Letter to Charles Durrett of CohousingCo.

Hello Charles,

I was unable to attend the first cohousing meeting in Truckee, but I am overjoyed by this project. Who better than yourselves to buy this 3 acre piece in Truckee for the development of cohousing. I have left Tahoe/Truckee 6 times do to a low wage, tourist driven economy and the unaffordable housing dilemma, pursuing more viable living situtaions..... and yes come back 6 times, because my heart is here in these mountains, and pristine waters. And I am called to help Tahoe heal, with the potential for sustainable development, and real "green" collar jobs where the small, but growing community of conscious and sustainable folks, some of whom are bubbling biodiesel, composting, growing in greenhouses, sharing CSA baskets, and actively choosing to ditch their cars and pedal to work can experience a right livelihood where sustainable business ventures define Lake Tahoe and Truckee.

A bit about me: I am leaving for Sweden in two weeks, where I will study at Blekinge Institute of Technology and pursue a Masters in Strategic Leadership for Sustainability. This graduate program aims to equip its students with the leadership skills to consult for municipalities and businesses so that they may adopt sustainability priniciples, like The Natural Step. I have previously gone to San Francisco Institute of Architecture to study sustainable design and natural building, lived at a permaculture farm in a budding eco-village in Telluride, worked for an architect and Interior Designer, built cob and strawbale structures, and I have my permaculture design certification. Basically, what I am saying is that I breathe the advent of a community that functions in accordance with the laws of ecology as do your cohousing projects and I am honored that you have intiated such a project in Truckee.

The town officials are excited and ready for sustainable concepts, as they were introduced to Hunter Lovins and Natural Capitalism at last year's Sierra Business Council's Annual Conference, yet not sure where to start. I am deeply embedded in the inner workings of Truckee and concerned about a number of issues. I believe this project to be monumental in inspiring cohousing all over the Tahoe Basin as the time is ripe for such ideas.

Although, I will be in Sweden for the year, I want to be as involved as I may be and have wanted to play out a nonhierarchal system of decision making for some time. Consensus based solution finding is not somthing this town is familliar with. Mayumi at Moonshine Ink (mayumi@moonshineink.com) is the creator of the town's free press, which you may know and will be more than glad to print any thing cohousing related. Also, my architect friend Cole Butler of Laughing Gravy Studios would be an excellent creative addition to the cohousing architect team and is also a member of the Planning Commission and Greenbuilding Commitee.

I know there is much enthusiam for this cohousing project, especially amongst my group of 20-30 something environmental savvy cohorts whose hearts are here and yet roots are not planted because of the affordable housing crisis. I am assuming there was also quite a bit of interest in the elderly and hispanic community, three groups all on the outside of affluent Tahoe, who would make excellent cohousing candidates.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and I look forward to the the round table discussions that will ensue as this monumental 'for Tahoe' project takes shape.

Cheers and cohousing, Cari Bivona