Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Kitchen Inventory?

[Cecile Goding (chgoding]

I love our appliance library in the Prairie Hill kitchen pantry. There is a 
labelled clothespin for each member. When you borrow an appliance from its 
marked place, you pin your name to the shelf. Not sure where this idea came 
from; perhaps another community?




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On Friday, January 30th, 2026 at 7:44 AM, Margo Solod via Cohousing-L 
<cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org> wrote:

> Tara, I could have written that almost verbatim about our kitchen ways.
> 
> Margo Solod
> River Song Cohousing
> Eugene OR
> 
> Margo Solod
> Author of Cuttyhunk: Life on the Rock, Coyote Summer and Washed Up in the
> Waves
> www.summerhoodisland.blogspot.com
> www.margosolod.com
> 
> On Thu, Jan 29, 2026, 5:36 AM Tara Gallen via Cohousing-L <
> cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org> wrote:
> 
> > 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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