Meristem Cooperative

About Meristem

• Located in the Vine Neighborhood on Davis Street near W. Vine Street
• Houses 5 members
• This is a non-smoking house 
• 5 bedrooms
• 2 bathrooms 
• We buy food together, with an emphasis on local, organic, and nutritious food. There are house dinners five nights a week with vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free options.
• Common dining room and living room with a piano!
• Common office with a house computer
• Off-street parking
• Wireless high-speed internet
• Laundry facilities
• Pet-free
• Quiet hours begin at 10pm every night
• Access to collective goodies like books, piano, art supplies, office supplies, tools
• Near Metro Transit bus system
• Members have access to scholarship money for conferences and training

Membership

Membership at Meristem is open to everyone. Here's the process:

1. Tour the house and/or join us for dinner (optional)
2. Submit an Online Application or use the Word document near the bottom of this page
3. Come to an interview with current house member

We strive to be a inclusive community that welcomes all, regardless of gender, color, sexuality, ability, or spirituality. Together, we work toward dismantling oppression in our lives and communities.

Costs

• Single room: $460 per month for a large room, $420 for the small room. Includes lease, utilities, food, maintenance, and common supplies.
• One-time refundable security deposit: $390

Contract Term

• Leases at Meristem run from August 1 - July 31

What to expect when you live at Meristem

• Good food! Staple foods are available to members for all meals. The house doesn’t buy meat collectively, but members may purchase whatever personal food they like.
• A cooperative community in which all members are collectively responsible for the well-being of the house
• Collective, consensus decision-making
• Collective, civil conflict resolution
• A nonsmoking house
• Group budgeting and financial decisions
• Always working to reducing our “ecological footprint” – reducing waste, efficient use of resources, reducing dependence on nonrenewable resources, creating a healthy and nontoxic living environment
• Sharing skills and knowledge that help us become self-sufficient (ex: gardening, cooking, repair and maintenance, etc.)
• Opportunities to connect with and learn from co-op members around the country through organizations like North American Students of Cooperation
• An emphasis on affordable living
• A friendly and fun atmosphere

Responsibilities of members

Meristem members are committed to regular duties that are listed below. New members should expect to devote 6 hours per week to a combination of these responsibilities:

• Prompt payment of monthly charges
• House meetings every other week
• Cooking dinner
• Cleaning and chores
• Administrative tasks such as purchasing or event planning

Questions?

Email us at meristem@kalamazoo.coop or come to one of our events to chat! Or submit an online application if you'd like to apply at: Meristem's Online Application