Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Shared Meals

[JoAnna Allen (jowooallen]

Hi Kathleen,
            IMHO architectural design is criically important for 
promoting togetherness just as it is in group facilitation (using 
circles).  We recently had a visit from someone researching senior 
communities from an architectural perspective.  She was on a travel 
grant from American Institute of Architecture and had already visited 
London, France, and her final community after us was PDX in Oregon?,   
So I have become much more keenly aware of its importance through our 
discussions and am grateful how well designed we are, especially when 
such urban property is scarce.  It was a fire that burned down a 
restaurant that our developer took advantage of.  We rose from the 
ashes  😁.
            Having said that I am grateful for our courtyard on the 
second floor which all the units face or overlook.  Underneath this 
level is the whole first floor with common areas.  Our hot tub on the 
first floor is open to the sky and can be viewed from the courtyard 
(nice to lean over and see who's in it).  During the pandemic we would 
gather along the walkway railings to do sing alongs and dance together 
yet apart.   The other benefit of all of us facing inward is that 
Oakland does have crime and this makes us much more secure, e.g. keeping 
an eye on things.  There is a stairway from the courtyard down to the 
waterfront.   Being limited in gardening space we raise vegetables and 
flowers in large planters on this courtyard, with a watering system for 
the small beds built in for landscaping.  Our office is right at the 
main door, staffed by residents 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.  Being in 
Oakland, security is always a concern but over the years we have kept 
ugrading and are doing well.  The courtyard is also where we gather for 
earthquake drills.  Being so accessible and close to each other, still 
maintaining privacy using our blinds, does indeed foster the sense of 
close neighbors who can easily look out for each other.  Living on the 
third floor, I like that I never need an umbrella, beng always under 
some walkway.   The 4th level gets the sun and a nice veiw . . .  and 
also the rain.  We also have put solar panels on our rooftop for common 
electrical costs and have solar heated hot water.  In other words. we 
have little acreage but are quite efficient and safe.

JoAnna Allen


On 3/20/2023 8:12 AM, Kathleen Lowry wrote:
> Johanna, I’ve noticed that in communities that have living areas surrounding a central 
> courtyard, the communities sound more connected. Thoughts? And the courtyard isn’t too 
> big. Anyone? Kathleen
>
> > On Mar 20, 2023, at 11:01 AM, JoAnna Allen via Cohousing-L <cohousing-l [at] 
> > cohousing.org> wrote:
> >
> > *Hi fellow cohousers,*
> > This dining thread is quite interesting.  I'd like to describe our system at 
> > *Phoenix Commons *in Oakland CA.  We are seven years old, have 41 units, 47 
> > residents at this time.  Our building is 4 stories with the first floor all 
> > common space and garage, with a dining area that seats 60, full kitchen.  Our 
> > developer and his wife are members and othearchitect and his wife just bought 
> > the last developer owned unit.
> > *
> > **In general: * We have common meals on Mondays and Wednesdays, pot luck on Friday. 
> >  We use our Mosaic platform to sign up to be /main cook, assistant, salad bar 
> > assist (optional), set up, 2 cleaners/.  Diners sign up and are automatically 
> > billed ($6 per full meal, $4 salad bar only).  Menu is chosen by the main cook and 
> > it is up to them how much they can provide for vegetarians, gluten or dairy free 
> > diners, pescatarians, etc.  Workers earn task hours.  Pot lucks are totally 
> > voluntary for set up and cleanup. Attendance is between 16-26, with special events 
> > drawing over 30.  A designated member of the dining team shops for the staples for 
> > the pantry (mostly COSTCO), others take on tasks like frig and stove cleaning.  
> > Cooks do their own shopping and meal signup is closed 3 days before to allow time 
> > for shopping and prep.  The food is served buffet style but tables are set ahead of 
> > time including  vases of flowers (a specialty of a resident), pitchers of water, 
> > salt & pepper, napkins, cutlery (sometimes forks only).
> >
> > *Covid impact: *We stopped these meals in March 2020, but then resumed in July 
> > by providing takeout meals in clam shells with signees picking up safely.  We 
> > have a courtyard over which all the units overlook.  Outdoor heaters were 
> > purchased in 2020 so that residents could gather with their meals almost daily 
> > to eat outdoors, including some who picked up their common meals.  In 2021 we 
> > resumed indoor dining, pausing whenever Covid acted up, have been back to 
> > normal for months.  If no one signs up to cook, we skip that day but I have 
> > seen that happen only once.  We have also done extra weekend brunches 
> > (something prospective buyers could more easily attend) and if you have a 
> > guest, you simply add to your personal tally on Mosaic.  Pot lucks have been 
> > great fun with a huge variety as a chance to test recipes or just glean out 
> > your frig or pantry. Mosaic signup helps to balance the menu as each 
> > contribution is listed (or TBD) and for setting the tables.
> >
> > *Attendance:
> > *In the earlier years attendance was high with some bringing their own meals to 
> > just socialize.   We have fallen into a pattern of steady attendance with some 
> > residents never coming to common meals (allergies and food preferences) or just 
> > preference for home cooked or privacy--- with some residents never missing a 
> > meal, particularly those who work full time or several who save themselves 
> > cooking.  Many who never attend are very active in other ways so that the 
> > common thinking that meals are the major way to build community has fallen by 
> > the wayside.  In fact one resident who never attends any meals is the one who 
> > empties the dishwasher and keeps tables and chairs is order in addition to the 
> > kitchen.   Possibly the fact we are one building with small units and a busy 
> > first floor keeps us running constantly into each other.  17 committees too.
> >
> > *Who Cooks? *This is totally on a "cook if you wish" basis with meals posted 
> > weeks in advance.  We are fortunate to be large enough to have many residents who love to 
> > cook with some being gourmets. (calamari steak recently, quail coming up).  Philip Dowd 
> > mentioned Asian stir fry.  I myself am Camtonese so prefer stir frying myself (try 
> > Malaysian mango chicken!).  Rice is frequent since we also have Vietnamese, Filipino, 
> > Japanese, residents.  We are California!  I once did a Korean rice bowl meal (bibimbap) 
> > which is fun with many rice toppings.  I agree with Philiip that this serves vegetarians, 
> > vegan, GF eaters well.  For some occasions (4th of July) the grill sits just outside the 
> > sliding doors to the patio and we have a resident who specializes in this.
> >
> > *Finances: *We started out $5 per meal but went to $6 to cover pantry and new 
> > supplies (paper towels, gloves, cleaning supplies, new cutting board, etc.)  We 
> > are well in the black due to a habit of being under budget so we use dining 
> > funds at times for special events.  We ask that each person do a dining task 1X 
> > month but we have not monitored this much since we seem to always be covered 
> > due to so many who love to cook or even clean.  We do ask incoming residents to 
> > place a deposit but I personally feel this is not necessary since everyone 
> > covers their monthly bill, sent automatically by email.
> > *
> > **How to promote? *My husband and I no longer do every meal, simply because he has 
> > certain dislikes.  We also like being home (PC was 80% Introverts in 2017) as a couple 
> > with our own favorite simple meals.  I also need to use up leftovers!!!  The fact that we 
> > are large enough provides good enough attendance not just for meals but planned events.  
> > IWalso like to encourage creativity and exploration.  Some day I would like to see us 
> > produce a Phoenix Commons cook book interlaced with stories of community life, so I am 
> > always on the look out for "best" dishes.
> >
> > Sincerely,
> > JoAnna Allen
> >
> > **
> > > On 3/15/2023 10:28 PM, Grace Kim wrote:
> > > Zev-
> > > We have a very simple meal program that includes meals every other night except for Saturdays 
> > > (3x week) since we moved in 7 years ago. We took a break for Covid, but transitioned to 
> > > 3-family “bring your own dinners” outdoors even through the winter.
> > > Community meals were sorely missed by all (grown ups and kids) and we brought 
> > > them back last summer.
> > >
> > > We attribute our success to our simple and inclusive process. Team of 3 
> > > cooks/cleans for each meal. Those teams are on regular rotation that lasts 
> > > about 4-5 months.
> > >
> > > The lead cook rotates amongst the 3 on team- and the lead plans the menu, shops and 
> > > pay for ingredients. The only requirement is for the meal to be delicious and 
> > > nutritious for all. This ensures that no one has to weigh the cost of meals vs 
> > > attendance. The lead cook shops within their household budget/means. There are no 
> > > excuses for dietary restrictions/preferences being reason ppl can’t attend.
> > >
> > > There is a lot of ease, people just show up if they are home or get a late plate if they 
> > > aren’t home. Or if they had rough day get a plate to take home. It’s not 
> > > unusual for kids to come solo if their parents are at mtgs or events after work or out of 
> > > town. We often have guests. No one counts how many came, no money changes hands. We figure 
> > > over the long haul everyone has guests and it works out in the end.
> > >
> > > A visitor from Australian cohousing who stayed with us for a week said our 
> > > program was brilliant! And we agree.
> > >
> > >
> > > grace h. kim
> > > schemata workshop
> > > (sent via mobile messaging)
> > > 206.795.2470
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