Common House and Other Shared Spaces

We consider the common house to be an extension of all of our individual homes. We may use the space
for our own purposes with the specific understanding that we share it with everyone in the
community and that our activities must not create a disruption to others.

To avoid scheduling conflicts, anyone planning to use shared space must check for previously scheduled
events and post all activities on the shared Google calendar. If there is a conflict, Cobb Hill activities
generally take precedence over personal use.

Any activity in the common house that would prevent common house apartment residents from having
use of the space to which they have stipulated access (particularly the kitchen) needs to be discussed with
them before scheduling. Likewise, any activity that may disturb common house residents or any other
Cobb Hill members (i.e., late night noise, large groups of people) needs to be cleared with the community
in advance.

These principles also apply to use of other common space, be it the central green, ball field, wood shop, or
other location. It is important to inform the community in advance (calendar and listserve, as
appropriate), consult with anyone who might be adversely affected, and, above all, be considerate of
others in terms of noise and other impacts. See also the section on Community Life above.

Common House Kitchen

The kitchen in the common house is shared by the whole community; however, the residents of the three
common house apartments have deeded access to and assured use of the kitchen at any time. Community
meals are prepared in the common house kitchen and served in the common house dining room.

Other events may also involve the kitchen and dining room. If an event is to take place in the common
house that prevents the apartment residents from using the kitchen, the hosts of the event must make
prior arrangements with those residents. They might use the kitchen simultaneously, the event hosts may
offer the apartment residents meals, or another mutually agreeable option may be reached between all
parties.

There are three refrigerators in the common house kitchen. The leftmost refrigerator is for common
house use. Common house meal cooks may use this, as may the host of other pre-scheduled meals being
prepared there. The left refrigerator also contains Cobb Hill Cheese available for purchase by members of
the community. (Other customers should purchase their cheese from the Farm Stand.)

A Cobb Hill member or group of members may use the common house kitchen for their own purposes
such as a school baking project or canning. However, this should be arranged and agreed upon so as to not
inconvenience the common house apartment residents.
The common house kitchen pantry includes items bought in bulk and kept on hand for common
meals (see section on community meals). Supplies are stored in the open hallway, the common
refrigerator/freezer (leftmost), and root cellar (labeled for community meals). These items are not for
personal use or work day lunches; if borrowed, they must be replenished. See the pantry elf (listed in the
appendix) if you have any questions about pantry stock. Supplies in the closed closet by the hallway
bookcase are the property of common house residents only.

Guest Rooms
There are two guest rooms in the residential wing of the common house. Any member of Cobb Hill may
schedule to use these guest rooms. To reserve a room, please sign up your guest using the Guest Room
Calender online. (Ask Sandy to invite you to this calendar.) Mark the guest room calendar for the dates
involved, including the name of the host and which room (upstairs or downstairs) will be used.

The upstairs guest room has a double bed and shares the full bathroom with the apartment resident
on the upper floor of the wing. The downstairs guest room has a double bed and a twin bed and
shares the toilet/sink and shower/sink rooms with the downstairs apartment residents.

The host is responsible for cleaning the guest room(s) after use. This includes putting clean sheets on the
beds, removing trash, sweeping as needed, and washing and returning used sheets to the guest room
for the next user.

Attic
The attic is a large room that includes meeting space, audio/video equipment, and the Cobb Hill
library. Workshops and meetings may be held in the attic, as well as movie screenings, musical events,
dances, or parties. (Hosts must be sure to clear events with the community, particularly the common
house residents, if events are to be large, loud, long, or late.)

Play Room
The children’s play room is located next to the kitchen and includes an assortment of toys and games,
books, and space for play. Children are welcome there at any time. However, a supervising adult or
babysitter must be with them. Children are never to be left in the common house without supervision.

Den
The den, located off the dining room, is a favorite location for small group meetings, social gatherings,
and cozy fires in the fireplace. Note that the fireplace is somewhat tricky to use; the chimney must be well
primed and the flue properly opened for it to draw well. If you have not used the fireplace before, please
ask someone with experience to help you start the fire.

Piano
Cobb Hill has a fine Steinway B piano that was left to us by our founder, Dana Meadows. It is available for
use by those who have prior knowledge of how to properly treat a piano. Please do not allow children
to bang on the piano or permit anyone to treat it improperly. Do not ever allow anything to be placed on
top of the piano; it is not a table. We need to treat this piano as the fine, expensive musical
instrument that it is. The Common House committee oversees annual piano maintenance and care.
Mud Room
The common house mud room is our central communications and delivery area and contains a great deal
of information.

● The US Postal Service mailboxes for the whole community are here (except for the Curtis house).
● USPS, UPS, FedEx, and other carriers may also leave packages in the mud room.
● Each household at Cobb Hill has a folder in which we may put items for each other to pick
up. These hanging folders are in a box just inside the outer door, and are arranged in
alphabetical order.
● Between the two banks of mailboxes is a bulletin board with meal sign up information.
● Cobb Hill eggs for purchase and the IOU sheets are near the mailboxes.
● Binders containing old written documentation and minutes are on the left hand bank of mailboxes.
● Items of local interest are on the table next to the hanging folders or on the board above that table.
● The large bulletin board wall across from the outside door contains information specific to Cobb
Hill life and activities.

Laundry Room
The common house basement includes a laundry room that is used by apartment residents, a few other
households that share the washers and dryer there, and the dairy. Upkeep of this laundry room is the
responsibility of those who use it.

Root Cellar
The root cellar in the common house basement is for everyone’s use. The first room includes an
apple closet. Users must label all of their goods, store their items on or under shelves in appropriate
bins or containers, must monitor their produce and eliminate any that is rotting, and must help keep
the root cellar clean. For information on how to use the root cellar or what produce will store well there,
see Phil Rice.

Games, Art, and Storage Areas

● In the large room of the basement there is a ping pong table for general use.
● In the same room there is an art area with a variety of supplies. Children using the art space
need to be supervised. Any user must clean up when finished.
● Apartment residents have designated storage space in the large room, and in various other parts
of the common house. Please be respectful of their personal belongings.
● Some enterprise equipment is also stored in the basement.
● CHOPs has a storage area for extra parts and equipment, and keeps a set of keys to all houses on
the hill, in the basement.
● Bike storage is in the middle. Bikes should be labeled with name.
● There is a bicycle maintenance area in the corner.
Cheese
The Cobb Hill Cheese aging room is in the basement. This is a climate controlled and
carefully maintained area, and no unauthorized person is permitted to enter or open the
door. If you are interested in the cheese aging process, please speak to a cheese partner.

Cobb Hill Cheese also has a packing area in the basement. The equipment in this area is
owned by the cheese enterprise and is off limits to all but the cheese partners.