Nubi Cohousing News

2nd (annual?) Nubi campout & cookout

Noel — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 00:44:45 +0000

We did it last year. It was a lot of fun. So why not do it again?

Last night we had another wonderful cookout (complete with hot dog roasting, schmoozing around the fire, and eating s’mores), followed by a “campout” that consisted of pitching tents in our common and sleeping (sort of) under the stars. An easy and fun way to get in one last camping “trip” before our kids go back to school.

In addition to the excellent photos Clive just posted here, there are some more photos from the cookout/campout on our Flickr pages.

Overnight McMansions, s’moors and hotdogs for the little people and big kids, August 27, 2010

Clive — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 14:21:38 +0000

Correcting USA Today: cohousing is not a commune

Eric — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 15:37:31 +0000

A great mention in USA Today, but a “commune”? I don’t think so. While both communes and cohousing neighborhoods are an intentional community, a shared economy (possessions and income) is central to a commune but non-existent at a cohousing community like Nubi. Cohousing communities typically focus on the social aspects of living together.

For the record, currently at Nubinusit residents may participate in the CSA at a variety of levels, and on-site chickens and cows are not ‘relied on’ as there are many farms and grocery stores in the area. Group undertakings such as raising chickens are typically structured as ‘clubs’ which residents may or may not join and support. Essential shared work, such as checking the wood pellet boilers, managing the common land, etc., is undertaken by teams of volunteers.

An example of how this can work is unfolding now: some interested residents recently worked together to research solar energy options for summertime hot water and electricity. This evolved quickly to a group-buy for photovoltaic panels: each resident can now choose to join a group of neighbors who are each buying customized PV systems for their homes (which are individually metered). PV system cost is kept low because many neighbors will buy a similar system from the same contractor, and the legwork to find a contractor, research what is needed to qualify for green energy rebates, etc., has been done already. Plus typical questions regarding the pros and cons of such systems have been publically asked and answered.

A pretty nice benefit of living together, intentionally.

plants and insects

Noel — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 17:43:17 +0000

In our home garden this morning, there was an amazing moth — a hummingbird moth — flitting around our bee balm flowers. I tried some photos — see below — but can’t really capture how much this flying bug really looks (and acts) like a bird.

And this morning in the community “garden” — our CSA farm field — we held a community workday that got lots of hands out there for a productive and social time. We cleared many beds, removed numerous tomato hornworms (which were then fed to the chickens!), weeded and weeded some more, and generally did some impressive sprucing up of the veggie fields.

summer fun

Noel — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 00:26:15 +0000

excellent July weather

+ good neighbors

+ bring-your-own-fixings sandwich dinner

+ freewheeling games for the kids

= a memorably fun evening for the whole family

The Youngest Head Chef

Richard — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 16:28:36 +0000

: Head Chef – Taco Night

When no adult was available to be the head chef for Thursday night dinner, one 11-yr old resident volunteered. She set the menu, shopped, organized the crew, grated a lot of cheese and it was a success! Here is a shot of her just before the food was devoured.

White Mountain Hike

Richard — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 01:36:04 +0000

Every time I head up to the White Mountains I am reminded at how convenient they are to our cohousing. An easy 2 hour drive and you feel like you are in Switzerland (and we actually met some Swiss too – they took this picture). I took my daughter and a friend up for a hike up the Falling Waters Trail (great waterfalls) to Mts Little Haystack, Lincoln and Lafayette. It is a classic ridgeline hike I highly recommend. We stayed the night at the Greenleaf hut and were back home by 12:30 this afternoon. Of course Mt Monadnock is only 15 mins away from Peterborough – and it has terrific views too (and you can see the White Mountains).

We enjoy the 360 degree view from the top of Mt Lincoln.

7 June rain, a torrent

Clive — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 23:11:11 +0000

car-free = good for turtles

Noel — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 21:32:15 +0000

Since moving here a couple years ago, I’ve enjoyed seeing some wonderful wildlife on and around the property, but also been surprised by a few big misses — creatures that’ve been noticeably absent. Turtles have been high on that list for me. Even with our river and pond and wetlands, I had not seen a single turtle here.

That changed yesterday. Mid-morning, Suzy came to our door to announce that a turtle had just strolled across Steele Road in the middle of our neighborhood. (I became keenly aware of another benefit of keeping cars out!) By the time I got out to take a look, it was making its way through the grass.

In hopes that this one would stick around, I violated various rules of animal etiquette by relocating the turtle a few hundred feet down the road, placing it at the edge of our pond, which seems to me a good place for amphibious creatures.

The turtle immediately dove — really dove — into the water. It appeared so eager to get away from me that the moment I placed it on the ground, it practically jumped into the water and quickly swam deep down into the pond, disappearing from sight. I stayed by the water for some time, but couldn’t relocate it again. So, today I was happy to see the turtle sunning on the edge of the pond, and when I went to take a closer look, it (of course) leapt back into the water. I’m hoping it’ll stick around.

National Energy Technology Lab Visit

Richard — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 13:08:00 +0000

NETL and USCG Reprsentatives Outside the Boiler Building Discuss the Heating System

Nubi Neighborhood and New England Wood Pellets hosted the National Energy Technology Lab and the US Coast Guard on Thursday. They are touring renewable energy facilities in preparation for upgrading Coast Guard housing to renewable energy! Nubanusit Cohousing has what is believed to be the largest centralized residential heating system fueled by wood pellets so is a good source for practical experience. The gulf oil spill of course made the visit very timely as well. Peak oil anyone?

Checking the innards of one of our boilers.