Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Kitchen Inventory?

[Bonnie Fergusson (fergyb2]

     We have a very similar experience here at Swans Market Cohousing in 
Oakland.  No formal inventory; things migrating back and forth between peoples 
homes and the common house, things inadvertently left by guests at 
celebrations, etc.
   We periodically issue a call for people to return stuff, silverware 
especially, to the Common House.  We periodically do a clear out of unwanted 
items, first put out on give away table and then taken to Goodwill or wherever. 
 Unwanted items appearing in the Common House is the bigger problem to manage 
at this point 25 years after move in.  Also stuff that DOES belong isn’t always 
put away in the same place.  I think labeling where stuff belongs is a good 
idea even though it won’t be followed all the time.
BonnieSwans Market CohousingOakland
Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPad


On Monday, January 26, 2026, 6:32 AM, Ruth Hirsch <heidinys [at] earthlink.net> 
wrote:

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 nAnd those things may bring pleasure to some,  annoyance to more.  r ——  and 
it was v v heavy.  I  te calldon’t remember what we did with it.  And another 
time,  more recently,   isomeone 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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