Locals come together to create cohousing development

Living in community is at the core of cohousing: A life well shared is a life well lived. The common house provides spaces to deepen our connection with each other as we prepare and eat food in our kitchen and dining room, and enjoy time to play games, share stories and resources, wisdom, humor, growth and care. Outside, Adams Creek runs through the property, providing a setting of peacefulness and calm — whether one is watching birds and animals, having a conversation, enjoying a time of meditation, or watching and/or playing with children.

This is a grass roots project initiated by several longtime Hood River residents who are passionate about cohousing and the Hood River community. Seven years ago, a group of active Hood River residents came together with a common vision for a more sustainable and connected way of living, a “modern village” where residents know and care about each other. The group included current members John Boonstra, Becki Montgomery, Peter Zurcher, Becki and Patrick Rawson, Liz Kinney, Carol Jurs and Ruth Tsu.

“We have always lived in rural Hood River and though we love it, I crave having neighbors with close connections,” said Becki Rawson, an orthopedic nurse practitioner who has worked at the Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital for 34 years. “I think it is important to raise awareness of housing possibilities outside the box where we can use land more responsibly. Adams Creek Cohousing can be an example of how to live more creatively and conserve our natural resources. I am looking forward to downsizing, deeper connections and making a positive impact on the wider community.”

Montgomery has been active with the Master Gardeners, volunteering and teaching classes, and with the Rockford Grange. She loves working and caring for nature in Adams Creek, eliminating invasive blackberries and ivy. Her husband, Peter Zucher, a familiar face in the local mountain bike community who has worked with Hood River Area Trail Stewards (HRATS), said, “I look forward to living surrounded by friends, sitting on the porch with a drink, and many hikes and bike rides with others.”

“What brings me over and over again to the choice of cohousing are values that I hold as critical for a healthy and vibrant future,” said John Boonstra, a climate-change activist. “I want to take up less housing space and walk a more environmentally sustainable path. Living in our culture is both a privilege and a challenge. I want to live more communally and to share the project of everyday living and loving in a more collaborative and interactive way. For me, the art of building a neighborhood must be intentional and mindful. I am excited about ACC because it is an invitation to be in accountable relationships — that’s what keeps me going with a sense of purpose and joy.”

Liz Kinney, a volunteer with the Hood River Emergency Operations Center said, “I’m kind of an introvert, but I am so looking forward to having so many friends right out my door to have meals with and hang out with at the creek, play cards with and sit out on the deck enjoying our view of Mount Adams and the Columbia River. It feels like the best thing I can do for myself to maintain a healthy active life. Oh, and there is a pickleball court just a couple blocks away!”

Cohousing offers a much-needed antidote to loneliness and disconnection from nature, offering a balance of private homes with traditional amenities and shared spaces. Cohousing started in Denmark in the 1960s to address issues of loneliness and isolation. Research shows that cohousing residents live longer and more active lives because of their living environment.

Adams Creek Cohousing has openings, and we will be conducting site tours on Saturday, Dec. 9 at noon for prospective members. Reservations are required. To reserve a spot on the tour, contact Montgomery at 971-245-2533 or email friends@adamscreekcohousing.com.

For more information or to sign up for our upcoming Zoom Open House, visit AdamsCreekCohousing.com.

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Ruth Tsu is a founding member of Adams Creek Cohousing.