Ping Pong and Potatoes

Dear friends,

Growing and gardening season is kicking into gear here at VHC, with members signing up to adopt plant beds to maintain, portions of grass to mow, etc. The warmer weather has brought a return of the lawn games and friendly games of ping pong and foosball. 

In April, some members gave a workshop on parenting in cohousing, and they’d be happy to chat with any other parents about their experiences at VHC. Later this month, we are looking forward to hosting a tour of local architecture students. And if you happen to be nearby May 3rd, there will be a pancake breakfast for all neighbors of the greater Village Hill area.

If you’d like to join us for a meal, tour, or work day in May, email info@villagehillcohousing.org to RSVP. May’s Work Day will feature a deep cleaning of the Common House in the morning and plenty of outdoor tasks in the afternoon. If you’ll be coming to a meal, we ask that you RSVP at least 3 days in advance (meals cost $5-$12 per person). 

Mary, Sue, Julie, Mariel, Lisa
(Outreach and Orientation circle)

May Activities at VHC

Saturday, May 9, 6pm. Potluck

Saturday, May 16, 9am-4pm. VHC Work Day 

Saturday, May 16, 6pm. Community Meal

Sunday, May 17, 4pm. Visitors Tour. RSVP at info@villagehillcohousing.org

Sunday, May 17, 5pm. Monthly Members’ Meeting. Hybrid. (Zoom link available)

Saturday, May 23, 6pm. Community Meal

Thursday, May 28, 6pm. Community Meal

No to Kings, Yes to Community

Dear Friends,

What a difference a few weeks can make! Mount Snow is officially gone and the trees are budding. Migrating birds are returning and so are the sounds of neighbors at work caring for our grounds. 

While we say “No!” to wannabe kings, we say a collective “Yes!” to gathering for good food, neighborhood walks, and a game of foosball.

If you’d like to join us for a meal, tour, or work day in April, email info@villagehillcohousing.org to RSVP. If you’ll be coming to a meal, we ask that you RSVP at least 3 days in advance (meals cost $4-$8 per person). 

Mary, Sue, Julie, Mariel, Lisa
(Outreach and Orientation circle)

April Activities at VHC

Thursday, April 2, 6pm. Community Meal

Saturday, April 11, 9am-4pm. VHC Work Day 

Saturday, April 11, 6pm. Potluck

Saturday, April 18, 6pm. Community Meal

Sunday, April 19, 10:30am. Monthly Members’ Meeting. Hybrid. (Zoom link available)

Sunday, April 19, 12pm. Visitors Tour. RSVP at info@villagehillcohousing.org

Getting Things Done Together

Dear friends,
The days are stretching longer, the snow is finally melting, and spring is beginning to stir at VHC. As always, life here is full of shared meals, shared work, and the satisfying rhythm of getting things done together.

One big recent milestone: after lots of research, budgeting, and coordination, we now have a brand-new electric commercial stove in our Common House kitchen. We’re delighted to start breaking it in, and if you join us for a meal in March, you’ll be among the first to enjoy the results.

This month, we’re also preparing for our community retreat, where we’ll explore proposals for how to focus our energy and finances in the months ahead. It’s a chance to put sociocracy into practice—coming together, listening carefully, and making thoughtful decisions as a community.

If you’d like to join us for a meal, tour, or work day, email info@villagehillcohousing.org to RSVP. If you’ll be coming to a meal, we ask that you RSVP at least 3 days in advance (meals cost $4-$8 per person).

Mary, Sue, Julie, Mariel, Lisa
(Outreach and Orientation circle)

March Activities at VHC

Thursday, March 5, 6pm. Community Meal

Saturday, March 14, 6pm. Potluck

Thursday, March 19, 6pm. Community Meal

Saturday, March 21, 10:30am. Monthly Members’ Meeting. Hybrid. (Zoom link available)

Saturday, March 21, 12pm. Visitors Tour. RSVP at info@villagehillcohousing.org

Sunday, March 22, 9am-4pm. VHC Work Day 

Meet Mount Snow

Dear friends,

Well, we hope all of you who were in the path of the giant snowstorm were able to stay warm and get yourselves shoveled out. Here at VHC, as with most things, it was a community effort. As the saying goes, “Many hands make light work.”

As some members hibernated, headed to warmer climes, or threw themselves into political action, the work of the community carried on. Research continued around accessing the common house basement and improving affordability of units at VHC. And, coming soon, a new electric stove and EV chargers!  

If you’d like to join us for a meal, tour, or work day, email info@villagehillcohousing.org to RSVP. If you’ll be coming to a meal, we ask that you RSVP at least 3 days in advance (meals cost $4-$8 per person). Mary, Sue, Julie, Mariel, Lisa
(Outreach and Orientation circle)

February Activities at VHC

Thursday, February 7, 6pm. Community Meal

Friday, February 13, 7pm. Dance Party

Saturday, February 14, 6pm. Community Meal

Sunday, February 15, 4pm. Visitors Tour. RSVP at info@villagehillcohousing.org

Sunday, February 15, 5pm. Monthly Members’ Meeting. Hybrid. (Zoom link available)

Thursday, February 19, 6pm. Potluck

Saturday, February 21, 9am-4pm. VHC Work Day 

Saturday, February 28, 6pm. Community Meal

Pet Party – December 2025

This month at VHC, we brought back some beloved annual holiday gatherings, such as the Chanukah candle lighting, Yankee Swap, and Solstice singing. With a couple of snows under our belt, we are settling into the shoveling routine and are enjoying watching the winter birds at the feeders.

As promised, this month’s post features some of the many sweet and spicy cats of VHC, as well as a couple of dog friends inadvertently left out of our dog feature. We always focus on the human members of the community, but these gorgeous companions deserve some recognition too!

If you’d like to join us for a meal, tour, or work day in the new year, email info@villagehillcohousing.org to RSVP. If you’ll be coming to a meal, we ask that you RSVP at least 3 days in advance (meals cost $4-$8 per person).

Mary, Sue, Julie, Mariel, Lisa
(Outreach and Orientation circle)

Dore and Diego
Penny

January Activities at VHC

Saturday, January 3, 6pm. Community Meal

Thursday, January 8, 6pm. Community Meal

Saturday, January 17, 9am-4pm. VHC Work Day 

Saturday, January 17, 6pm. Potluck

Sunday, January 18, 4pm. Visitors Tour. RSVP at info@villagehillcohousing.org

Sunday, January 18, 5pm. Monthly Members’ Meeting. Hybrid. (Zoom link available)

Wednesday, January 21, 6pm. Community Meal

National Cohousing Open House 2025 – May 3

On Saturday, May 3rd, cohousing communities around the US will open their doors to prospective members. Village Hill Cohousing is joining in on the fun! 

Stop by VHC from 1-2 and 2-3 for a tour, information session, and a chance to talk with members. 

Email info@villagehillcohousing.org to sign up and for more information. Please let us know if you will come from 1-2 or 2-3 and if you need childcare.

May 3, 2025 | 117 Olander Dr. Northampton, MA 1-3 PM

Save the Date, National Cohousing Open House Day

On Saturday, May 4th, cohousing communities around the US will open their doors to prospective members. Village Hill Cohousing is joining in on the fun! 

Stop by VHC from 1-2 and 2-3 for a tour, information session, and a chance to talk and break bread with members.  We’ll be serving homemade daal at 3pm in our spacious Common House dining room.

May 4, 2024 | 117 Olander Dr. Northampton, MA 1-3 PM
Email info@villagehillcohousing.org to sign up and for more information.

Happy New Year from VHC!

New year, new look! Welcome to the redesigned VHC website. We hope you’ll easily find everything you need to learn about our community.

Pictured on this page is a series of friendship bracelets that one of our members’ daughters, Anya, made for people who contributed to her Ovarian Cancer Five Boro Bike Tour fundraiser. It’s just one small example of ways our community came together to support each other in 2023.

At VHC we have a lot to look forward to this year, like welcoming new neighbors, including VHC’s first newborn! 2024 may even bring solar panels to the common house and chickens to the garden. We know there will also be some challenges that we will face together in achieving our sustainability goals, caring for our land and one another, and learning even better ways to organize ourselves for shared decision-making.  

If your travels this year bring you to the Northampton area, we’d love to have you join us for a meal, work day, or other event by emailing info@villagehillcohousing.org. 

If you’re in the area, come join us for an upcoming meal or event:

Sunday, January 7, 3pm. VHC Live! Screening & Discussion of the film The Ritchie Boys 

Wednesday, January 10, 6pm. Board Games 

Thursday, January 11, 6:30pm. Community Meal 

Saturday, January 20, 9am-4pm. VHC Work Day 

Wednesday, January 24, 6pm. Board Games 

Saturday, January 27, 6pm. Community Meal  

Sunday, January 28, 10:30am. Monthly Members’ Meeting. Hybrid. (Zoom link available) 

Sunday, January 28, 12pm. Tour for Visitors. RSVP at info@villagehillcohousing.org 

Ongoing: 

Mondays, 4-5pm & Thursdays, 5:30-6:30pm. Social Gatherings 

Thursdays, 8:30 am. Coffee+ in the Common House Fridays, 11 am-2 pm. Co-working in the Common House