Episode 11: Steve Fick on 25 Years of Living in Community
“This didn’t feel like much of a community when we moved in. And now everybody says, ‘Ah, this is such a great place to live!’”
Steve Fick
Steve Fick has lived at Terra Firma, one of the Ottawa-region’s only cohousing communities, for more than 25 years, and is one of its founders. From shared meals, to shared tools, to neighbourhood-wide street parties and art tours, his insights from a lifetime of centring community are the inspiration we all need to seek more “us” in our lives!
In Steve Fick on 25 Years of Living in Community:
- The organizing journey that allowed the Terra Firma co-founders to build enough faith and trust in each other and the concept that one couple bought into the project site unseen when the right property surfaced
- How Terra Firma’s residents turned six residences into seven, plus a common space, and an oasis of a shared backyard right in the middle of an existing single-family home neighbourhood in Ottawa, Ontario
- The benefits for parents, children (and later grandchildren!) of raising a family in a cohousing community
- Insights on managing conflict in a manner that balances quick, effective repair with the human need for pause using skills like non-violent communication and compassionate listening, and having a budget for a mediator
- How an entire neighbourhood joined together in a street party to celebrate Terra Firma Cohousing’s 25 year anniversary. A gathering that Steve describes as “a little piece of heaven”
- Steve’s latest co-created community project: The Old Ottawa East Art Tour
- Why there’s no room for new members in Terra Firma (hint: because all the original founders are still there!)
Find Steve:
Find Other Episode References:
Old Ottawa East’s Terra Firma Celebrating 25 Years
Cohousing is a potentially key way to combat loneliness — but it’s difficult to get off the ground
No One Should Have to Live a Life Without Us
On the Life Without Us podcast, Valery Navarrete shared two seasons of stories about community and connection to inspire more of us to have more “us” in our lives.
Tune in wherever you find podcasts!
Sign Up for Valery’s Newsletter!
Valery’s free, monthly newsletter provides a quick mix of updates on what she is up to and content you can use. Look for it in your inbox on the third Thursday of each month!