Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Request for meals info offline

[Eris Weaver (eris]

It always makes me sad when I hear about communities having few and/or
difficult meals...common meals are one of my favorite aspects of life here
at FrogSong, and provide a big glop of the social glue that keeps us all
together!

We have four meals a week, one of them on the weekend. The days and times
are regular, so you know when to expect them. Participation is high - we
routinely have 45-55 people at dinner. (Community is 30 households, about 75
people total.)

Every adult is expected to be on a cook team once a month, regardless of how
frequently they eat. Teams are three people, who do all the planning,
shopping, cooking, clean up. Menus are posted a week in advance so folks can
sign up based on the menu and cooks know how much to buy. Meals are $5
adults, $2 kids. Organic if possible, always a vegetarian option if the main
course is meat.

Folks who work full time either choose a weekend time slot; take a half-day
off work; or negotiate a trade with another member ("I'll do the clean up
half TWICE if you'll do the cooking half twice"). 

Part of what makes it work is that we set this expectation BEFORE move-in,
and started right out. (It is easier to cut back than to add!)

We serve family style most of the time. The meals are noisier than some
would like (except for Thursday dinner, which is served later and thus tends
to have fewer small children in attendance). Family style is quieter than
cafeteria style! 
------------------------------
Eris Weaver, Facilitator & Group Process Consultant
eris [at] erisweaver.info
707-338-8589
http://www.erisweaver.info


fa cil' i tāt: to make easier