Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Kitchen Inventory?

[Elizabeth Magill (pastorlizm]

the most important reason to have rule that things cannot be donated
is that the team then feels better getting rid of the things that are
donated.
I don't see any evidence that it reduces the number of donations.
But much evidence it helps get rid of said donations.

-Liz
(The Rev. Dr.) Elizabeth Mae Magill
Join my email newsletter about how we can Act! Be Church Now in the
resistance. https://actbechurchnow.kit.com/posts
www.elizabethmaemagill.com
508-450-0431

On Mon, Jan 26, 2026 at 3:19 PM Bonnie Fergusson via Cohousing-L
<cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org> wrote:
>
>      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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