Forming a Community Tool Co-Op

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The EcoVillage at Ithaca provides garden and workshop tools for community members to share.
The EcoVillage at Ithaca provides garden and workshop tools for community members to share.
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Dave Wortman writes from his home in Seattle, where he is a long-time member of the Well Home Program.
Dave Wortman writes from his home in Seattle, where he is a long-time member of the Well Home Program.
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Even with all of the benefits of tool-sharing programs, they are not without their challenges. From housing cooperatives to larger public programs like Atlanta's, many common problems arise. They range from a lack of organization to funding shortages to tool maintenance.
Even with all of the benefits of tool-sharing programs, they are not without their challenges. From housing cooperatives to larger public programs like Atlanta's, many common problems arise. They range from a lack of organization to funding shortages to tool maintenance.

There’s nothing like having just the right tools to help make your projects go smoothly. But, tools can be a big investment for homeowners. When money is tight, tool costs can make or break a project. And often, we only need that 20-foot ladder once a year to clean the gutters. Many table saws sit idle in the garage for months at a time.

Some neighborhoods and communities across the country have discovered a better way — tool sharing. It’s an idea that’s alive and well, from small housing cooperatives in rural areas to lending programs in large cities. And many people are finding that, in addition to making economic sense, tool sharing offers a way to simplify life and create community, pulling together neighbors to exchange ideas, skills and a helping hand.

The Roots of Tool Sharing

  • Published on Apr 1, 2004
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