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Formed: 2000 Established: 2009
Mosaic Commons
Berlin, Massachusetts,
United States
common house
 Mosaic Commons is a cohousing community sharing land with Camelot Cohousing in Berlin, Massachusetts. (Both communities together are "Sawyer Hill Ecovillage.") Construction was completed in summer of 2009. As of fall of 2009, we are about half full, and still have several homes for sale.
Mosaic Commons includes 34 townhouses and flats, ranging from 1 to 4 bedrooms in size, of which 10 are offered at greatly reduced prices to eligible buyers through Massachusetts' "40B" affordable housing program.
Our guiding principles include a commitment to creating a supportive, diverse community; environmental consciousness; and affordability. Our homes are "super-insulated", meeting many LEED standards, and built with as many low-toxicity sustainable materials as possible.
We're committed to open, green space. Almost 30 acres of our land is preserved as conservation land. Clustered duplex and triplex buildings leave most of our remaining 35 acres as open space.
Our community includes ages ranging from 2 to 72; people of many spiritual and ethnic backgrounds; gay, straight and bisexual members; singles, couples and families. Mosaic Commons is a group of people working to create community; like a mosaic, together we are a group whose whole is greater than the sum of its parts. To do this, we support each other, respecting each person's differences, as well as our shared values. Each member has a responsibility to participate, and each person's voice will be heard. Our goals are friendship — both within and outside of the community — sharing — of energy, resources, ideas and lives — and learning together. Our aim is to develop a safe, dynamic and nurturing place for all of us, children and adults, to grow, both individually and as a group.
Berlin, MA is a small mostly rural town of about 2600 residents, conveniently located between Worcester and Boston.
  Status: active
Website: http://www.mosaic-commons.org/
Contact:
Mosaic Commons
22 Village Ln
Berlin, Massachusetts 01503 United States
Phone: 508-453-0446 (Mosaic Commons), 508-425-4080 (Sawyer Hill Ecovillage)
Email This Community!
Links:
http://www.mosaic-commons.org/
Mosaic Commons: Available Homes
Mosaic Commons: Photos
Sawyer Hill EcoVillage
Last Updated:11/10/2009
 
Visitors Accepted
 (Visitors are always welcome at general meetings and open houses)
Visitor Process: Contact via email or phone.
Affiliations: Camelot Cohousing
:: Sawyer Hill EcoVillage

Network Affiliations:
Coho/US
Statement of Housing Non-discrimination:
Our community does not discriminate in regards to housing based on race/color, national origin, religion, sex/gender, family status (i.e. having children, not having children, or being pregnant), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, ancestry, source of income, age, creed, personal appearance, political affiliation, HIV infection, military/veteran status, unfavorable military discharge, gender identity or expression, receiving public assistance, or being the victim of domestic abuse.

Comment: Mosaic Commons welcome and encourages diversity in our community.
Population
Members(adults and children):
50
Non-member Residents:
0
Open to new members:
Yes
Government
Decision Making:
By consensus
Identified Leader:
No
Leadership Core Group:
No
Labor and Money
Financial Style:
Members have independent finances
Open to Members with Pre-existing Debt:
Yes
Labor Contribution:
Expected
(participation at meetings and on teams)
Join Fee:
Yes
(home purchase)
Regular Fees:
Yes
(home owner assoc. fees)
Land and Buildings
Small Town
(very small town, near-rural, but within the Boston metro area)
Area:
65 acres (26.3 hectares)
Land Owned By:
The community
(jointly owned with Camelot Cohousing)
Number of Residences:
34
(Mosaic has 34 units, attached as townhouse-style duplexes and triplexes)
Cohousing:
Yes
Food, etc.
Percentage of Food Grown:
(large organic garden is planned starting in 2010)
Share Community Meals:
2-5 times/week
Dietary Choice or Restrictions:
Diet is up to each individual
(we try to offer many options to those with various eating restrictions)
Dietary Practice:
Omnivorous
(all common meals offer a vegetarian option)
Alcohol Use:
Used occasionally
Tobacco Use:
Seldom used
(smoking prohibited in community buildings)
Social Factors
Common Spiritual Practices:
No
Educational Style(s):
Public schooled
:: Private school off the property
:: Home schooling
(We support any schooling choices parents make.)
Cohousing Details
Cohousing Status:
Completed
Year Completed:
2009
Number of Units:
34
Square Feet in Common House:
4000
Architect:
Kraus-Fitch Architects
Developer:
self-developed
Commercial Lender:
Boston Private Bank and Trust, Cooperative Fund of New England, Life Initiative Fund, Wainwright Bank
 
 
common house
View of the community from the common house porch
pumpkin carving party at the Common House
Spontaneous porch jam!
hanging out in the living room
the land we live on
Click an image to see it full size.


Become an Editor Current editor(s): cohousing, catya13, keyne, dbang
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