FAQs
General
- Social Justice
- Community-building
- Living better through Cooperation
- Sustainable Living (economically and environmentally)
The Little Flower Community was founded in April of 2010 and is located in the Beechwood neighborhood of Rochester, NY. Coming from all ages and walks of life, the LFC is a cooperative-style home(x6) occupied by a small group of socially-engaged people with a shared interest in community, social justice, sustainability, cooperative living, potlucks, and a passion for building community. Through the almighty power of cooperation, we lighten our individual workloads and allow more time for the important things in life. We offer a wide-range of housing options from 2-bedroom private apartments to 5-bedroom shared houses, for those who are just looking to dip their feet in community to those who want to take the full plunge.
Mission Statement: At the Little Flower Community, our focus is on spreading the gospel of Community while continually working toward a more sustainable way of living. We strive to reduce our impact on the environment through conservation, repurposing, and the implementation of energy-saving technologies; we aim to support community-building through the organization of and participation in local community programs and initiatives as well as household/neighborhood improvement projects; and we strive to foster a sense of community within our collective and beyond while welcoming all others who are interested in working toward making our neighborhood, city, and world a socially just place to live.
Contributing to this mission are the following values:
- We provide a vegan-friendly foodshare which focuses on local and organic food sources and regular common meals. The bulk of our food comes from several area farmers, the Abundance Cooperative Market, Small World Foods, Peacework Organic CSA, and our very own “urban farmette”.
- We invest in/implement energy efficient appliances/technologies/strategies
- We engage with the broader community. We host a monthly veg’n-friendly potluck in addition to skill shares, language nights, small concerts, and other events
- We regularly host CouchSurfers, HelpXers, and other travelers (Well-over 2,000 to date!)
- We apply for grants to aid in community-building and home improvement projects
- We share cooking, household chores, and other community tasks.
- We support locally-owned businesses and worker collectives
- We participate in organizations that work for social justice
- We prioritize employment of other neighborhood residents when work is outsourced.
- We are committed to the rehabilitation of the local housing stock using quality materials and workmanship
Come check us out!
- Community Art – murals, boulevart, playful sidewalks, and all the rest
- Political Activism – Mary Lupien for City Council, Greg Young for Ward Supervisor
- Environmental Activism – Mothers out Front, Rochester People’s Climate Coalition
- Social Activism – Metro Justice, Take Back the Land, City Roots Community Land Trust, This Is Not a Park, Charity vs. Justice
- Community Gardening
- Pianos for Peace
- Beechwood Neighborhood Coalition
- Potlucks
- Skill Shares – bike repair, laundry soap and deodorant making, hugelkultur making, vermiculture, mushroom growing
- Beechwood Bike Repair Clinic
- Trash walks
We offer two different types of housing:
- Friend of the Flower – This option is for those who are interested in community living, but don’t have time for or want the commitment of making a regular contribution. It’s also for those who are awaiting an opening in one of our member houses. There is a strong preference for those who are community-oriented and actively engaged in the broader community. These are 2 or 3-bedroom apartments at ~$300/month per bedroom plus utilities.
- General Membership – This option is for those with a genuine interest in community building who want to make regular contributions to the LFC, to the Beechwood neighborhood, and to Rochester as a whole. If civic engagement, community organizing, maker culture, social and environmental justice, urban agriculture, etc. are an integral part of your life (or you want them to be), this option is for you! In addition to the usual benefits that come with community-living, general members also have the option of doing a worktrade in order to offset the cost of rent and is eligible to become a member owner.
- Member Owner – General Members who have made a significant contribution to the LFC over a sustained period of time are eligible to become member owners. A member owner is exactly what it sounds like – a member who is a co-owner of the Little Flower Community.
We’re located in the Beechwood neighborhood on Parsells Ave, near the intersection with Culver. For more specifics about what’s around us, check out the google map on our community page.
No, it’s not a cult (or is it???). With that said, if you want to donate all your worldly possessions to us, who are we to say no?
Yes, it’s true. It’s all true!!!!!!
Not at all! Come on by.
We’re not ones to preach or judge. In fact, the diets of our members run the gambit from vegan to vegetarian to omnivorous (yes, meat eaters live here too!). We do prefer to keep our meals meat-free, though.
Even people who think such things about co-ops, collectives, intentional communities, and the like can, in fact, live in a co-op, collective, intentional community, or the like. Stop on by, you might be surprised!
Well, no, actually. The folks at Little Flower encompass a wide range of ages, beliefs, and backgrounds. Come on by and see for yourself!
Of course! We like you just the way you are! =)
Visiting LFC
We’re located in the Beechwood neighborhood on Parsells Ave, near the intersection with Culver. For more specifics about what’s around us, check out the google map on our community page.
We host a vegan-friendy potluck on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 7pm. A potluck is a gathering of super swell people, each of whom brings a dish/beverage/dessert to share. It’s a celebration of slow food, community, and the lost art of conversation!
We often host Sunday brunch potlucks throughout the month as well.
Meetings take place monthly based on availability of the membership.
Yes, it’s true. It’s all true!!!!!!
Do we ever! That’s very kind of you, sir and/or madam! Please see the Wish List section of our page.
We’re not ones to preach or judge. In fact, the diets of our members run the gambit from vegan to vegetarian to omnivorous (yes, meat eaters live here too!). We do prefer to keep our meals meat-free, though.
Not really. We prefer to keep our community meals and events veg’n-friendly and ask that our members and guests do not cook/bring/serve meaty pies (or other animal-based whatnots).
Of course! We like you just the way you are! =)
Why certainly, good sir and/or madam! You can have yourself a good old-fashioned skill share here at the Little Flower Community so that others may learn from your skillful ways!
Moving to LFC
At its most basic, we hope to find members who will be active and engaged participants in the community (why else choose to live here?). If you’re not into things like sharing meals together 2 or 3 times a week, helping each other out, hosting travelers and making new friends, cleaning up messes as they’re made, and being generally community-oriented, or if you just don’t have time for those things, this membership probably isn’t for you (though you might be interested in one of our Friend of The Flower accommodations). If you ARE into those things, please read on! =)
In addition to the usual house chore or two that would be expected in any living situation (your share of sweeping, vacuuming, dishes, and so on), monthly meeting, and monthly “work party” where we all get together to work on a project of our choosing, members are expected to make some sort of ongoing “collective contribution”. Your contribution(s) could range from making hummus or granola to stewarding the Little Free Library or picking up trash around the neighborhood. Other options include joining the Cook Team, the Garden Guild, or the Construction Crew. Or it might entail representing the LFC at neighborhood meetings, at rallies, serving on steering committees, etc.
For more info, just ask!
Keep in mind that members are eligible for worktrade and that work parties, monthly meetings, and “collective contributions” count toward rent. =)
In short, minimum expectations for members are:
- Sign on to our mission and values
- Participate in an average of community 2 meals per week (hard to build community with people who are never around)
- Participate in at least 8 Work Parties per year
- Participate in at least 8 LFC general meetings per year
- Make a weekly Collective Contribution and find someone to cover for you when necessary
- Do your house chore(s) on a weekly basis (a.k.a. be able to clean up after yourself) and find someone to cover for you when necessary
- Be a generally likable, community-oriented person =)
First off, read this FAQ. Then fill out our membership application! Ideally, we prefer to meet potential members at least three times: once for a potluck or other event; once for a tour; and once for a dinner. After all, you’re moving into an intentional community, not just renting a room, and we want to make sure it’s a good fit on both ends. =) Also, don’t forget to follow us on Twitter, FB, Instagram, Tiinder, etc and all around town wherever we go (okay, maybe not that last part).
- Community Art – murals, boulevart, playful sidewalks, and all the rest
- Political Activism – Mary Lupien for City Council, Greg Young for Ward Supervisor
- Environmental Activism – Mothers out Front, Rochester People’s Climate Coalition
- Social Activism – Metro Justice, Take Back the Land, City Roots Community Land Trust, This Is Not a Park, Charity vs. Justice
- Community Gardening
- Pianos for Peace
- Beechwood Neighborhood Coalition
- Potlucks
- Skill Shares – bike repair, laundry soap and deodorant making, hugelkultur making, vermiculture, mushroom growing
- Beechwood Bike Repair Clinic
- Trash walks
We offer two different types of housing:
- Friend of the Flower – This option is for those who are interested in community living, but don’t have time for or want the commitment of making a regular contribution. It’s also for those who are awaiting an opening in one of our member houses. There is a strong preference for those who are community-oriented and actively engaged in the broader community. These are 2 or 3-bedroom apartments at ~$300/month per bedroom plus utilities.
- General Membership – This option is for those with a genuine interest in community building who want to make regular contributions to the LFC, to the Beechwood neighborhood, and to Rochester as a whole. If civic engagement, community organizing, maker culture, social and environmental justice, urban agriculture, etc. are an integral part of your life (or you want them to be), this option is for you! In addition to the usual benefits that come with community-living, general members also have the option of doing a worktrade in order to offset the cost of rent and is eligible to become a member owner.
- Member Owner – General Members who have made a significant contribution to the LFC over a sustained period of time are eligible to become member owners. A member owner is exactly what it sounds like – a member who is a co-owner of the Little Flower Community.
For long-term residents (read: six months+):
Friend of the Flower: Rent ranges from $300 – $600 plus utilities depending on the type of accommodation Water and garbage/recycling are included.
General Membership: Rent ranges from $250 – $350 (depending on size of room).* That includes internet, water, garbage/recycling, and food! Utilities are split evenly among the members (roughly $25-35/month on average). For two people who are sharing a room, the cost is $300 – $400. Discounted rates are also available to parents who would like an additional room for their child(ren).
*General Members are eligible for worktrade.
You sure will! (unless, of course, you’d prefer to share) =)
No, it’s not a cult (or is it???). With that said, if you want to donate all your worldly possessions to us, who are we to say no?
Sure thing. The cost of a shared room is an additional $50. (e.g. if room is $250 + $50 for second person, each person pays $150).
Yes, it’s true. It’s all true!!!!!!
Yes, you can take the #42 to downtown in 10 minutes (it’ll drop you off right in front of the Eastman School of Music if you like). We’re also right between the #38 and #39 (each within a 10-minute walk or less).
That is not a question, but it is a great thing to have all the same! Have you tried riding it?
If you like bikes, you might be interested in helping out during our annual Bike Repair Skill Share and / or at the Beechwood Bike Repair Clinic.
Please refer to the above Q&A.
Yes, resistance is futile.
Food
The frequency of community meals tends to ebb and flow depending on who is living here and how many other events/activities we all have going on. At times we have had meals together every day and at others 3 or 4 times a week. At minimum, we have one community meal each week.
General Members are highly encouraged to attend at least one community meal each week, but it’s less of a requirement and more a question of “Why live in community if you’re hardly ever going to be around?”
We host a vegan-friendy potluck on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 7pm. A potluck is a gathering of super swell people, each of whom brings a dish/beverage/dessert to share. It’s a celebration of slow food, community, and the lost art of conversation!
We often host Sunday brunch potlucks throughout the month as well.
The foodshare at Little Flower emphasizes local and organic foods and is meant to cover a baseline of vegan-friendly food staples for use in our house meals. It’s not intended to cover any and all foods (not even any and all vegan-friendly foods). Examples of staples would be things like flour, sugar, salt, faux milk and butter, rice, pasta, and other grains, tofu, spices, etc. Basically, it’s meant to cover ingredients for preparing meals from scratch and really shies away from processed foods. Additional items such as salsa, tortilla chips, tea, crackers, etc. are sometimes purchased for special events and whatnots as the budget permits. We also grow much of our own fruit and veggies. You can read more about our foodshare here
We’re not ones to preach or judge. In fact, the diets of our members run the gambit from vegan to vegetarian to omnivorous (yes, meat eaters live here too!). We do prefer to keep our meals meat-free, though.
We believe that maintaining a vegan-friendly food share is in keeping with our commitment to creating a community where all feel welcome and that it is instep with our continued effort to limit our ecological footprint. For more information on the ethical, environmental, and health issues surrounding veganism, please see your nearest internet search engine.
Not really. We prefer to keep our community meals and events veg’n-friendly and ask that our members and guests do not cook/bring/serve meaty pies (or other animal-based whatnots).
Rochester
We’re located in the Beechwood neighborhood on Parsells Ave, near the intersection with Culver. For more specifics about what’s around us, check out the google map on our community page.
