Below are some general resources about cohousing, other Oregon cohousing communities, and consensus decision-making for anyone interested in learning more about cohousing.

Publications:

Creating a Life Together: Practical Tools to Grow Ecovillages and Intentional Communities by Diana Leafe Christian. An excellent source for community stories and recommendations about what works and does not work when building community. Check it out from the Multnomah County Library.

CoHousing: A Contemporary Approach to Housing Ourselves by Kathryn McCamant and Charles Durrett, with Ellen Hertzman, 2nd edition. An inspiring and informative description of how cohousing communities were created and how they are working. A highly recommended place to start! 

The Cohousing Handbook: Building a Place for Community by Chris and Kelly ScottHanson, revised edition. A nuts and bolts guide to developing your community. Check it out from the Multnomah County Library.

On Conflict and Consensus: A Handbook on Formal Consensus Decisionmaking by C.T. Butler and Amy Rothstein. A guide to the consensus process.  View/Download handbook

Other cohousing communities in our area:

Trillium Hollow - a community on Portland’s west side
Cascadia Commons - another community on Portland’s west side
Peninsula Park Commons - a small, but expanding, retrofit in NE Portland
Corvallis Cohousing - they have moved in! Congratulations!
Columbia Ecovillage - a forming cohousing community in NE Portland

Organizations, Training and Information

Cohousing Association - Promotes cohousing, assists individuals and groups create Cohousing communities and more.  Great information and links.

Cohousing Discussion Mailing List - An e-mail listserv forum for any cohousing topic, includes searchable archives.

Intentional Communities - Serves the communities movement by providing information and access to resources.

Northwest Intentional Communities - Connects people interested in intentional communities across the Pacific Northwest.  Good resources.

Orange Splot (Eli Spevak) - a housing development company and general contractor with a mission to pioneer new models of community-oriented, affordable, green housing developments in Portland.

Tree Bressen - An experienced facilitator and trainer with lots of cohousing experience.  Great articles!

Dynamic Facilitation - A facilitation method we are exploring.

Roger Schwartz - We are exploring his facilitation method, too.

Heartwood Cohousing - A cohousing community that keeps helpful process documents on its website.