If you want to do something, do it

If you want to do something, do it.

Lancaster Cohousing is an intentional community built beside the River Lune, in Lancaster UK.  We speak with residents Kathy Bashford and Alison Cahn about  Forgebank, a cohousing project of private homes,community facilities, workshops/offices/studios and shared outdoor space.  Kathy and Alison take us on the journey from the idea of living close to friends in an eco way, through the design and build of the homes at Forgebank, to the ins and outs of living in an intentional community.

Talking points

We wanted to bring the ethos of cohousing to the workplace

Things we try for are mixing private space and communal space; collaboration and community cooperation; and being sustainable

Trust, respect, friendship and understanding, not rules and regulations

It is us, we, why would we cheat?

We have to find decisions everyone can live with, if you don’t like it, then you are expected to go beyond “no” to “what about…”

Motivation:  We wanted to live in eco-homes and in an intentional community

Motivation:  I was looking for an adventure. We’re doing a lot of really interesting stuff, learning as we go along, getting involved in things.

Activist: I’m not an activist, I’m me.

We want to inspire others to do the same.

It’s just a beautiful place

Awards, give us credibility in inspiring others, feels good too and that’s not bad.

Advice: you can do things.   This shows you don’t have to be an expert, you don’t have to be “the establishment”, you can do things.   You can find experts when you need them if you are committed, determined, energetic…