Newsletter—Apr. 17, 2026: Around the Table: Shared Meals in Cohousing, Part 2
Many cohousing communities include shared meals as part of everyday life. Several Burns Village & Farm members have previously lived in cohousing communities, and we asked Barb and John what common meals were like where they lived.
This is Part 2 of a 3-part series exploring community meals in cohousing.
Part 2: Always Too Many Desserts
Not every cohousing community organizes meals the same way. Some keep things more casual—and sometimes a little more delicious.
Neighbors typically signed up in advance so the host knew how many people were coming, but the atmosphere stayed informal. Sometimes two or three households would take responsibility for a meal. Other times someone would simply announce they were cooking something and invite everyone over.
There were also special occasions. Super Bowl Sunday might turn into a community gathering. On another night, someone might decide to cook lasagna for the whole group. The flexibility made it easy for people to participate in ways that worked for them.
Potluck culture had one funny side effect. “When you’re at a potluck, you feel like you have to try a little of everything,” Barb laughs. “If there are three desserts, you try all three.” After leaving cohousing, she joked that she actually lost ten pounds.
The meals were plentiful, but what people really remember is the sense of sharing. Everyone contributed something, whether it was a dish, conversation, or simply showing up to enjoy the evening together.
At Burns Village & Farm, shared meals will likely evolve in their own way—shaped by the interests and creativity of the people who live here. Future residents will help decide how often meals happen, what form they take, and how the tradition grows over time.
Find Us Saturday at Nashville Earth Day
Each year, Nashville Earth Day Festival brings together thousands to celebrate sustainability, community, and care for the planet—and Burns Village & Farm will be there again this year on Saturday, April 18.
Held in Centennial Park, the festival is a lively gathering of local organizations, growers, makers and neighbors, with opportunities to learn, connect, and be inspired. Alongside booths and speakers, you’ll also find live music and great local food, making it a fun and welcoming day for all.
We’re excited to host a table and connect with others curious about cohousing, shared living, and land stewardship. Come by, say hello, and learn more about what we’re building at Burns Village & Farm.
And if you’d like to go deeper, join us the next day for a site visit in Burns. Walking the land together offers a real sense of what’s possible!
“All flourishing is mutual.” — Robin Wall Kimmerer
With spring unfolding all around us, this truth feels especially visible. New growth doesn’t happen in isolation—it's the result of countless quiet relationships: soil and seed, rain and root, sun and leaf.
At Burns Village & Farm, this idea is more than philosophy—it’s a way of living. When we invest in one another, in the land, and in the systems that sustain us, we all grow stronger together. Flourishing isn’t individual; it’s a collective act.