When I was in my twenties I spent a year studying and working in Denmark. One of the many curiosities of this wonderful country was the popularity and success of co-operative living. There are many developments where small communities share a kitchen and living spaces as well as duties like cooking, gardening, maintenance, cleaning and caring for children.These developments are not filled with people in a similar stage of life or who share a common interest, but rather, by design, are filled people of different ages, incomes and diverse backgrounds.The Danes believe that it is not healthy to surround yourself with people that are too similar.
For example, living in a community with people of all ages reinforces the notion that there are stages to life that we all experience — all are valuable, with different needs and opportunities to benefit those around us. The success of these communities flows from this deeply held conviction, and to see them in action is truly heartwarming and inspiring. I always wondered why this lifestyle is so rare and hard to find in the United States.
One shining example of cooperative community I discovered in this country is the BARN (Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network). The BARN was started years ago by a handful of artisans that pooled their tools, rented a building and started sharing their equipment and knowledge with others. This endeavor has since blossomed into a state of the art facility that maintains a wood shop, metal shop, machine shop, glass studio, digital studio with a 3D printer and laser cutter, print/bookmaking studio, fiber studio, writing studio as well as a commercial kitchen.The BARN is currently being run by a small paid staff and an army of incredible volunteers. The BARN not only gives its members access to a wide range of tools and equipment — that no single individual could amass — but offers various classes taught by skilled and talented artisans.
The BARN is far more than a co-operative facility; it has become an intergenerational community that shares ideas, insights and inspires one another.
Almost everywhere I live, I must maintain a small shop where I can do my work — making. Like so many, I have acquired several specialty tools over the years that allow me to manipulate various materials. At one point I even purchased a small concrete mixer. Unfortunately, acquiring the tools and caring for them is an expensive and very time-consuming proposition. When you weigh that cost against irritating your neighbors and the moments when you are actually using each tool, it hardly seems worth it. This is why I gleefully purchased a family membership to the BARN less than five minutes after completing the tour of the facility. I have grown accustomed to working alone, and working in a community can be challenging for me at times. However, the benefits far outweigh the lack of control or autonomy one might be required to forfeit. It has been exciting to see my entire family develop new skills and immerse themselves in the joy of making. It almost feels like I am back in Denmark.