Have you ever thought about living in a cooperative environment? Where one day you might end up cooking for others, and the next day you might be sitting down to a meal prepared by the same friends? Picture a house where responsibilities are shared amongst the residents… these types of living environments thrive on social situations, and might not be right for everyone, but then there are those of us who thrive in cooperative living quarters.
The Nickel City Housing Cooperative (NCHC) is opening its doors on Saturday July 6 from 2-5pm, showcasing its two living environments – Ol’ Wondermoth and Plankton. The occasion marks the International Day of the Cooperative, “an annual celebration of the co-operative movement observed on the first Saturday in July since 1923 by the International Co-operative Alliance.”
Cola Bickford is one of the dwellers who lives in the fantastic brick home located at the corner of North and Elmwood. “I love cooperative living and I am excited to open our doors to people who are curious to learn about who we are, what we do, and what it means to be a cooperative!” says Cola, a resident member of NCHC, Ol’ Wondermoth.
It’s hard for me to believe that NCHC has been around for over a decade. I remember that the cooperative was one of the first articles that we ever covered… right after the launch of Buffalo Rising in print. It was then that I learned that the mission of the group was to find vacant buildings in the city, fix them up, and then occupy them with residents. It’s still a great formula – maybe it’s time to see a third project spring up somewhere?
*Members of both houses will be offering tours of the houses that will detail the history of the property to date and how the houses operate today as a cooperative living environment. Refreshments will be offered and people of all ages are welcome. For more information, please contact nickelcityhousing@gmail.com.