So you're interested in Haymarket, eh? Haymarket was founded in 1991, the first of the three Qumbya co-ops. The house is a renovated farmhouse, really something out of an Escher print. It's a split-level with 12 bedrooms, an amazingly-stocked kitchen, various common areas, long winding hallways, and a kick-ass 2nd floor porch.
Each of the bedrooms has its own quirks, ranging from a sun porch to massive bookshelving to secret crawlspaces. There are five bathrooms in the house, as well as a fully-equipped maintenance area and shed. Bike storage is plentiful, and parking is likewise easy if you've got the need.
Collective food is always vegetarian and also vegan-friendly. You can have meat in the house, no problem... the house just won't pay for it. Food comes from the nearby co-op market and fresh produce mart, and staples are ordered in bulk. If you've got something you want, put it on the shopping list...real complex, eh? There is also a rag-tag in-house brewery- the Rotten Armadillo.
The appliance set-up is pretty sweet- washer & dryer fueled by enviro-friendly detergent, cable and wireless internet, dvd and vcr player (no cable teevee though...yay!), and an upright piano for all your jamming needs. Rooms range from $340-500 depending upon the size, and food and utilities are $169 a month for everyone.
Despite the sweet set-up, the thing that really makes Haymarket tick is the people. Somehow shoving so many diverse interests and personalities under one roof has fostered an incredibly tight-knit community of awesome and passionate people. Whether it's politics, music, film, science, art, or sign-language animals, there is always something going on, always some debate raging in the kitchen, and always, always a lot of laughter.
Come over and see for yourself!