Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Kitchen Inventory?

[Tara Gallen (tarabytransit]

We've followed much the same path as others have mentioned. We purge 1-2
times per year, putting things out on a table to be claimed before
donating.
We found that 75% of our kitchen needs were satisfied by people offloading
their extra stuff. Our dish collection is therefore eclectic. So far I
haven't heard a strong call for greater uniformity. It was mostly free -
why look a gift horse in the mouth?

We did have to buy some things: a set of good kitchen knives, the right set
of pots and pans that works with induction, and so on. Mostly we figured
that out around and just after move-in time. We had a contingent pushing
for community meals to start up almost right away after move-in so we were
testing our facilities and amenities early. This helped the momentum. (Tip:
let parents of young kids off the hook for this early obligation!)

Things do disappear, as others have said, which is sometimes annoying. But
not having to store all those giant pyrex pans, once-a-year tools, and
dinner service for 12 in your own house? Priceless.

Tara Gallen
Our Urban Village Cohousing - Vancouver, BC


On Tue, Jan 27, 2026 at 5:01 AM Kathryn McCamant <
kmccamant [at] cohousing-solutions.com> wrote:

> Gosh, Ruth, this sounds so much like my own community, Nevada City
> Cohousing. It’s fluid, and yet it works.
>
> Once many years ago, one of our heavy butcher block dining tables
> disappeared and it took us a surprising amount of time to figure it out
> because we all just assumed someone borrowed it.
>
> Sometimes I get annoyed about something I liked using in the common house
> kitchen no longer being there….. but mostly I feel so lucky to live in such
> a great community with so many people who treat the common house like an
> extension of their own home, feeling our own ownership of it.
>
>
> Katie
>
>
>
> Nevada City Cohousing
>
> CoHousing Solutions
>
>
>
>
> From: Cohousing-L <cohousing-l-bounces+kmccamant=
> cohousing-solutions.com [at] cohousing.org> on behalf of Ruth Hirsch <
> heidinys [at] earthlink.net>
> Date: Monday, January 26, 2026 at 6:32 AM
> To: ann [at] zimmerman-lehman.com <ann [at] zimmerman-lehman.com>,
> lauranelsonlcsw [at] gmail.com <lauranelsonlcsw [at] gmail.com>, cohousing
> cohousing <cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org>
> Subject: Re: [C-L]_ Kitchen Inventory?
>
> 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 belong.  We first put out a table,
> offering these items to any taker for the next week.  Then donate to a
> thrift shop.  And those things may bring pleasure to some,  annoyance to
> more.
> One time,  and I’ll close w this,  sorry it has become a little lengthy,
>  years ago,  we came in and found a wrought iron, glass topped dining
> table.  Yes, in the Commonhouse.  No one acknowledged bringing it there ——
> and it was v v heavy.  I don’t remember what we did with it.  And another
> time,  more recently,  someone 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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