Building Community, One Step at a Time — Newsletter, December 2025
Interest in forming communities is booming — and at Sunnyside Village Cohousing, our contact list has grown from 800 to over 1,500 in just a few months. Welcome to all our new friends!
-Norm & Jennie
Building Community, One Step at a Time
On November 1, Sunnyside Village was alive with energy as members and guests of all ages came together for a weekend of shared learning, nature walks, and a tour of our future home. At the heart of it was a powerful workshop led by relationship coach Karen Gimnig on bridging divides between people who have disagreeing opinions.
This was real-world, hands-on training in the communication tools that intentional communities use to thrive — because building a neighborhood starts with building relationships.
Sunnyside Member Matt and his 2 children looking out over the water. Maybe there are some neat waterbirds to spot through some binoculars!
Afterward, we took a group walk along the Ebey Waterfront Trail — a saltwater estuary not far from Sunnyside Village. It was such a great day, learning new skills, followed up after lunch with a walk — a chance to visit with our friends and future neighbors.
Food: Locally Grown, Locally Shared
Our friend Danny once told us that cohousing is all about the local food — and they might be right. With fall harvests wrapping up across our region, it feels like the perfect time to celebrate the local food scene that surrounds Sunnyside Village.
Sunnyside Organic Farm
Just seven minutes from Sunnyside Village, Sunnyside Organic Farm is a 12-acre family-run gem owned by Kurt Krause and his family. Their produce is fresh, flavorful, and varied throughout the season. Even better, the farm and store sit right along our main road — so convenient for stocking up on local produce.
Sno-Isle Food Co-op
About fifteen minutes south, you’ll find the Sno-Isle Food Co-op in Everett. This member-owned grocery has long been a go-to for organic and sustainably produced foods — meats, seafood, dairy, and plenty of plant-based options. And for those nights when cooking (in Norm’s household) just isn’t happening, their deli’s hot bar is a lifesaver.
The Sisters Restaurant
Right next door, The Sisters Restaurant is known for comfort food made from scratch, with plenty of vegan and gluten-free choices. Whether it’s pie (Sunnyside member Linda Ann swears by “dessert first!”) or breakfast served all day, it’s a local favorite worth visiting.
Work Party Success at Sunnyside Village!
Sunnyside Member Jennie helping out with the cleanup with gusto and a smile!
What a productive and fun couple of days at Sunnyside Village! Last month, members rolled up their sleeves, shared food and conversation, and made huge progress caring for the land.
Norm set up camp in his RV, Jennie and Pm took on cleaning up the orchard. Linda Ann and Mike powered through Tuesday and Wednesday with their gas-powered DR trimmer / mower (aka “the miracle machine”) that turned tall weeds into a tidy 5-acre field. Tina and Mike joined in the effort, pitching in wherever help was needed. Jack mended the fences and took on weed eating. Jennie’s friend and lawn-maintenance expert also joined for a few hours of serious mowing.
Between trimming, mowing, hauling, and laughter, the property now looks ready for winter — and for the start of construction this coming spring. We took time to rest, share snacks, and enjoy the camaraderie that makes Sunnyside Village such a strong and connected community.
A big thank-you to everyone who came out, worked hard, and made such a visible difference!
We had a great turnout of volunteers!
Closing Thoughts
This month we stepped a little outside of our comfort zone and joined Lynn Morstead and Kelli Soika on their Tell Me More About Cohousing podcast. Norm and Jennie were feeling a little nervous “going on air” but it all turned into a heartfelt and fun conversation about our growing cottage community. Listen to the conversation HERE!
We’re grateful for the chance to share our story — and for hosts who made it easy to feel at home.
Tune in and get inspired!
Warmly,
Norm and Jennie and all of us at Sunnyside Village Cohousing
Come as a guest, leave as a neighbor
Register for our Thursday Zoom session
and see if Sunnyside feels like home.