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Author: Rebecca J Hogue

  • Rebecca J Hogue

    Rebecca Hogue (Becky)

    My name is Rebecca Hogue—though my neighbours call me Becky. I’m a writer, a podcaster, a puppy mom, and one half of Scott-and-Becky. Until fairly recently, I never imagined myself living in cohousing. That wasn’t because I disliked the idea of community—it was because I didn’t really understand what cohousing was. Once I learned that we would have our own condo, complete with a private kitchen and personal space, everything changed. What suddenly made sense was the balance: independence when you want it, connection when you need it. That combination is what ultimately led us to Treehouse Village. Cali, our cavapoo, and I love hiking and beach walks, and one of the unexpected joys of living at Treehouse is how rarely I need to do those things alone. There’s almost always a neighbour available for a walk, a hike, or a quick outing. One neighbour has become my accountability buddy—the person who helps drag me out the door on days when I know I’ll feel better if I go, but motivation is in short supply. That kind of casual, low-pressure connection is what cohousing does best. There’s no obligation and no forced participation—just people nearby, living their lives, open to joining in. One of the ways I enjoy giving back to the community is by organizing common meals. With the help of a couple of wonderful sous-chefs, we prepare food for 30 to 40 people at a time. These meals are always optional, but they offer a chance to sit down together and share conversation as well as food. As someone with celiac disease, I was initially concerned that common meals might be difficult. Instead, they’ve been surprisingly easy. I know what’s being served, I know who’s cooking, and I can always check ingredients. Some nights I bring my own food and join for the company; many nights, I’m happy to enjoy my neighbours’ cooking. Having that choice makes all the difference. Because of a bad back, I can’t shovel snow—but I still wanted to help with winter maintenance. Fortunately, a neighbour was happy to teach me how to drive the tractor. I didn’t expect to be very good at it, but it turns out I’m not half bad. On snow days, I genuinely enjoy spending a few hours clearing laneways and helping keep the community running. That’s something I’ve learned about living at Treehouse: there’s room for everyone to contribute in ways that match their abilities, rather in ways that wear them down. Before moving here, Scott and I lived in Ottawa for 20 years, followed by seven years in California’s Bay Area. I was surprised by how much I enjoy living in a small town like Bridgewater. Most of our day-to-day errands—groceries, shopping, doctor appointments—are a five-minute drive away. We joke about downtown “traffic jams” when we have to wait more than five minutes at a light. Despite the small-town pace, there’s no shortage of culture. Scott and I love folk music, and we’ve discovered the Folk Harbour Folk Festival in nearby Lunenburg. Every August, for five days straight, you’ll find us making the 25-minute drive to spend our days soaking up local and international talent. Year-round, we enjoy folk concerts in Liverpool, Lunenburg, and Chester—remarkable quality live music, just a short drive from home. One of the most important things I’ve learned since moving to Treehouse Village is that cohousing isn’t static. It’s a living organism that changes with the seasons. Different people step forward at different times, each bringing their own passions, skills, and ideas. That leads to new ways of learning together, new traditions, and new ways of having fun. It also means there’s always room for new people to help shape what the community becomes. I don’t agree with everything my neighbours do—but that, too, is part of living in community. For me, the benefits of connection, support, and shared life far outweigh the challenges. Treehouse Village isn’t about giving up independence. It’s about choosing how—and with whom—you want to live your life.

    My name is Rebecca Hogue—though my neighbours call me Becky. I’m a writer, a podcaster, a puppy mom, and one half of Scott-and-Becky. Until fairly recently, I never imagined myself living in cohousing. That wasn’t because I disliked the idea of community—it was because I didn’t really understand what cohousing was. Once I learned that we would have our own condo, complete with a private kitchen and personal space, everything changed. What suddenly made sense was the balance: independence when you want it, connection when you need it. That combination is what ultimately led us to Treehouse Village. Cali, our…

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  • Rebecca J Hogue

    Repair Café: Where Treehouse Meets Bridgewater

    At Treehouse Village Ecohousing, we believe that community thrives when people come together to share skills, stories, and laughter. That spirit was on full display at Bridgewater’s recent Repair Café, where Treehouse residents joined forces with neighbours to breathe new life into well-loved items. The Repair Café, co-led by Treehouse resident Etienne and a couple of his friends, brought together a team of handy volunteers—many from Treehouse Village—to help with various repairs, from sewing to repair of small appliances. It was a day filled with creativity, problem-solving, and connection. Sewing Stories Sue, who volunteered at the sewing station, described one…

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  • Rebecca J Hogue

    Treehouse Village and Climate Resilience

    With the extreme weather we are seeing, the resiliency of Treehouse Village is at the forefront of my thoughts. When Scott and I first decided to move to Nova Scotia, location was top of mind. We wanted to make sure that we were not on a flood plain. We also wanted to ensure that we were not too close to the ocean, so rising sea levels and severe weather would not be of concern. When Treehouse Village was designed, the changing climate was front and centre in our decision making. As I write this, I’m looking at a chart from…

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  • Rebecca J Hogue

    Moving made easier with a little help from my cohousing neighbours

    When we moved to California, we decided that when we moved back to Canada, it would be to Nova Scotia. Our move was a logistical challenge.

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  • Rebecca J Hogue

    Tree Clearing

    Last weekend, we prepared for cutting the trees in the “disturbed area,” which is the part of the land where we’ll be building our homes.

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  • Rebecca J Hogue

    A walk around the block doesn’t need to be boring

    …since moving to Bridgewater, I’ve found several places to walk – some without driving and others less than a five-minute drive from home.

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  • Rebecca J Hogue

    Something is Happening!

    This week we are making the first real changes to our land – creating a driveway and small parking area.

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  • Rebecca J Hogue

    Finding Treehouse Village

    “I’ve found a cohousing project on the South Shore of Nova Scotia. It looks interesting and they have an information session on YouTube. Do you want to listen to it while we drive?”

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  • Rebecca J Hogue

    Birds of a feather flock together – Online fun during Covid-19

    Last Friday, rather than having fun with just the adults at Treehouse Village, we decided to try and have some online fun that involved some of our community kids. Our event planning team put on their thinking caps and came up with a community craft night, where we would all sit together over video conferencing and do a craft together. This then became our Friday night – birds of a feather flock together event – where we got together to do a lot of laughing while each of us made some form of bird hat with materials we had on…

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  • Rebecca J Hogue

    Workshop #4 and Approval of Schematic Design

    On December 7-8 we did our final design workshop. At the workshop we approved the schematic design, the architects will shift into the design development phase, where we will refine the plans add more detail. Construction drawings will follow and we’ll be building before you know it! Treehouse Village is already a hive of activity. Our members are busy hiring a project manager, researching construction companies, producing marketing videos, recruiting new members, strengthening our social community and much more.

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