Meristem Co-op is our first house, which opened in 2006.

About Meristem

  • Located in the Vine Neighborhood, downtown at S. Burdick and W. Dutton
  • Houses 8 members
  • 6 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 with a piano!
  • Common library with books!
  • Common office with a house computer
  • Off-street parking
  • Wireless high-speed internet
  • Laundry facilities
  • Vegetable garden
  • Pet-free
  • 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

Openings

One spot in a double room (with a male roommate) is available August 10, 2008. This is in our new location on Axtell Street.

Membership

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

  1. Tour the house and/or join us for dinner
  2. Submit an application
  3. Come to an interview with current house members
  4. Current members must come to consensus on accepting new members

If you are interested in joining us, please email meristem@kzoocoop.org to setup a tour of the house. You may then submit a Membership Application (doc) for consideration by our current members. We accept applications on a rolling basis - applicants are reviewed in the order that they apply.

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

Estimated Costs beginning August 2008

  • Single room: $429 per month. Includes lease, utilities, food, and common supplies.
  • Double room: $312 per month. Includes lease, utilities, food, and common supplies.
  • One-time refundable security deposit: $300
  • Annual membership fee: $20
  • Compare with other living options

Contract Term

  • Contracts 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

House Policies

Our house policies are detailed in the Meristem Handbook (pdf). Take a look.

Questions?

Email us at meristem@kzoocoop.org or come to one of our events to chat!