Communities Directory: New Earth Song Cohousing LLC

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Forming Formed: 2006

New Earth Song Cohousing LLC

Bothell, Washington,

United States

(adjoins Songaia Cohousing Community; WA)

Vision: We’re forming a sustainable community with Songaia Cohousing, creating a new kind of welcoming neighborhood committed to lifelong care for the Earth and each other.

You are invited to learn about our progress in building community on land adjoining Songaia Cohousing. Our vision is to encircle Songaia with neighbors who value community life and our lovely land, and who want to create new possibilities.

About Songaia: Songaia Cohousing is a strong, established community of 38 people in 13 homes on 10.6 acres. Songaia completed its 10-year, self-developed project in 2000—we live in modest homes with abundant land and common facilities near Seattle. Songaia is multi-generational, ages 3 to 72, with only two resales since 2000, one to a New Earth Song member.

Project: Our vision, values, mission, and scope are coming into focus due to our work and that of our consultants. We are self-funding early phases. One adjoining property has been purchased, and we are planning to develop it into a six unit cohousing community.

Milestones achieved:

1. Membership process defined—to help new families understand our vision/plan.

2. Development legal structure (LLC) registered with Washington State.

3. Startup funds raised; more is committed.

4. Half-acre with three-bedroom house bought by subgroup as site of development.

5. 10-week Aging in Place study group completed with six Songaia families.

Costs: LLC members have committed several thousand dollars during the formation.

Next steps:

1. Join Songaia Announcements mailing list on the Songaia website to be notified of public events, open houses, tours, etc.

2. Contact us, take a tour, come to a meeting and consider membership.

Status: Achieved several milestones, have committed land

Website: http://www.songaia.com/

Contact:

Dennis LaMaster
123 234th PL SE
Bothell, Washington 98021 United States
Phone: 206-322-2620
Send an Email

Links:

Songaia Cohousing: the community next door - sign up on Songaia's homepage for Songaia Announcements to hear about our project's open houses, tours, etc. Check out Songaia.com to understand more about the context from which New Earth Song is forming.

Diana Leafe Christian Radio Interview: This "Finding Community" interview of Diana and New Earth Song's Craig Ragland also discusses Songaia and New Earth Song Cohousing, including Adult-Focus and what that means to us. Scroll down the page to find the interview next to the picture of the "Finding Community" book. Note: this fine book is available through the FIC Store.

Last Updated:12/24/2011

Visitors Accepted

(Visiting Songaia and our land is the first step toward joining our project.)

Visitor Process: Contact info@newearthsong.com (or call Dennis at the number listed above) to prearrange a visit (email is preferred). Advance notice is required. We schedule periodic public open houses/tours and sometimes arrange individual visits for long-distance travelers. Tours are also sometimes combined with shared meals in the Songaia common house. We may be able to arrange use of one or both of Songaia’s guest rooms if you are visiting from afar. Some of Songaia’s current members moved to the Northwest to join our community, and we expect this to also be true for New Earth Song Cohousing. See the Songaia website for information on Songaia's location.

Affiliations: Songaia Cohousing Community

Network Affiliations:

Fellowship for Intentional Community

:: Northwest Intentional Communities Association

:: Coho/US

Population Adult Members: 9 (LLC members with 3 Associate members) Child Members: 0 (None of the Core Group LLC members have children at home, although one Associate family who is planning LLC membership has two children. Our community next door, Songaia Cohousing, has 10 children - and our expectation is that Songaia and New Earth Song kids will form their own unique culture over the years ahead.) Open to new adults: Yes Open to new children: Yes (We welcome children, although we are an adult-focused community, as explained below.) Gender Balance: 50% M 50% F Open to which gender(s): All genders welcome (We are a welcoming community with gay, lesbian, and heterosexual members.) Ethnic Diversity: 0% identify as 'non-white' Age Focus: Seniors :: Middle Age :: Young Adults (All family configurations of any age/gender are welcome, although we consider ourselves an adult-focused community. We expect that parents or responsible adults will actively care for their children with an intention to nurture their maturation. We anticipate a rich adult culture that honors elders, enjoys adult conversations and activities, and provides some space for uninterrupted reflection. We plan to help each other age in place over many years.) Age Restrictions: No	Government Decision Making: By consensus (We have a defined process, are researching alternative governance structures which would incorporate consensus decision-making.) Identified Leader: No Leadership Core Group: No (Not yet - core group leadership is ad hoc - we expect to investigate alternatives for a sustainable leadership group - we have the experience/wisdom of Songaia to draw on.)	Labor and Money Financial Style: Members have independent finances Open to Members with Pre-existing Debt: Yes Labor Contribution: Expected (Expected, although details will evolve over time. We have organized several work parties to care for the initial land purchase.) Join Fee: No (To join the New Earth Song LLC will require significant capital investment.) Regular Fees: Yes (The eventual cohousing community will of course have fees to cover the cost of running the development.)
Land and Buildings Suburban Area: 0.5 acres (0.2 hectares) (Will be located on acreage adjacent to Songaia Cohousing Community.) Land Owned By: A subgroup of community members (has purchased 0.51 acres.) Number of Residences: 1 (Existing 3 BD/3 BA house on property - to be remodeled to a six-unit Passive House.) Cohousing: Yes	Food, etc. Percentage of Food Grown: (Songaia has been gradually expanding its organic gardens, orchards, and now has chickens. We expect to contribute and share in this growing bounty.) Share Community Meals: (To be determined, Songaia shares 5 meals per week - we may add shared meals on other days, expanding shared meals available to members of both communities.) Dietary Choice or Restrictions: Diet is up to each individual Dietary Practice: (To be determined) Alcohol Use: (To be determined - Songaia uses it rarely, but its an individual choice.) Tobacco Use: (To be determined - few at Songaia have ever smoked and there are restrictions about tobacco use in common areas, but its an individual choice.)	Social Factors Open to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and/or Transgender members: Yes (We are a welcoming community with lesbian, gay, and hetero relationships within current members.) Restrictions on Romantic Relationships (between consenting adults): No Shared Spiritual Path: No (While spritual concerns are central to most members, our group has not chosen a common spiritual pathway. We are open to individual choice) Which Spiritual Path(s): Buddhist :: Paganism/Earth Religions :: Sufi :: Unitarian Universalist :: Ecumenical (includes "all religions") :: Eclectic (integrates pieces from many religions) :: Other (There will undoubtedly be more as more join in the fun.) Educational Style(s): (To be determined)

Cohousing Details

Cohousing Status:

Own Site

(We control property.)

Number of Units:

We are planning for six units.

Architect:

One of our members is an architect with whom we are working.

Commercial Lender:

Unknown - while commercial loans may not actually be required, this is the most common successful model for cohousing, so we will probably take out construction loans.

Click an image to see it full size.

Become an Editor Current editor(s): craigragland, richw42

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