The 2009 National Cohousing Conference was a great success! It ran from June 24 to June 28th 2009. Please join us for our next conference!

2009 Auction Catalog

This is a partial list of items to be sold in either the Live or Silent Auction at the 2009 National Cohousing Conference. The Live Auction is a featured activity in the Saturday Night Fundraising Banquet. The silent auction is part of the Conference Bookstore and runs from Wednesday through Saturday afternoon. All items and their descriptions are subject to change. For more information on details of the auctions, i.e., operations, conditions, etc. please see Auction Rules.

Most all of the items in this catalog were donated by individuals and organizations who choose to support Coho/US and the Cohousing Movement. Can you offer other experiences or items? Tell us what you are contributing now to let bidders read about them in advance. Contributions will be accepted until shortly before the events. You can either send items to us or drop off donations at the Conference Bookstore throughout the Conference.

Note: new items are being added and this list will change right up until the events - stay tuned.

The 2009 Auctions feature unique experiences and cool stuff, some categories...

Coho-Expert Visits - community stays and consultations with Cohousing Experts
Coho-Vacations - an organized series of community stays; like a Cohousing Tour, but IN DEPTH across several days

United States Vacations
International Vacations

Other Vacations - including a Photo Safari in Africa
Coho/US Experiences - bus tours or be the first to register for the 2010 National Cohousing Conference
Coho/US Advertising - buy advertising for your community or business and potentially at a deep discount
From Our Community to Yours - special gifts created by communities for other communities
Entertainment - pick up a desktop player for your i-pod?
Coho-Gear - some just for fun - and some very useful to promote cohousing

1. Coho-Expert Visits

#1a. Earthaven Ecovillage visit with Diana Leafe Christian

Value for two night stay: $240 for one person; $420 for two (or maybe "priceless")

Enjoy a two-day, two-night stay for two at Earthaven Ecovillage in the mountains of Western North Carolina, near Asheville. Founded in 1994, Earthaven is a demonstration model of people practicing ecological sustainability through small passive-solar homes, off-grid power, roof-water catchment, constructed wetlands, and more. A visit would be valuable to any cohouser interested learning more about how communities might be more sustainable. You will be guest of Diana Leafe Christian, author of Creating a Life Together and well-known cohousing consultant. You'll stay in Diana's tiny off-grid guest apartment with kitchenette and queen-sized loft bed, and will tour Earthaven with Diana as your guide. Your visit will include a tour of the permaculture-designed, multi-function Gateway Farm with the Gateway farmers. To learn more about Earthaven see www.earthaven.org or more about Diana - see www.dianaleafechristian.com This is an incredible opportunity to hear about this innovative ecovillage and get to spend some quality time with Diana.
Restrictions: Does not include airfare, ground transportation, or meals, and depends upon Diana's traveling schedule. Expires Aug 1, 2010.

Diana Leafe Christian, Gateway Farm, and Earthaven Ecovillage

#1b. Nevada City Cohousing for two with Charles Durrett & Kathryn McCamant

Value for one night stay with two consultations: priceless

Enjoy Nevada City Cohousing (Nevada City, CA) during your one-night stay as the guest of Chuck and Katie. Nevada City is the innovative community that Chuck Durrett and Katie McCamant call home. You'll enjoy the Nevada City Cohousing hot tub and pool, and a common meal if available at the time of stay. Far more than just a stay at a great community, the winner will receive individual 1-hour consultations with Chuck and Katie. You'll visit the Nevada City offices of McCamant & Durrett Architects and Cohousing Partners, located in Nevada City's award-winning historic district. Nevada City is considered to be among the best-preserved towns of the West. See the friendliest, liveliest and most colorful of all California Gold Rush towns. Get information on local hikes and the best places to swim in the river. Come enjoy this vibrant, thriving community while learning from the couple that brought cohousing to the United States.
Restrictions: Does not include airfare or ground transportation. May not include a meal, depending on availability. You are responsible for providing other food. Expires Aug 1, 2010.

Charles Durrett, Kathryn McCamant and Nevada City Cohousing

#1c. Pioneer Valley Cohousing visit for two with Kraus-Fitch Architects

Value for two night stay with consultation: priceless

Enjoy your two-nights stay at Pioneer Valley Cohousing AND benefit from a professional consultation with Kraus-Fitch Architects. Pioneer Valley is an interesting, well-established cohousing community with many innovations to share. Learn about their "home offices" - which support thriving resident-owned businesses (including Kraus-Fitch Architects), their huge, well-organized library, their fascinating meal program, and much more. Kraus-Fitch Architects are nationally recognized as one of the most experienced architectural firms working with cohousing. In addition to full architectural services, Kraus-Fitch offers a wide range of other cohousing consulting.

During your two night stay, you'll enjoy:

the beautiful Pioneer Valley Cohousing Community (Amherst, Massachusetts) - with two guest rooms available in the common house

1-hour tour with resident, including access to several homes

2-hour professional consult with Laura Fitch, cohousing architect and 15-year resident

a leisurely walk to the local cafe (on your own or as part of the consult with Laura)

access to Puffer's Pond (local swim hole)

access to 5-college system: UMass, Amherst College, Smith College, Mount Holyoke, and Hampshire College. Do your kids want to visit schools in this area?

proximity to three other cohousing communities: Pathways, Rocky Hill, Pine Street. You can arrange additional tours directly with them

proximity to both the town of Amherst and Northampton - two wonderful arts communities with fine dining.

Restrictions: Does not include airfare or ground transportation. Includes a limited number of meals and you are responsible for providing other food. Expires Aug 1, 2010

Kraus-Fitch Architects and Pioneer Valley Cohousing Community

#1d. Silver Sage and Rocky Mountain Cabin vacation for two with Cohousing Developer Jim Leach

Value for up to a six night stay with consultation: priceless

Stay up to three nights at Silver Sage Cohousing (Boulder, CO) - plus a three-night stay at Jim's Rocky Mountain cabin. Silver Sage is one of the very few Senior Cohousing communities in the United States. You'll be hosted by Silver Sage resident, Jim Leach. Visit other Cohousing Communities and the Wonderland Hill Development Company offices. Jim will also spend a day with you having fun in an outdoor activity - possibly skiing, hiking, or ?? (to be arranged with Jim). This is a chance for some savvy cohouser to have a lot of fun while learning from one of the most experienced Cohousing Developers in the United States

Restrictions: Does not include airfare or ground transportation. Includes a limited number of meals and you are responsible for providing other food. Expires Aug 1, 2010

Jim Leach and Silver Sage Cohousing

#1e: Tools for Change Consultation and Custom Meditation Audio CD

Value for on-site visit to your community and CD: $1,700

Full detail to come...
Margo Adair & Bill Aal are co-directors of Tools for Change, have lived and or worked in a variety collectives. For over 25 years Tools for Change has been offering training, facilitation and mediations to co-housing communities, collective households, community groups and nonprofits so that difference becomes a source of strength, and trust and accountability are the norm. The Tools for Change mission is to bring history, heart, spirit, values and vision into the center of public life. Together they have co-taught, with Starhawk, principles of Social Permaculture at Earth Activist (permaculture) Trainings. Bill is a part of the newly formed Transition Town USA training working group. Restrictions: Does not include transportation to/from your community or any food or lodging as required. The only additional cost for Puget Sound area communities is a mileage reimbursement and perhaps a shared meal? Expires Aug 1, 2010.

Tools for Change with Margo Adair and Bill Aal

2. Coho-Vacations

For the first time, we've packaged a series of Cohousing stays into Coho-Vacations. These bundled trips consist of stays with in-depth visits at more than one Cohousing community. You'll generally stay in their common house guest rooms, talk with different cohousing residents to hear multiple points of view, enjoying common house meals, receive personalized, private tours, and have time to visit the surrounding area. Sort of like the Coho/US Cohousing Bus Tours, only longer, more relaxed, more in-depth, and more personal.

#2a: New England Cohousing Tour for two

Value for up to five nights: priceless

What could be better than a visit to New England to see the beautiful fall foliage? One that includes visits to historic sites and stays at 5 Cohousing communities! Experience the beauty, historic sites around Boston, and immerse yourself in 5-8 Cohousing communities. The communities where you'll be staying, in sequence, are:

Rocky Hill Cohousing (Northampton, MA) - includes common meal

Pioneer Valley Cohousing (Amherst, MA) - includes common meal

Mosaic Cohousing (Berlin, MA)

New View Cohousing (Acton, MA)

Cambridge Cohousing (Cambridge, MA)

Other communities where you can enjoy day tours include Camelot Cohousing (Berlin), Cornerstone Cohousing (Cambridge) and Jamaica Plan Cohousing (Boston). Your hosts will help you enjoy some of nearby historic sites (Bunker Hill, Freedom Trail – Paul Revere’s ride, Lexington Green). Note: Hosts are not providing guided tours and your costs will depend on your choices.
Restrictions: Does not include airfare or ground transportation. Includes a limited number of meals and you are responsible for providing other food. Visit needs to start on a Saturday in September or the first two weeks of October, 2009.

Organized by David Entin, Rocky Hill Cohousing, with coho-stays donated by Diane Margolis and communities.

#2b: Puget Sound Cohousing tour for two

Value for up to five nights: priceless

Enjoying your stay at the Seattle Conference? Why not come back to play in the beautiful Pacific Northwest and learn more about the local Cohousing scene and enjoy a personalized architectural tour of some special Seattle landmarks. Full details are still under development, but will include stays at 3 Cohousing Communities. Communities will include:

Songaia Cohousing (Bothell, WA) - includes common meals if scheduling allows

Winslow Cohousing (Winslow, WA), on Bainbridge Island - an enjoyable ferry ride from Seattle

Puget Ridge Cohousing (Seattle, WA) - includes common meals if scheduling allows


Songaia Cohousing Community	Winslow Cohousing	Puget Ridge Cohousing

This incredible package also includes 4 bottles of Waterbrook Reserve Wine, with a $110 value. Waterbrook Winery is the fourth established winery in Walla Walla, now home to more than 100. Waterbrook has a rich heritage of producing value wines that reflect the true characteristics of Washington; the land, climate and grape growing that our state is best known for. This package includes:

2007 Waterbrook Reserve Chardonnay

2006 Waterbrook Reserve Merlot (91 Points - Wine Spectator)

2006 Waterbrook Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (91 Points - Wine Spectator)

2007 Waterbrook Reserve Syrah.

Includes a day-long architectural tour of Seattle with architect Patrick Paul, who is designing New Earth Song, a cohousing group developing a property adjoining Songaia. Patrick will spend a day with you exploring some remarkable spaces in Seattle, including:

the widely acclaimed Seattle Public Library

Chapel of St. Ignatius, a beautiful structure

the amazing Olympic Sculpture Park.

Along the way, you'll enjoy lunch at Pike Place Market. Community residents will help you get the most ouf of your Puget Sound visit.
Restrictions: Does not include airfare or ground transportation. Includes a limited number of meals, which depend on scheduling of your visit and you are responsible for providing other food. Expires Aug 1, 2010

Organized by Fred Lanphear, Songaia Cohousing with Coho-stays donated by each community.

#2c: Personalized Ann Arbor Cohousing Tour for two

Value for up to five nights: priceless

Do you want to learn about a unique cohousing model? Come visit Ann Arbor, Michigan, where the communities of Sunward, Great Oaks, and Touchstone are right next-door to each other. This may offers the most convenient way in the United States to discover three different communities.

Your host is well versed in both Cohousing and Ann Arbor. He will work with you to create a personalized stay to help you best meet your needs. Tell him what you want - he'll then help you build a custom coho-vacation. You'll have lots of time to talk with cohousers and learn from your in-depth visit. It will include some meals, depending on schedule.

There's more than just Cohousing in Ann Arbor. Ann Arbor is a college town with the fun and interesting culture that offers... a wide variety of interesting restaurants, museums, book stores, and more. You might schedule your stay to take advantage of one Ann Arbor's many events. Perhaps you'll enjoy the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair - featuring up to 2,000 artists from all over the world in every medium imaginable.
You will stay at Sunward Cohousing for up to five nights, with possible stays at the neighboring communities. What best meets your needs? Talk with your host to create your unique Ann Arbor Cohousing experience.
Communities you may visit include:

Sunward Cohousing (Ann Arbor, MI) - includes common meals as available

Great Oaks Cohousing (Ann Arbor, MI)

Touchstone Cohousing (Ann Arbor, MI)

Restrictions: Does not include airfare or ground transportation. Includes a limited number of meals and you are responsible for providing other food. Expires Aug 1, 2010.

Organized by Rich Kato of Sunward Cohousing

2d: Washington, DC Cohousing Tour for 2-4

Value of up to five nights in the DC area: priceless

City Mouse? Country Mouse?

You don't have to choose! You can be both by visiting Catoctin Creek Village in rural Loudoun County, VA and Takoma Village in Washington, DC ... America's Hometown! This vacation package getaway will take you to two sister communities an hour apart - one in the city and one in the country. Stay is for 2 to 4 people for up to 3 nights in Catoctin Creek Village and 2 nights in Takoma Village.

Catoctin Creek Village

Come visit a country village 1 hour from D.C. nestled by a lake in the Blue Ridge mountains near historic Civil War battlefields such as Harper's Ferry. Enjoy local blue grass music, tour local wineries, hike to the river along paths maintained by Catoctin Creek Villagers, canoe or swim in the lake, stargaze to your heart's content, and yes, we can even hook you up to go horseback riding! You will be 5 minutes from the MARC commuter rail, which runs to Union Station in Washington D.C.

Catoctin Creek Village is a "rural hamlet" sharing 115 acres of permanent conservation land. Our common house is a restored civil-war era farmhouse with a barn and spring-fed lake. Our energy-star homes feature geothermal systems and passive solar designs. While visiting, you will be welcome to join our regular common meals and meetings and -- if you're lucky -- our monthly work day and luncheon, which we find one of our most enjoyable gatherings! Strongly committed to FUN, we have seasonal parities, so you might want to plan your trip to be sure to be here for the Haunted Barn at Halloween, the Barn Dance in June, or Labor Day Barbeque and Games day.

Takoma Village

Staying at Takoma Village puts you just 1.5 blocks from a main metro line that will take you to all the museums and art galleries Washington has to offer. Tour the White House, see your Congressional Delegation at work in the Capitol (if in session) and ... if you're a spontaneous spirit, plan your trip to coincide with the Cherry Blossom Festival. It's magnificent when the cherry blossoms burst forth in their arrays of pink and white petals. Washington is lovely any time of the year. The FDR memorial, the Reflecting Pool, the Jefferson and Lincoln memorials, the Vietnam Veterans memorial and so much more is available.

Takoma Village is an award winning, ultra green, sustainable, urban community of 43 households in northwest DC. Currently we have 64 adult members, 20+ children all ages, four dogs and many, many cats. Of course, you're invited to any TVC meals or group activities we may have planned when you are here.

Restrictions: Does not include airfare or ground transportation. Includes a limited number of meals and you are responsible for providing other food. Takoma Village guest rooms are heavily used. Only one Takoma Village guest room is available for this auction item (one with two single beds or one with a Queen size bed; if 4 people come, then 2 can sleep on the floor in sleeping bags. Please give a minimum of 30 and a maximum 90 days' notice to help us reserve your spaces. Expires Aug 1, 2010.

Organized by Ann Zabaldo with Coho-stays donated by each community

2e. San Francisco East Bay Area Cohousing Stay/Tour/Coaching for two

Value of up to six nights in the popular SF Bay Area: priceless

Come visit the U.S. city with the most cohousing neighborhoods, in the region with more communities than any other per square mile, stay in two communities, visit others, and plan your path to community. Connect with cohousers and community seekers and get the coaching you need to make your community vision into a reality.

You say you left your heart in San Francisco? Well, come on back and find it, already, with a three-night stay at Swan's Market Cohousing, the country's most urban cohousing neighborhood, in the heart of historic Old Oakland, and just 12 minutes by subway from downtown SF and its many museums and attractions. Experience the weekly farmer's market out front, and the charms of mixed-use development in a historic 1917 public market building lovingly restored with help from the cohousers. Learn how permanently affordable rental housing, retail, public space, office, a museum and cohousing cooperated to bring new life to a cut-off neighborhood and helped turn things around. See the solar system that powers pumps and keeps things toasty winter nights, and how it is already paying for itself.

Plus stay another three nights just up the road, in the same lovely Meditteranean climate, at Berkeley Cohousing, a hidden gem a short walk from campus, the subway, and downtown Berkeley's many cultural venues (half-price tickets to several included). Get a hands-on cohousing experience, helping prepare and clean up a common dinner (if your schedule permits it), in our newly redesigned kitchen (or the increasingly-rare "classic" farmhouse flavor if you act fast).

Attend for free one of the many frequent socials, presentation, slide shows, or mini-workshops at the East Bay Cohousing clubhouse in downtown Berkeley, meeting other cohousing and cooperative community seekers and residents and weaving your song into the mix.

Sit down with Cohousing Coaches Raines Cohen and/or Betsy Morris to devise your own action plan, finding community or integrating the wisdom of the cohousing movement to solve problems without having to re-invent the wheel.

Get a custom mini-tour of area cohousing neighborhoods, including: (subject to availability, scheduling, and interest)

Temescal Creek Cohousing, a growing retrofit-model community

Temescal Commons

Triple Point, a neighborhood retrofit with shared common space

Mariposa Grove, a permanently-affordable land-trust artists' coop using a cohousing model

Hidden Creek Cohousing, a small-scale green community

Pleasant Hill Cohousing

This combination would cost hundreds of dollars and take dozens of calls and emails and many hours to arrange individually; many hotels in the area cost more than a hundred dollars a night, yet lack the prime locations and community connections these have. We look forward to welcoming the winning bidder. Restrictions: Does not include airfare or ground transportation. Includes a limited number of meals and you are responsible for providing other food. Expires Aug 1, 2010.

Organized by East Bay Cohousing and Cohousing Coaches with Coho-stays donated by communities

International Coho-Vacations

#2g: United Kingdom Cohousing Vacation for two

Value for eight nights exploring Cohousing in Southern England: priceless

Ready to visit Cohousing communiites in a distinctive, but comfortable international locale (Native language? The Queen's English). Come to Southern England to visit three of the ten established UK communities with three leaders in the UK Cohousing Movement. These experienced cohousers and leaders are eager to share their international insights. This is a very special opportunity for an educational vacation that you'll treasure for a lifetime.

Your stay will include the following:

Laughton Lodge: three night’s accommodation

Springhill Cohousing: two night’s accommodation

The Threshold Centre: three night’s accommodation

Laughton Lodge with Sarah Berger

Sarah is one of the 'burning souls' of Laughton Lodge and the UK Cohousing movement, Miss Cohousing UK as she's been called at times. Laughton is an idyllic, semi-rural project near Lewes, a picturesque small English town. Lewes is close to Brighton and the English South Coast - and easily accessed, being just 90 minutes from the center of London.

Springhill Cohousing with David Michael

Springhill was the first new-build cohousing scheme to be completed in the UK. Their 34 units range from one bedroom flats to five bedroom houses. David Michael has several communal and cohousing schemes to his credit and is known for his strengths as a cohousing developer. Springhill Cohousing is also close to London, a great 'alternative' small town, with a great example of urban cohousing, UK-style.

The Threshold Centre with Alan Heeks

The Threshold Centre is a unique, pioneering sustainable education centre and cohousing community, which aims to demonstrate a way of life which is more green, more affordable, and more neighbourly. Having operated on a pilot basis since late 2004, the Threshold Centre has now won planning permission and grant funding to create a cohousing scheme at Cole Street Farm with fourteen dwellings, seven being affordable rent and shared ownership with a local housing association, plus a common house with shared facilities and guest rooms, green energy systems and a community market garden. The Threshold Centre is the only sustainable education centre in the UK which includes a cohousing community, and also the first UK cohousing scheme to be created jointly with a housing association.

Alan Heeks is a founding member, a member of the UK Cohousing Network Board of Directors, and regularly runs Cohousing training workshops.

Restrictions: Does not include airfare or ground transportation. May include a meal or two, depending on availability. You are responsible for providing other food (might we recommend a Cornish Pasty?) Expires Aug 1, 2010.

Organized by Mark Westcombe with stays donated by each community.

#2h: Vancouver, BC (CANADA) Lower Mainland Cohousing Vacation for two

Value for up to six nights in this popular destination city: priceless

Come visit the Vancouver Lower Mainland in beautiful British Columbia, where the communities of WindSong, Cranberry Commons, and Quayside Village are all within a half-hour drive of each other. You will have the opportunity to stay at Cranberry Commons and Quayside Village for three nights each from September 1st to 7th 2009 (buy this coho-vacation to make your labor day weekend really something to remember). Your stay will include the following:

Cranberry Commons: three night’s accommodation and one common meal

Quayside Village: three night’s accommodation and one common meal

WindSong Cohousing tour

Cranberry Commons Quayside Village WindSong Cohousing

Access to the common house to prepare your own meals will need to be arranged with your host and may be limited depending on scheduled activities. Both Cranberry Commons and Quayside are within an easy walk of many restaurants, coffee shops, shopping, parks, and many other amenities and are within an easy bus or sea bus ride from downtown Vancouver.

The Vancouver Lower Mainland offers a multitude of sightseeing opportunities. Your host is knowledgeable about the options and can help you plan your stay. Note: Hosts are not providing guided tours and your costs will depend on your choices.

The guest room at Quayside includes one double bed and at Cranberry Commons there are two single beds. Both are non-smoking communities.

Restrictions: Does not include airfare or ground transportation. Includes a limited number of meals and you are responsible for providing other food. Please contact us before August 15, 2009 to finalize your arrangements.

Organized by Ronaye Matthew with cohousing stays donated by each community

3. Other Vacations

#3a. South Africa Photo Safari for Two (value: $3,950)

Savor an exciting experience of the wild in the heart of Africa's richest conservation regions. View elephant, rhino, leopard, giraffe, hippo, zebra, cheetah, buffalo, kudo, and many more. Six days and six nights luxury accommodations. Your lodging and tours are all in our private Zulu Nyala Game Reserve, the location for the movie I dreamed of Africa.

Includes three delicious meals per day and two daily Land Rover trips to see the animals! Additional tickets may be purchased from the Safari Group. Restrictions: Does not include airfare or transfers, personal beverages, side trips or phone calls. Expires June 26, 2011. Is non-transferable, non-refundable, and may not be given or bartered or sold to any other person or organization.

Trevor Shaw Safaris

4. Coho/US Experiences

#4a. Cohousing Bus Tours Package

Value: Up to $630

Enjoy six seats on any of the Coho/US bus tours over the next year. You can use the six seats in different ways, e.g., take six people on one tour; or two people on three tours; or three people on two tours, or take them all yourself. Tours are planned for Puget Sound, the San Fransisco Bay Area, Massachusetts, Colorado, and North Carolina. You and your friends can choose seats on any Bus Tour offered by Coho/US. This includes the bus tours at the 2010 National Cohousing Conference in Boulder, CO and the Professionals Tour in the Bay Area (date to be determined). These are fully transferable and can be used by others. Restrictions: Does not include transportation to and from where bus tours begin. Coho/US Bus tours often sell out, so please schedule in advance. Expires Aug 1, 2010

Cohousing Association of the United States

#4b 2010 National Conference Registration

Value: $300 until July 31, 2009 (then the registration prices begins increasing)

Be the FIRST to register for the 2010 National Cohousing Conference in Boulder. Vote with your dollars - make the clear statement; I will be there!
Theme: Sustainability and Community
Where: Colorado University in beautiful Boulder, Colorado
When: June 16-20, 2010 - June is absolutely the perfect time to visit Boulder

We're offering early-bird tickets for the 2010 Conference for just $300 (lower than for the 2009 Conference). The 2010 Conference team will bring you more coho-goodness than ever before. Full information will begin to appear at the 2010 Conference website, shortly after the 2009 Conference has ended (www.cohousing.org/conference). Restrictions: this fully transferable registration only covers the main conference registration. Costs for any optional pre-conference workshops, tours, housing, or any other conference add-ons are not included.

Donated by Cohousing Resources LLC

5. Marketing and Advertising

Many communities and professionals are eager to get help reaching prospective future members and clients. The Cohousing Association has created some special packages especially for this auction. These packages include an opportunity to apply world-class video production talent to assist your community. We are also offering some of our most valuable advertising services at (potentially) highly discounted prices.

#5a. Cohousing Video Package

Value: $1,000

Full details to follow
Donor: Mandy Creighton and and Ryan Mlynarczyk from Within Reach Movie

#5b. One-Year Classified Ad Package

Value: $750

Use the most heavily used Cohousing website in the world to reach wanna-be cohousers with a customized advertising package created just for this event. It all starts with a consultation with Barb Bansenaur, Coho/US Advertising Manager (value: $100). The two of you will create a top quality Enhanced Classified Ad. This ad will run until July 31, 2010 (value for one-year: $500), and will be included in two Cohousing Now! broadcasts - received by over 7,500 people (value: $100). Restrictions: You can claim this package any time before July 31, 2010, but any ad placed will expire on July 31, 2010. To receive a full year of exposure, you must contact Barb and submit your advertising content by July 15, 2009 to advertising [at] cohous [dot] org

Cohousing Association of the United States

#5c. One-Year Home Page Display Ad

Value: $2,500

Would you like your cohousing group or business to have the highest possible exposure on the entire World Wide Web? Get Cohousing.org home page exposure for a full year with (1) your custom-designed graphic in most visible position within the Cohousing.org home page rotation and (2) a home page banner ad on the lower left

Join the professionals, like Kraus-Fitch Architects, Cohousing Resources, Wonderland Hill, and McCamant & Durrett. or communities seeking members, such as Mosaic Commons, Fresno Cohousing, and Blue Ridge Cohousing. This is your chance to claim the attention of over 15,000 visitors per month who already care about cohousing. Restrictions: To receive a full year of exposure, you must submit your Advertisement to advertising [at] cohous [dot] org by July 15, 2009. Any ad claimed with this purchase expires on July 31, 2010.

Cohousing Association of the United States

Cool Stuff

Enjoy the use of some special and unique items at the same time you help Coho/US to better serve you.

6. From our community to yours

These packages are being created by one community for the enjoyment of another.

#6a. Port Townsend Ecovillage Gift Basket

Value: $150

Assorted specialty items all from the Port Townsend EcoVillage and the neighboring community, including Mt. Townsend Creamery award-winning cheese, 2 bottles of Fair Winds wine, some fireweed mead, guitar CD by Joe Euro, flower note cards, Port Townsend Brewery beer, chocolate truffles, homemade bread, essential oils and soap, Port Townsend EcoVillage raw honey, and several surprise items, all in an antique basket.

Donated by Port Townsend Ecovillage (via Kees Kolff)

#6b. Songaia NW Gift Bowl

Value: $500

Songaia Cohousing Community (35 people in 13 units on 11 acres, near Seattle) is creating a spectular gift for another cohousing community. This gift is growing before your eyes as more fun and delicious stuff appears in the Gift Bowl.

The giant shiny bowl has been sitting in the dining room of Songaia's common house for weeks. The creation of this gift bowl was a community-building experience at Songaia. Songaia members hope your community enjoys the many NW items we have donated to Coho/US to create this special gift.

Huge Metal Bowl ($30) - 20 quart stainless steel bowl - serve/mix community-sized dishes

Songaia T-Shirt ($15) - with our classic, understated elegance (Adult XL)

Songaia-made Finger Labyrinth ($100) - Dorothy' ceramic version of Songaia's walking labyrinth

Three Songaia-made Scrubbies ($12) - Karly crocheted these very useful & colorful cleaning scrubbies

Can-o-Salmon ($8) - NW Salmon cannery-packed Sockeye Salmon

NW Jalapeno Relish ($5) - some like it hot!

Blue Cottage Marionberry Jam ($6) - locally grown and canned

Paula's Pepper Jelly ($7) - all natural, organic apricot/ginger jelly with a kick

Pineapple Chutney ($7) - Hyderabadi Cuisine from Kirkland, WA - a natural product for you natural life

Songaia-made Caramel Almond Crunch ($10) Handmade with good energy and care

Walla Walla Onion Mustard Relish ($7) - Walla Walla is the source of Washington's most famous sweet onion.

Note cards by NW artist Phyllis Roberts ($35) - 10 beautiful notecards of the Pacific NW by a wonderful artist.

Snoqualmie Falls Lodge Old-fashioned Pancake & Waffle Mix ($5) - a NW favorite from a fabulous restaurant.

GIft box of Fran's Fine Chocolates ($32) - from a Seattle chocolatier with a world-wide reputation for quality.

Chateau St. Michelle Columbia Valley Riesling, 2007 ($18) - a wonderful wine from a wonderful NW vintner.

Chateau St. Michelle Indian Well Chardonay 2007 ($18) - you and your community will enjoy

Chateau St. Michelle Columbia Valley Merlot, 2006 ($18) - have a drink on us

Brown & Haley Almond Roca, 13 oz ($10) - a favorite NW candy, toffee with nuts

Brown & Haley Cashew Roca, 13 oz ($10) - a variation on the almond, toffee with nuts

Songaia-canned Pacific Tuna from Hoquiam, WA ($5) - hand-crafted tuna, directly from the fisherman via a Songaia resident

Benjamin's Home Roasted Coffee, 1 lb ($12) - Benj, a 13-year-old Songaia Associate, recently started privately roasting coffee

Benjamin's Home Roasted Coffee, 8 oz ($6) - Benj, a 13-year-old Songaia Associate, recently started privately roasting coffee

Liberty Orchards Aplets and Cotlets, 9 oz ($7) - A NW variation on Turkish Delight, a soft fruit candy surrounded by a English Walnut crust

Emily's Dark Chocolate Covered Strawberries 5oz ($5) - A NW variation on Turkish Delight, a soft fruit candy surrounded by a English Walnut crust

Songaia-canned Grape Preserves made with Songaia-grown grapes ($5) - a Songaia resident grew the grapes, picked the grapes and canned the grapes - just for you

Songaia-canned Pickled Green Tomatoes ($5) - well, not much of the crop got red, but green tomatoes are good in more ways than fried

Songaia-canned Pickled Apricots($5) - baby carrots lovingly thrown in acid (vinegar)

More to Come - Members of the Songaia community will assemble this useful and fun Gift Bowl between now and the 2009 National Cohousing Conference. To help our long-distance friends who may not want to haul this large gift home to their community, we will pack this up and ship it to you (you pay for postage).

Donated by Songaia Cohousing Community (via Doug Larson)

#6c. NW Food and Wine Gift Basket

Value: $400

Enjoy this Food and Wine basket created by our Conference organizer, Val Motley. It includes:

Several items from Trader Joes in Ballard

$30 Gift card for Central Markets (Town and Country Markets)

Gift certificate for cupcakes from Cupcake Royal

$50 gift card from Madison Market

$50 gift card from Metropolitan Market

Gift certificate for produce delivery from New Roots Organics

2 – 12 oz bags of whole bean coffee from Stumptown Coffee

Gift certificate for a wine class and tasting from the Wine Outlet (a $110 value!)

Bottle of wine

7. Entertainment

#7a. Bose SoundDock® Portable digital music system

Value: $399

Music has the power to move you—and Bose has an iPod speaker system that moves with your music. The SoundDock Portable digital music system reproduces your favorite tunes with fullness and clarity unusual for a portable system. And it's so compact, you can take it just about anywhere, even outdoors. Not only do you get the acclaimed Bose sound performance for listening out loud, your iPod or iPhone is being re-charged when docked. It runs on rechargeable lithium-ion battery or plugs into wall for use almost anywhere. See the Bose Website for more information Restrictions: Buyer must accepts delivery at the auction and is responsible for shipping if required.

Donated by Bose (via Catya Belfer-Shevett)

8. Coho-Gear

What do you get if you combine Cohousing with stuff? This "stuff" promotes cohousing or just helps others know about your connection and commitments to the cohousing movement.

#8a. Coho-Gear Package #1: the special, embarrassing edition

Value: priceless, your mileage my vary

Imagine his or her surprise when you show up wearing a Cohousing.org Thong or Boxer Shorts (your choice)! This package includes both (1) a stylish pair of boxer shorts (size XL) and (2) a tiny-weeny thong (size large), both with the 2009 logo. The thong also has the Coho/US logo on the back. Restrictions: Coho/US assumes no responsibility for any trouble resulting from reckless use of this fine attire. Not for use by minors without consent of their legal guardians

Cohousing Association of the United States

#8b. Coho-Gear Package: Look-at-me edition

Value: $85, will increase as new items are added

Stick Your Bumper!

Use this package of Coho-Gear to share about Cohousing. It includes two copies each of our four new, limited edition bumper-stickers (retail value: $40), a genuine Cohousing Trucker hat (retail value: $25), Cohousing PIllow (retail value: $30), 50 copies of the Coho/US brochure What is Cohousing tri-fold brochure (retail value: $75 - note: this is the approximate cost for you to download the PDF on the Brochures Page and have 50 copies produced at your local copy shop, Coho/US will make printed copies available to Cohousing Groups and Professionals).

Cohousing Association of the United States

#9a. Special Hand-made Quilt (value $300)

This beautiful quilt was hand-made by Helen Hilyard, a resident of Tierra Nueva Cohousing (Oceano, CA) from 1998 to 2004. Helen passed away at age 93 and was still quilting well into her 90s.

Donated by: Nancy Hillyard, Helen's daughter