In other words, you have caring, sharing and nearby neighbors but can retreat into private spaces when you need to. The common house typically includes a large kitchen and dining area, so that people can enjoy communal meals on the nights they choose to do so. Rural cohousing developments often include a farm or large gardens to grow food for the community, and possibly for sale to the public. Many cohousing projects stress ecological principles such as more eco-friendly building materials, alternative energy systems and alternative septic systems. These considerations are balanced against the need for affordability, and often enhance affordability.
Residents have more purchasing power because they can purchase in bulk from wholesale distributors.
Residents don't have to spend as much on things like garden tools or lawn mowers. If the community needs a pickup truck to do heavy-duty chores, it can pool the resources of many families to buy it. I'm sure your readers can come up with lots of other ways that this way of life can save money. My wife and I are involved in a project called Hundredfold Farm that is searching for land in the Gettysburg, Pa., area, with the intention of forming a cohousing community there with about 15 households. Hope you find this concept as exciting as we do.