Our Blog

  • Allyson Rowley

    All the world’s a stage

    Treehouse Village member Andrew at a rehearsal for a play.

    I’m blown away by the amount of arts & culture on the South Shore of Nova Scotia, where Treehouse Village is located. I’m directing a play for the South Shore Players, a community theatre here in Bridgewater. I’ve cast my neighbour Andrew (also a Treehouse Villager) in the play. Here he is on the left,

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  • 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

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  • Scott Drennan

    Something for Everyone

    Two people eating spaghetti creatively, one using an egg beater

    Our community is diverse, and there are many different food restrictions and preferences among our members. From early in our forming phase we asked our members to share their restrictions and preferences. While we know we can’t accommodate everyone at every Common Meal, our Meal Leads do consider people’s dietary restrictions when choosing what to

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  • Allyson Rowley

    We love all our visitors!

    A big advantage to being a “cohousing” community is the shared connections we have with each other at Treehouse Village — and with each other’s visitors, who come for the afternoon to hang out, or the evening to attend an event here, or to stay overnight in one of our guest rooms. We’ve welcomed at

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  • Allyson Rowley

    With a little help from our friends

    What’s your definition of “cohousing”? For some, it’s about designing a different kind of housing that allows for both privacy and social interaction. For others, it’s about bringing multiple generations together and solving the loneliness crisis. Most of all, cohousing is about intentionally creating a sense of community. Recently, I’ve seen three great examples of

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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

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  • Allyson Rowley

    Be our guest!

    By Allyson Rowley, Community Reporter When friends and family come for an overnight stay at Treehouse Village, there’s no need to book a hotel, motel, or B&B for them. They can stay right here in one of the comfortable guest rooms in the Common House. Guests can experience Treehouse Village first hand, while also having

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  • Katherine Harman

    Who needs a gym membership when you have Cohousing?

    By Katherine Harman, Treehouse resident “There is no drug in current or prospective use that holds as much promise for sustained health as a lifetime program of physical exercise.” – Walter M. Bortz I admit that there was confirmation bias at play when I first read that quote from renowned age researcher Walter Bortz. I

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  • Katherine Harman

    Fancy Pants on the Green

    By Katherine Harman, Treehouse Village resident On March 26, my neighbour Clara and I received a personal invitation from hostess Cora to visit the newly established Fancy Pants on the Green. The smiling Cora welcomed us with a bell under the freshly painted sign.   We were delighted to see the café was already busy, with

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  • Terry Lavender

    Bridgewater Wins Sustainability Award for innovative energy poverty program

    By Terry Lavender, Treehouse Village community member The Town of Bridgewater, home to Treehouse Village Ecohousing, has been recognized with a prestigious Sustainable Communities Award for its groundbreaking Energize Bridgewater program. This award from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) highlights Bridgewater’s leadership in addressing energy poverty and climate change through innovative, community-driven solutions.  

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