Cohousing-L Mailing List: RE: Getting the Work Done

[Rob Sandelin (robsan]

Zev asked:

>My questions surrounds getting the work of the community done.  This is
>directed to those of us living in our coho communities.  How are you
>organizing the workload?  Is it getting done? Have you hired anyone either
>from within the community or from outside to do any of the ongoing work?
>(Weed pulling, cleaning common house, childcare, etc.?)

At Sharingwood our work force is entirely voluntary. We make up a list 
of tasks that need doing and they get done.  Amazing huh?  It is true 
that some folks do more than others.  This is OK, as it seems to all 
even out over the long term.  We have no need currently to track hours, 
demand participation, etc.  Some tasks are not even listed, people see 
they need doing and take care of them.  For example, last night the 
edges of the road got mowed.  This system is being well stretched in 
that we are doing considerable work ourselves on our commonhouse.  So 
far, the energy needed has been exceeded by people WANTING to do work 
on the commonhouse.  We actually even have people outside the community 
who want to work on the commonhouse.  Cool....

The next four months will be a real test of whether this system works 
under large demands for time.  Most of the community chores are small, 
easily done, and tend to happen when they need to happen.  
Occaisionally (rarely) a task gets ignored or not done and we discuss 
it at a meeting or over dinner and then volunteers deal with it.  The 
building of the commonhouse will add large complexities and time 
demands and I will let ya all know how it works out.

Rob Sandelin
Sharingwood