Community meals are a core part of what makes Heartwood such a strong community. When we cook, clean, and eat together, we strengthen our community fabric. We get to know each other better and care more deeply for each other. Those deep connections allow us to more gracefully navigate the periodic interpersonal conflicts when they invariably arise.
We have found that participating in community meals leads to greater participation in other aspects of community life. When more members engage more deeply in community life, we have a stronger community.
We have two main types of community meals: common meals and potlucks.
Common meals are regularly scheduled at least twice per week. The Common House team may also schedule additional common meals. Cooks sign up ahead of time, decide on and post the menu, grocery shop, and prepare the meal. A clean up crew also signs up ahead of time. Members sign up ahead of time if they will be eating the common meal. They get charged for common meals with the proceeds going to reimburse the cooks for groceries and pay for staples.
At Heartwood we cook and clean up for each other and eat together on a regular basis. All members are strongly encouraged to participate in common meals unless there are overriding circumstances in their lives which keep them from doing so. Examples might include special diets, health issues, scheduling conflicts, etc. (Note that cooks go to great lengths to accommodate most special diets.) Anyone eating more than one common meal per month must participate in common meal cooking and/or clean up. *** In November of 2022, the community decided to conduct a one year trial of removing the requirement for common meal cooking or clean-up for anyone eating more than one common meal per month. Some think that removing this requirement will increase participation in eating and preparing meals; others think it might decrease motivation for cooking and clean-up. We will reassess in November of 2023.***
Potlucks generally happen on Friday evenings. Everyone brings a dish to share and helps clean up.
When a member chooses not to participate in common meals (not including potlucks), they let the Community Meals Manager know in advance so the Community Meals Manager can plan accordingly. This is very important so the Community Meals Manager knows how many cooking and cleaning slots to make available.
If a member does not participate in the common meals, the Common House team will follow up with them to learn the reason for the current non-participation and/or to encourage future participation. The point of the follow up is inquiry and encouragement. It is not a policing role, but rather a role of loving collaboration.
We have found that participating in community meals leads to greater participation in other aspects of community life. When more members engage more deeply in community life, we have a stronger community.
We have two main types of community meals: common meals and potlucks.
Common meals are regularly scheduled at least twice per week. The Common House team may also schedule additional common meals. Cooks sign up ahead of time, decide on and post the menu, grocery shop, and prepare the meal. A clean up crew also signs up ahead of time. Members sign up ahead of time if they will be eating the common meal. They get charged for common meals with the proceeds going to reimburse the cooks for groceries and pay for staples.
At Heartwood we cook and clean up for each other and eat together on a regular basis. All members are strongly encouraged to participate in common meals unless there are overriding circumstances in their lives which keep them from doing so. Examples might include special diets, health issues, scheduling conflicts, etc. (Note that cooks go to great lengths to accommodate most special diets.) Anyone eating more than one common meal per month must participate in common meal cooking and/or clean up. *** In November of 2022, the community decided to conduct a one year trial of removing the requirement for common meal cooking or clean-up for anyone eating more than one common meal per month. Some think that removing this requirement will increase participation in eating and preparing meals; others think it might decrease motivation for cooking and clean-up. We will reassess in November of 2023.***
Potlucks generally happen on Friday evenings. Everyone brings a dish to share and helps clean up.
When a member chooses not to participate in common meals (not including potlucks), they let the Community Meals Manager know in advance so the Community Meals Manager can plan accordingly. This is very important so the Community Meals Manager knows how many cooking and cleaning slots to make available.
If a member does not participate in the common meals, the Common House team will follow up with them to learn the reason for the current non-participation and/or to encourage future participation. The point of the follow up is inquiry and encouragement. It is not a policing role, but rather a role of loving collaboration.
Revised 11/19/22