Valley Oaks Village

  • Communities

About the Communities

  • Established
  • Home-sharing
  • Suburban

Founding year

  • 1991

What we do

Completed in 1996, Valley Oaks Village is 28 homes on approximately five acres, plus 3 associated adjacent neighbors. We have six different floor plans and unit sizes, attached in varied configurations in a large oval, with a central Common House, lawn, garden, and pool. All are linked by pathways through a park-like setting of oaks and sycamores.
We are located near 3,600 acre Bidwell Park, which serves as a protected bikeway used by many residents to bicycle to and from work and school.
We have an active social calendar with events planned throughout the year. We share evening meals about twice a week and residents take an active role in planning and maintaining the community.
Other amenities include a workshop, arts and crafts room, bike sheds, orchard, gazebos, and tree house. The Common House includes a kitchen, multipurpose dining room, laundry, lounge, game room, and guest quarters (with shower).
Environmental design features include highly insulated homes, solar electric panels and solar hot water for the common areas, drought-tolerant landscape with drip irrigation, recycling and compost areas, storm water swales for ground-water recharge and (soon) EV charging stations.
For residential/membership info, email su*************@***il.com or see our web site at https://www.chicocohousing.org/

Our Mission

Valley Oaks Village is a thoughtful, friendly community whose members carefully tend their relationships and land, creating a beautiful, safe haven where all ages can thrive.

  • Purpose
  • Home-sharing
  • Community type
  • Cohousing
  • Sustainability practices
  • Renewable energy systems
  • Waste reduction / composting

Commemorative dates

  • January 1, 1991
  • Started planning
  • January 1, 1996
  • Started living together
  • 54 Total members
  • Open to new members
  • Open to visitors
Total
64

How to join

Attend a community event and complete an application.

Basic expectations or agreements for members

You may contact us and schedule a time to visit. Email su*************@***il.com.

Primary decision-making authority

  • Small Leadership Group

A few people (not elected by the broader community) make the major decisions.

Decision-making process

  • Modified Consensus

Generally seek agreement, but have backup methods when consensus isn’t reached.

Governance structure

  • Collaborative/Horizontal

Power and responsibility are shared relatively equally among members.

Economic model

  • Independent Finances

Members maintain separate personal finances with minimal sharing.

Economic scenarios for this community

  • Members need to pay fees, dues, or similar to live there on a per month or per year basis
  • There is a labor obligation
  • Members typically need to have their own job or other personal source of income to cover their expenses while living in the community?

Additional economic information

Regular fees: $270
Labor: Yes (1 hrs/week)
Members with pre-existing debt: allowed
Rental rooms in some homes may be available
Homeowners Assn Fees

Shared resources and amenities that are accessible to everyone in the community

Common House, Garden(s), Library, Workshop, Outbuilding(s), Swimming pond or pool, Large Scale Kitchen, Fire pit, Swingsets & play areas

Frequency of communal meals

  • About once a week

Significant food acquisition practices

  • Locally sourced

Dietary type

  • Vegetarian Only

Dietary restriction

  • People can cook and eat what they want in their own residence

Substance use culture

  • Substance use is frequent and public in the community
  • Substance use occurs primarily at celebrations or ceremonies

Gender composition

  • Majority cis (over 60%)

Age demographics

  • Family-focused (many children and parents)

Property status

  • Privately owned

Property owner

  • By a single individual, couple, or Family Trust

Setting

  • Suburban

Residential areas outside city centers but within metropolitan regions.

Community type

  • Cohousing

    Private homes with shared common facilities, designed for neighborly
    interaction while maintaining independence.

Sustainability approach

  • Renewable energy systems
  • Waste reduction / composting

Self-produced energy

  • Up to 33%

Energy sources used

  • Photovoltaic Solar

Self-produced food

  • Up to 33%

Local, organic, or fair trade food

  • 33 - 66%

Food systems

  • Community garden

Water conservation practices

  • Efficient irrigation (drip, timed, or moisture-based systems)

Waste management practices

  • Recycling program
  • Land area size
    5 acres

Guest Book

Written reviews are available for plus members. Click here to upgrade.

Location

  • California, United States

Valley Oaks Village

Needs and Offers

Connecting people and communities through an intentional online marketplace

Offer
  • Promoted
Offer
  • Real Estate For Sale
1 month ago

3000sf House+Apartment, Rosewind Cohousing, Port Townsend WA

We are a retired couple who are downsizing, still living within the community. We are selling our large, flexible, comfortably rustic house, perfect for a multigenerational household, a family with kids or for 2 separate households. It’s 3000 square feet on 3 levels. The house is on a slope, with 2 main entrances. At one time it housed a large blended family. The current setup is a 2250 square foot, 2 bath main house with a 700 square foot rental apartment, also called an auxiliary dwelling unit (ADU). There is a staircase between the main and lower floor, with a lockable door. If desired, the ADU kitchen can be removed. The main floor has a very large kitchen/dining area, large living room, two small bedrooms, a bathroom with 2 sinks and a shower, a laundry room and a large mudroom. The non-bearing wall between the 2 bedrooms can be removed to turn it back to a single primary bedroom. The top floor has two bedrooms, one of which is primary with a large bright sitting area, and a large open middle area between them (game room, TV room, kids sleeping area, etc.). There is a bathroom with a claw-foot tub, no shower. The lower floor is the ADU, a finished storage area and a stand-up “crawl space“ which is used as a second pantry and storage.Attached to the house there is also a 150 sq ft wood paneled office/hobby space with its own electric and propane lines. Features: – straw bale construction, which is energy-efficient, great sound insulation, and provides a warm, soft, feeling. -very large functional kitchen with a long granite countertop. The dining area fits 10 people. -natural construction, with solid maple floors in the middle and upper level, marmoleum floor in kitchen and oak floor in the lower level. The two small bedrooms have painted wood floors. The doors are all solid wood. -large, functional, low maintenance patio area. Room for a table for eight and an additional sitting area. Propane hook ups for grills and smokers.
  • Promoted
Offer
  • Promoted
Offer
  • Communities with Openings
8 months ago

Worktrade Opportunities on Big Island Hawaii

We are continuing our work-trade program at Bridge Hawaii for the right people on this beautiful 86-acre land located along the Hāmākua Coast. Ideally, we want to host those individuals who can help with the garden and who can support with build projects for up to a 3 month stay. This work-trade would include lodging, food staples, community kitchen, running hot water showers, off-grid electricity, and laundry. There is access to high speed wi-fi. We often have a car that can be reserved. We also have full bar signal strength with Verizon cellphone service. We have about 2 acres of permaculture garden that needs to be cared for including; weeding, planting, picking up mulch, some tree trimming, ect. We are currently in a building stage on the land. We have a few current grant projects we are working on and some build projects that are underway. We are an intentional community with about 8 permanent residents. There are rescue dairy cows, mini cows, mini donkeys, horses, a donkey, cats, dogs, and active bee hives. We are a drug and alcohol “free” space. A glass of wine or beer with dinner is fine, but absolutely no day drinking or parties. We have a meditation temple and many waterfall pools that are wonderful for swimming. Close to some of the nicest beaches on island. We have snorkeling gear and a kayak. Since this is an animal sanctuary, we limit the consumption of meat on the land. Fish, eggs, honey, and dairy are fine. Let me know if you’re interested by sending an email or text for our application. Maomi (801) 623-0738 ma***@*****************ii.com
  • Promoted
Offer
  • Promoted

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