Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Environmental sensitivities in community?

[Catya Belfer (catya]

Well said!

     - cat

Catya Belfer
www.catya.org
CuriosityktCat.etsy.com
www.mosaic-commons.org


On Fri, Dec 21, 2018 at 3:18 PM Elizabeth Magill <pastorlizm [at] gmail.com>
wrote:

> Oddly enough, this issue requires you be exactly the same as all other
> issues in cohousing--willing to state your values, ask for what you
> need, hold the line if it is important, and let it go if it is not,
> and live with the fact that not everyone else gets it or prioritizes
> your values or needs the same way you do!!
>
> Liz
> On Fri, Dec 21, 2018 at 12:52 PM Catya Belfer <catya [at] pobox.com> wrote:
> >
> > As one of the chemically sensitive people at Mosaic - it works amazingly
> > well from my point of view.  I'm many times less likely to be affected by
> > anything in the common house than at work!
> >
> > That said, "amazingly well" is OF COURSE not 100% - I wouldn't expect it
> to
> > be.
> >
> >      - cat
> >
> > Catya Belfer
> > www.catya.org
> > CuriosityktCat.etsy.com
> > www.mosaic-commons.org
> >
> >
> > On Fri, Dec 21, 2018 at 10:53 AM Elizabeth Magill <pastorlizm [at] 
> > gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > If you are creating with those things in mind it, for the most part,
> > > will not be a problem. We had all of those except electromagnetic as
> > > our values from the start. We built with all low and zero VOC and folk
> > > make adjustments based on a single individuals needs all the time.
> > >
> > > So, for example, there are no lilacs or roses near the person with
> > > that allergy. Even though we bought a fireplace that can be wood or
> > > gas (at extra cost!!) we never use the wood portion due to my allergy.
> > > There was a cabinet option that wasn't low VOC in the homes, but an
> > > individual buyer had to choose that cabinet, the standard was low VOC
> > > even for unsold homes. No carpeting until the state required we put it
> > > in the 40B-affordable homes, the one household that needed it out we
> > > took it out for them after the sale was closed.
> > > No used furniture that was once in homes with pets is allowed in the
> > > common house. No perfumes or lotions in the common house guest rooms.
> > >
> > > Someone even checked with me on whether a seeing eye dog guest should
> > > be allowed in the common house because of my allergies. (I *strongly*
> > > insisted that registered service dogs trump my allergies, although if
> > > cats ever become service animals I don't know what I'd say since that
> > > allergy is much more severe for me.)
> > >
> > > But electromagnetic concerns was not on our list and we've had people
> > > bring them up post move-in and while some individuals have made minor
> > > adjustments, for the most part, the community is not willing to adjust
> > > for those requests.
> > >
> > > Assuming that man-made allergens are similar to my own natural
> > > allergens I will say that it doesn't make an allergen free world. All
> > > the cat owners still have cat dander on their clothing, guests come
> > > and wear fragrance, a construction worker smokes while doing work on
> > > your neighbors home. One bad magic marker gives someone a headache for
> > > hours. We all do what we can to fix the problem, but mistakes happen.
> > >
> > > I'd say that we are a community that tries very hard to meet people's
> > > allergy needs. And it works "pretty well".
> > >
> > > Liz
> > > Mosaic commons cohousing, Berlin, MA
> > > On Fri, Dec 21, 2018 at 9:01 AM MJ Phillips <mjphillips [at] pobox.com>
> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Hi,
> > > >
> > > > I’m curious about how different communities may be encountering
> and/or
> > > addressing issues of environmental sensitivity (chemical,
> electromagnetic
> > > fields, mold, other?) among members. Is this coming up at all? If so,
> what
> > > are some of the dynamics around it? What, if any, solutions have you
> found?
> > > Feel free to contact me privately or via this list.
> > > >
> > > > Thanks,
> > > >
> > > > Jaffy
> > > >
> > > > (Not currently in community, hoping to create one with above in
> mind.)
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Jaffy Phillips
> > > > mjphillips [at] pobox.com
> > > > 781-752-9599
> > > >
> > > > (Sent from a Hard-Wired Computer - for our Health)
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > _________________________________________________________________
> > > > Cohousing-L mailing list -- Unsubscribe, archives and other info at:
> > > > http://l.cohousing.org/info
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > -Liz
> > > (The Rev.) Elizabeth M. Magill
> > > Minister to the Affiliates, Ecclesia Ministries
> > > www.ecclesiaministriesmission.org
> > > www.mosaic-commons.org
> > > 508-450-0431
> > > _________________________________________________________________
> > > Cohousing-L mailing list -- Unsubscribe, archives and other info at:
> > > http://l.cohousing.org/info
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > _________________________________________________________________
> > Cohousing-L mailing list -- Unsubscribe, archives and other info at:
> > http://l.cohousing.org/info
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> --
> -Liz
> (The Rev.) Elizabeth M. Magill
> Minister to the Affiliates, Ecclesia Ministries
> www.ecclesiaministriesmission.org
> www.mosaic-commons.org
> 508-450-0431
> _________________________________________________________________
> Cohousing-L mailing list -- Unsubscribe, archives and other info at:
> http://l.cohousing.org/info
>
>
>
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