FAQ

To answer this question, we shamelessly steal from our friends at Whitehall Co-op:

“We own it, and we run it ... We have no landlord. Our co-op is an intentional society in which we freely associate, share labor, and adhere to cooperative principles. It is a democratic organization in which every member gets a voice in how the house is run. In fact, our house is consensus-based, which means that for every decision we face, we have to find a solution that every member can feel comfortable with. If you want to learn more, here are Wikipedia links to cooperative and the Rochdale Principles of Cooperation.”

Sunflower leases are month-to-month, but we require a 60-day notification before moving out. On average, most Sunflower members live at the house for several years.

Our current rate is $750/month. This covers rent, food, and utilities. If a member is gone for more than 3 consecutive days, he/she is given a $8/day rebate for food/utilities.

Rent at Sunflower Co-op is around 60% lower than rates of other rental properties in our neighborhood. This is testament to co-ops' ability to provide affordable housing, even when close to the city center.

Yes. Upon move-in, Sunnies pay a $400 deposit. This deposit is refundable upon move-out, given the member has no outstanding debts and no repairs are necessary.
We are an independent (non-student) co-op and don’t have a set age limit. We’ve had babies grow up (and even born!) in the house, and have had 50+ year old members. Currently, most members are 25-35 years old.
We actually have two adjacent houses (only a few steps away from each other), which together have 8 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. Besides the regular ammenities, we also have a shared office, garage/workshop and large garden.
Cats and other small animals are allowed at Sunflower with a vote of approval from the house. Dogs are not allowed.
House meetings are held Monday evenings and typically last 30-60 mins. This is the time for members to catch up, discuss & vote on house matters, report on their chores and labor points, and occasionally share a meal. Every meeting starts with a round of voluntary “personal space” sharing and ends with a joke.

Labor requirements include a weekly and monthly chore, and 30 points (roughly 4-6 hours worth) of freely chosen labor. We have biannual work days to work on larger projects.

Food is included in each member’s rent. A grocery list in the kitchen is filled out throughout the week, and 1-2 volunteers shop at Wheatsville Co-op each weekend. We put emphasis on buying whole, organic foods.

Sunflower is a vegetarian co-op, which means our house budget is not used to buy meat and meat preparation is not allowed in the house. However, members may store well-sealed meat in the personal fridge and heat up dishes in the microwave or grill outside.

We don’t have formal house meals, but members are free to organize them themselves (often before Monday night meetings). Making food for the house is also one member's weekly chore.

Sunflower Co-op has adopted many things to help minimize our ecological footprint, including:

  • 2 large rain barrel collectors for garden watering
  • Composting
  • Recycling station
  • Energy efficient windows
  • LED light bulbs
  • Clothes line
  • Gardening
  • High efficiency washing machine
  • Bicycle storage and maintenance equipment
  • Buying bulk
  • Buying organic and vegetarian
  • Clothes/home goods donations
Please see our Membership page for more information.