An Article on Shared Ownership

Here's a link to an interesting article, submitted by Scott:


http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/dec/01/communal-property-ownership-overrated?CMP=fb_gu.

A Visit to Another Cohousing Community

One of the fun things about being a member of a cohousing community is that you are welcome to visit the hundreds of other communities around the US and the rest of the world. Almost all cohousing communities have guest rooms. Prairie Hill member Nan Fawcett recently spent a week staying in one of these guest rooms at Westgate Cohousing in Asheville, North Carolina.

Here is a view from the spacious deck of the commonhouse 

It is informative and inspiring to visit other co-ho communities when you are in the process of planning and building your own, so Nan learned as much as she could about what has worked at Westgate, and what they would do differently. The buildings and layout there are beautiful, with multicolored units, lovely plantings along pathways, plenty of space for gardening (see below) and a large commonhouse for meals, meetings, hanging out, laundry, exercise, and guests.

Terraced garden and long bridge connecting homes

As in most cohousing developments, the parking at Westgate is totally on the perimeter, even fenced off from the housing area. This makes for a protected and safe space for the residents and their children.

Enter here to walk past the 25 residences

Nan's visit to North Carolina was actually focused on being with her daughter and family who live in Asheville. The availability of Westgate's guest room made it possible to escape to a quiet and comfortable space after busy days with the family.

Grandson Henry holds a salamander while Gus looks on

Two Prairie Hill Members Speak Out!

Mary Beth at the potium

On November 12, 2015, the Iowa Utilities Board held a public comment hearing in Boone, Iowa. This day of public comment preceded the formal hearing which is continuing for about two weeks on a petition filed for a hazardous liquid pipeline permit that would take crude oil from northwestern North Dakota to Pakota, Illinois through 18 countied in Iowa on its way to the Gulf Coast. Approximately 5700,000 barrels per day of crude oil would be transported through the 1,134 miles of pipeline bisecting the state of Iowa.

Prairie Hill members Marcia Shaffer and Mary Beth Versgrove attended the hearing the both spoke in opposition to the pipeline permit along with about 150 others who attended the hearing to express their concerns about the proposed pipeline. Both Marcia and Mary Beth are members of 100 Grannies for a Livable Future, a group from Iowa City who have a central mission to educate and advocate for a fossil-free future. A delegation of 10 Grannies all opposed the pipeline in Iowa which directly would violate the rights of Iowans and at the same time the rights of nature.

Here's Marcia in the green Grannie's t-shirt

Field Trip to Habitat ReStore: Planning for Kitchens and Bathrooms

Yesterday, 11/28, a group of cohousers made the trip to Cedar Rapids to meet with Habitat ReStore's Home Center Manager. He spent two hours with us, as we learned about all the options available in countertops, sinks, floors, cabinets, and appliances. There was a vast array of colors and styles! And we were heartened by how dedicated he is to our project and our vision. Here we are, gathered around his computer as he showed us preliminary arrangements for our kitchens:

And here we are again, looking at some choices in cabinets:

Check Out the Latest Prairie Hill Site Plan!

This plan shows the commonhouse (turquoise) which will include 4 small apartments; four stacked fourplex flats (green and yellow); six duplexes (blue and violet); four townhouse apartments (brown); making 36 units in all. To the west, you can see an initial concept drawing of gardens, orchards, prairie and play space. Our entrance is off Miller Avenue on the east, with parking (shown in grey) on the periphery. We're so excited to break ground in the spring!

BC Seniors build a new way to age in place - a Karin Wells documentary - Home | The Sunday Edition | CBC Radio

Check out this link that Del just sent in to the blog:

http://www.cbc.ca/radio/thesundayedition/trading-with-saudi-arabia-co-housing-for-seniors-edith-piaf-syrian-christians-juan-felipe-herrera-1.3307316/bc-seniors-build-a-new-way-to-age-in-place-a-karin-wells-documentary-1.3307387

Gardens, Orchard, Prairie: Planning for the Future

In the picture above, the Prairie Hill Land Committee is pouring over a map of our 7.89 acres. The commonhouse and dwelling units will occupy approximately half of the land on the lower eastern end of the site. That leaves an intoxicatingly large acreage available for the horticultural fantasies of many of our members. Informed by permaculture principles, our current plans include a section of prairie on the steep southern slope, two large garden areas with panoramic views near the center of the upper site, fruit and nut orchard to the west as well as east, and edible landscaping surrounding the buildings. A number of our members have years of experience in gardening. Some have permaculture training. And we are grateful to be working with landscape architect John Thomas, as the final plans for the City of Iowa City are developed. There are many things to consider: we'd like to plant as many native species as possible; we want frequently harvested plants closer to the dwellings; we'll make piles of topsoil removed from the lower site to be cherished up above as well as wood chips from the brush now covering the building site; and perhaps most important of all, we want to be sensitive to the qualities of the ecosystem already there, planning in coordination with the micro-climate and the existing life on the land.

It is an important time, with ground-breaking scheduled to occur in the spring. We know that this project will be an evolution, one step at a time. Nourishing the garden spaces will be one of our first projects. We want the layout of the different growing areas to be pleasant and attractive, with one function moving gracefully into another. In our brainstorming sessions, we've often talked about how good it would feel to have a large tree somewhere on top, a gathering tree. Perhaps we'll plant that tree as part of a special occasion, with our members gathered around.