Welcome to Montpelier Cohousing LLC

Montpelier Cohousing LLC is a group of people working to create a cohousing neighborhood of 12-20 families in Montpelier, Vermont. We envision owning our own homes (multiple family homes tightly clustered on a small portion of the site) and sharing a central common house including such facilities as a kitchen, dining room and social room. Architectural design will be focused on the values of community, sustainability and affordability. A major portion of the site plan will be reserved for open space and permaculture. We use a consensus decision making process, Nonviolent Communication skills for conflict resolution and decision-making, and have all appropriate organizational and legal structures in place for our project.

To learn more, to request to be on our email list, or to attend a meeting contact us at n9gih@juno.com or call Ken or Anni at 802-223-0379. All are welcome!

Vision:

 

We are a diverse group committed to creating an affordable cohousing ecovillage that fosters a cooperative sense of community, shares and conserves resources to live lighter on the earth and supports each others' growth, well-being and joy.

 

Values:

 

Environmental Stewardship and Living Sustainably: Our building and life practices will promote an active, harmonious and sustainable relationship with the natural world. We will actively seek and promote an ethic that embodies a deep understanding and reverence for the land and its natural resources.

 

Diversity: We intentionally seek a community of diverse beliefs, incomes, lifestyles and ages, including children and the elderly. We especially cherish children.

 

Collaboration: We value each individual�s participation in the decisions and work of our community, and we seek the wisdom of the group through our participatory process. We have faith in the synergy of combining our knowledge, experience and hearts toward finding better ways to honor and live upon the Earth.

 

Honesty, Openness and Trust: We act with openness and honesty because of the trust we have in each other, and because openness and honesty builds trust. We have the courage and trust to speak up when we see contradictions or inconsistencies between our behavior and our values and goals.

 

Nonviolent Communication (NVC): We will endeavor to listen compassionately, thoughtfully, and reflectively to issues and concerns voiced by others, and we will take these points of view into consideration in our decisions and interactions.  We will continue to improve our communication skills in speaking Nonviolent Communication.

 

 

 

 

Respect and Fairness: We respect the freedom of each person to live as he/she choose, so long as that doesn�t interfere with others in the community to do the same. We respect differences in spirituality, ethnicity, age, income, sexual orientation, and ability.

 

Cooperation: We have come together to grow in our ability to live and work interdependently, to resolve conflicts constructively, and to share labor and resources to the best of our ability. When appropriate, we place the interests of the community ahead of our own self-interests.

 

Personal Privacy: We respect personal privacy, solitude and autonomy.

 

Aesthetics: We embrace beauty as an integral aspect of our lives including our buildings, art, music, food, landscaping, etc. We seek to define and embrace a community aesthetic.

 

Flexibility: Creating community is an ongoing process. We are open to the possibility of adapting our approaches to the demands presented by new information and the needs of members.

 

Education: We wish to share information, knowledge, and skills with one another in order to promote the improved function and overall quality of life in our community. We also intend to be available to educate the larger community in regard to the purpose, design and function of our cohousing ecovillage, which we hope to offer as a model of quality community life.

 

Mindfulness: We will seek to live consciously and mindfully in all aspects of community, and private life. Mindfulness is more possible in silence, and in compassionate listening.

 

Have Fun: Need we elaborate? Celebrate life! Playing together builds community.

 

For meeting information call 229-4076.