The workshop as sustainability

I received an interesting message from @matthias , my point of reference for everything concerning sustainable living. He has been following The Reeef from afar, and has this to say (sharing with his permission):

Hello Alberto, this just came to my mind so I drop it to you: Do you have plans to include a workshop into the communal spaces of the co-housing?

If not yet: I think it’s really worth having one. The workshop I built out in 2023 proves to be the most ecological piece of the house, as it allows to repair and adapt things rather than throwing them away. It’s also what saves us a decent amount of money as it enables DIY work (and makes it enjoyable). Saved maybe 12 kEUR just from doing the two new bathrooms ourselves, and all the tools and equipment in the workshop did cost us maybe 10 kEUR over 30 years.

A workshop also allows hosting Repair Café meetings and other communal activities for the neighborhood.

In fairness, Matthias is VERY technical and handy, so the bonus of having a workshop is greater to him than it would be, say, to me. But then there are many more of us, so the benefit is likely multiplied.

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