View from visiting friends...



Our Common House in celebration preparation mode!

 We asked James and Gina, who know many of us and came to visit last weekend, what they thought now most of us have moved in, here's what they said...

As soon as we ducked under the "Home Sweet Home" sign at the top of the cohousing 'street' we saw that it had all worked out beautifully. It was so nice to see the houses that were plans on a page brought to life - especially the enormous co-house. Everything was so light and airy and there was a real celebratory feel. No-one seemed to mind our little boy climbing all over the sofas so after 5 minutes of worrying I just relaxed and caught the party mood. After a delicious brunch catching up wth friendly faces it was really nice of Judy and Charles to show us their place - nothing beats having a good old nose around does it! It was also great to glance around and see little touches and the processes put in place to decide on things like raising a flag to get volunteers for chores. Well done everyone and thanks again!

Thanks to them as well... and if you're interested in visiting too, to check out cohousing in action and look at the homes still available, our next open day is Sunday May 26th. Do contact us if you'd like more information!

www.lancastercohousing.org.uk

Digging in the Rain, Like we're in a Chaingang

www.lancastercohousing.org.uk

The day was cold, windy, wet and miserable. Only the select few turned out for the work party on 26th April.
 The task was to dig over the subsoil and mix in the mushroom compost so that we could sow a meadow before the end of April.
 The sub soil was solid, impacted clay, and as you can see, in places we had to use a pick ax or a mattock.

A great deal of banter made the task a lot more fun - recollections of famous chaingang movies - (aimed at the person behind the camera - I don't know why - I promised them a reward of moving stone at the end of the digging - did  I miss something there)?

We learned about Nelson Mandela's method of breaking up stone - going as slowly as possible, but never actually stopping. It was too cold that day to emulate.

Martin gave us a little talk about when digging was necessary to improve the soil structure and when No Dig was appropriate. Not sure what the conclusions were about this plot, though it was strangely disappointing to find the plot looked exactly the same at the end as when we started. Cliodhna said, 'But we KNOW it's different.'

Ann and Jaz offered us tea halfway through and the chaingang immediately voted to stop. Voting? Chaingangs? I think I would call it a consensus to have tea and cake.
The team practised Leaning on Spades, a time-honoured builders' tradition, taught by Chris.

You can easily identify The Ham Actors in this troupe.

Eric and Jessica joined us in time for raking and trampling - evening and flattening the soil with tiny sideways steps. We did this instead of hiring a roller, which seemed over the top for such a small area, though we did hire one 2 weeks ago for sowing meadow seed on the verge between the houses and the riverside path.

Eric thought we looked like Space Invaders taking these silly sideways steps, so we did the arm movements too.

Then Geoff's alarm went off - work shift over - all downed tools - well, they condescended to put them away in the tool shed.

Diana and Kate sowed the seed, and raked and trampled again the next day.

Rules! We even have a 3 metre metal one

I travel a lot for work and tell everyone I live in an 'ecological cohousing project'.
They ask 'Do you like it?'
Or 'What's different about living there?' 

Apart from the fact that it's like being on holiday, with your friends, all the time!!, I also love it because:

The heating bills are very, very low.

And, unexpected but the BEST thing:

If you want anything - anything at all! - eg (taken from recent requests): 

some flaked almonds, 

help with a job application,

emergency baby sitting service,

computer trouble shooting...

a 3 meter metal rule ...  

a spare dining room chair for a visitor...

All you have to do is email a quick request, and usually two or three people come straight round with whatever it is you've asked for! 

Fiona Frank

www.lancastercohousing.org.uk

It's nice to have some sun

Sunny weather and blue skies makes such a difference to photographs; we do have them here of course, but they have been few and far between over the last year and have tended to fall on days when I have been unable to get out. Finally the good weather has fallen on a weekend so I leapt at the opportunity.

The first outing was an early morning walk with Sparky to see the (almost) finished state of Terrace D; it is looking fantastic, and seeing Becky have a morning drink on the terrace soaking in the sun made me more than a little jealous! Our time will come..

The second was a somewhat over-ambitious run to the top of Caton Moor; some 12 miles and a long ascent of 340 metres. My muscles can testify to the climb.

The view from the top is excellent with snow capped mountains all around. I was forced to go further than I planned in order to obtain my desired view of a snow capped Ingleborough.

To me, the windmills are objects of beauty, which enhance this hillside, but I realise that not everyone shares this view.

There is a great feeling of peace up there, apart from the gentle whooshing of the blades. I tried to capture it on video, but it sounds like I am standing in a gale. There is a good reason why Frances is the film maker and not me!

Happy Easter.

Luke.


www.lancastercohousing.org.uk

River Footpath Open At Last

Good news for all those who have missed walking along the river footpath - it is open again!

 

We had hoped it would be open for Easter, but could not be sure until we saw the last of the fencing being taken down today.

 

Let's just hope we see a little more sun over the holidays.

 

 

Luke.

www.lancastercohousing.org.uk