have to buy some things: a set of good kitchen knives, the right set
> of pots and pans that works with induction, and so on. Mostly we figured
> that out around and just after move-in time. We had a contingent pushing
> for community meals to start up almost right away after move-in so we were
> testing our facilities and amenities early. This helped the momentum. (Tip:
> let parents of young kids off the hook for this early obligation!)
>
> Things do disappear, as others have said, which is sometimes annoying. But
> not having to store all those giant pyrex pans, once-a-year tools, and
> dinner service for 12 in your own house? Priceless.
>
> Tara Gallen
> Our Urban Village Cohousing - Vancouver, BC
>
>
> On Tue, Jan 27, 2026 at 5:01 AM Kathryn McCamant <
> kmccamant [at] cohousing-solutions.com> wrote:
>
> > 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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