Websites
Cohousing consultants
http://www.cohousingpartners.com/wonderland.html
Community is a common theme in research about what makes people happy. In the United States and Europe, cohousing creates a sense of community and has been shown to increase satisfaction in people’s lives.
http://www.thehappymovie.com/
Learn more about the principles and other characteristics of cohousing here:
http://www.cohousing.org/
Fellowship for Intentional Communities
http://www.ic.org/
Books To Explore
Creating Cohousing – Building Sustainable Communities
by Kathryn McCamant & Charles Durrett
A man’s home is his castle. But demographic and economic changes haveturned our castles into islands. How can we regain the elements of the traditional village – family, cooperation, community and a sense of belonging – within the context of 21st century life?
Creating Cohousing: Building Sustainable Communities is an in-depth exploration of a uniquely rewarding type of housing which is perfect for anyone who values their independence but longs for more connection with those around them. Written by the award-winning team that wrote the original “cohousing bible” and first brought cohousing to North America, this fully-illustrated manual combines nuts-and-bolts practical considerations and design ideas with extensive case studies of dozens of diverse communities in Europe and North America.
Cohousing communities create unique opportunities for designing more sustainable lifestyles. Whether urban, suburban or rural; senior or intergenerational; retrofit or new, the authors show how the physical structures of cohousing communities lend themselves to a more efficient use of resources, and make everything from gardening to childcare to socializing easier.
Creating Cohousing puts the “neighbor” back into “neighborhood”; and is an essential resource for anyone interested in more environmentally and socially sustainable living.
http://www.newsociety.com/Books/C/Creating-Cohousing
The Cohousing Handbook: Building a Place for Community
by Chris and Kelly ScottHanson, revised edition.
A nuts and bolts guide to developing your community.