🌿 **Garden Swap & Grow!** 🌿

​Join us for a fun-filled day of swapping seeds, sharing plants, and celebrating all things gardening! Whether you're a seasoned green thumb or just starting out, this event is the perfect opportunity to connect with fellow garden lovers, swap stories, and get inspired by each other’s gardening journeys. 🌱

​Chat about your gardening triumphs, vent about those pesky plant troubles, and dream up ambitious garden plans with new friends. Don’t have any seeds or plants to swap? No worries! Locals are generously donating free seeds for all attendees, so everyone can join in the fun. Of course, bringing a swap item is encouraged to kickstart those conversations!

​Plus, Baltimore County Master Gardeners will be on hand to offer tips, tricks, and their wealth of knowledge to help you grow the garden of your dreams.

Local Support:

Baltimore County Master Gardeners, Space and Expertise

Wildside Nursery / Wild Ones of Greater Baltimore, Seed and Expertise

🌸 **Event Highlights** 🌺

​- Seed & plant swaps

​- Free seeds from a local Seed Library, Wildside Nursery, and Baltimore County Master Gardeners

​- Expert advice from Baltimore County Master Gardeners

​- Lots of laughs, gardening tips, and community bonding

​So, grab your favorite gardening gloves, bring your plant-loving friends, and come grow with us! 🌿🌷

P.S. - This event is free , but if you would like to support free events like this and other opportunities for connection from The Community Cooperative (and it's wonderful partners) consider becoming a Patron!

​We have one time, monthly and yearly patron options so please choose what works best for you. Thank you!

Join us for another free Community Book Swap on Sunday, February 23rd! Fun for book lovers of all ages 💖 Bring any books you no longer want or just yourself! Pick up your new favorite book (for free), a drink from the Croustille Cafe counter (not free, but good!), and make more book friends.

Check out our community partners:
Croustille Cafe is hosting us at their glorious shop!

See you there! 🥳🤓

Let us know you are coming.

Sign up on our Luma Event page: https://lu.ma/2l0u7i0n

Be our Patron.

Love our monthly community events? Want to help build community spaces across Baltimore County and City?

Offer monthly support for our efforts: https://buy.stripe.com/aEU7t10L14yn4wg4gL

Make a one-time contribution: https://buy.stripe.com/aEU6oXgJZ0i7d2M00u

FAQ
—————————————————————————-

Do I have to bring books to take books?

No, not at all. We have books to take (for free!) from other donations, including several children's, teen, and young adult books, thanks to The Maryland Book Bank for their generous contribution!

Do I have to pay for books?

No! It’s a FREE community event. The Community Cooperative does lots of free community events. If you would like to donate money to Coop doing more of these events please choose an an amount at check out. Otherwise, you are good to go.

Do I need a ticket to come?

Nope, but this does help me know how many people to expect. You can also donate money for more events like this at checkout.

What’s parking like?

You can park in the parking lot directly outside of the cafe. If the parking lot is full an EVEN BIGGER parking lot directly behind the building is available for you to use.

By the People: Success Stories in Community Building

Saturday, January 18th, 2025 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

@ OCA Mocha Cafe, Community Room, 5410 East Dr., Arbutus, MD

Re-introducing the “Lightning Talks” series reshaped for today. In recognition of what today is like, we are putting effort back into our communities to go grassroots and build genuine connections. The political climate may feel like you can't do anything, but it's not true. Our first “Lightning Talks” event will be addressing the question, "What does success in community building look like?” These ultra-quick and diverse 2-5 minute presentations explore local examples of successful community building from the Baltimore County and Baltimore City area.

These speakers are organizers, advocates, creatives, teachers, and so many other backgrounds that have found their way to building community and connection. Through their highlights, big mistakes, and advice you can explore some of the ways successful community building looks, even now. Come learn and share with us so we can all leave with a little more to explore.

We hope you leave this event feeling inspired to contribute, support each other in the community, and form your programs for community building.

This is the first of many themed talks so subscribe for updates on events and supporting The Co-op as we create opportunities to build genuine connections and community.

About the Coop:

I started The Community Cooperative to create opportunities for creative smart people (like you) who are looking for a community to find and support. I tried many different variations but a community-funded model feels the most honest to me. It's $30/ month for a membership and Coop holds these types of events (talks, swaps, get-togethers, meetups, performances, etc) and others monthly. The events are creative, and community-oriented, and provide opportunities for genuine connections. We start with an event every month but plan to grow throughout the year as member interests shape Coop events.

PLEASE SIGN UP SO WE KNOW YOU’RE COMING!

SIGN UP ON OUR LUMA CALENDAR: https://lu.ma/n8k2wxwl

Or

Sign up below.

Join us for our first free Community Book Swap on 11/30/24! Fun for book lovers of all ages 💖 Bring any books you no longer want or just yourself!

Check out our community partners:
Better World Imaginarium @betterworldimaginarium is hosting us at their glorious shop!
Maryland Book Bank @mdbookbank generously donated books for the event!

See you there! 🥳🤓

Sign-up and/or Donate

FAQ
—————————————————————————-

Do I have to bring books to take books?

No, not at all. We have books to take (for free!) from other donations, including several children's, teen, and young adult books, thanks to The Maryland Book Bank for their generous contribution!

Do I have to pay for books?

No! It’s a FREE community event. The Community Cooperative does lots of free community events. If you would like to donate money to Coop doing more of these events please choose an an amount at check out. Otherwise, you are good to go.

Do I need a ticket to come?

Nope, but this does help me know how many people to expect. You can also donate money for more events like this at checkout.

What’s parking like?

When offices are closed, parking is free at the Centers for Advanced Orthopedics parking lot next door. There may also be space at the CAA Park nearby.

Hey everybody! We're hosting an open studio afternoon at a friend’s place at 1308 River Rd. Crownsville, MD. Come over and work on your pet projects, art projects, homework assignments, high scores, needlepoints, and smutty fanfiction with us. There will be healthy, questionable, and junky snack foods there as well as cupcakes most likely.

We are also group ordering from Gangster Vegan so fill out the form attached at check out with what you want.

Sign Up Link: https://www.thecommunityco.org/shop-the-coop/open-studio-co-work-co-create

P.S. - Mini-Con has been postponed for another time. Thank you for your interest. I will make an even better Mini-Con. Just you wait!

Day: Saturday, August 21st

Time: TBA (Tentatively 2p - 4p)

Address: 20315 Georgia Ave, Brookeville, MD 20833

Meet up and hang out with us at Brookville Beer Farm!

Items Available at Checkout

• Snacks

• Coop Stickers

• Coop T-shirt (https://www.customink.com/g/prp0-00ce-dqds )

• Weekend Craft TBA

Sign Up: https://www.thecommunityco.org/shop-the-coop/meetup-brookville-beer-farm

Day: Saturday, July 17th

Time: TBA (Tentatively 2p - 4p)

Address: 22529 Wildcat Rd, Germantown, MD 20876

Meet up and hang out with us at Doc Waters Cidery!

Items Available at Checkout

• Snacks

• Coop Stickers

• Coop T-shirt

• Weekend Craft TBA

Sign Up: https://www.thecommunityco.org/shop-the-coop/meetup-doc-waters-cidery

Day: Friday, June 25th

Time: 6p - 8p

Address: 8253 Dollyhyde Rd, Mt Airy, MD 21771

Meet up and hang out with us at Milkhouse Brewery!

Items Available at Checkout

• Snacks

• Coop Stickers

• Coop T-shirt

• Weekend Craft TBA

Sign Up: https://www.thecommunityco.org/shop-the-coop/meetup-milkhouse-brewery

Saturday, June 5th 2p - 4p

What we doing?

We are going on a hike! I like to call them vigorous walks so they're not so intimidating, but yes, a hike. We will be hiking in the Frederick Municipal Forrest, which is about a 3.8-mile loop and should take around 2hrs. I am a slow hiker so I will bring up the rear. This trail has several up and down points so wear your good shoes. A hike, a snack, and an air high-five!

Where we at?

For this group hike, we will be hiking Frederick Municipal Forrest most likely an amalgamation of the Buck Flats and Catoctin Recreation Trail. Use this all trails map for reference. The reference trail is a 3.8-mile loop that is rated as easy on All Trails and should take around 2 hrs. Learn more about this trail here. We’ll meet at the trailhead here (Coming Soon!).

For everyone’s safety and your own WEAR A MASK

Oh, we got plans?

Yup! By plans, I mean snacks. Bring yourself for obvious reasons and your water bottle for hydration reasons. I’ll bring the snacks! If you are ordering a Coop 2021 t-shirt (Select the $25 “Company, water, snacks, sticker, and Coop t-shirt” option at checkout"), be sure to use this order form by May 15th https://www.customink.com/g/prp0-00ce-dqds and I will bring it with me to another event or mail it to you.

Hot-tip.

If you have seasonal allergies, please take your appropriate allergy medication. Talk to your doctor before doing this if you have any concerns. If you have an inhaler or any other health-related items for your wellbeing please bring them! I am relying on your to know your own limits and know what you need.

Items Available at Sign Up

• Hiking snack pack

• Community Coop Sticker

• Community Coop T-shirt (https://www.customink.com/g/prp0-00ce-dqds )

Sign Up: https://www.thecommunityco.org/shop-the-coop/summer-hike-frederick-municipal-forrest

First in-person Coop event in over a year!

Saturday, May 8th, 2p - 4p

What we doing?

We are going on a hike! I like to call them vigorous walks so they're not so intimidating, but yes, a hike. We will be hiking the Serpentine Trail at Soldiers Delight, which is about 2.4 miles and should take around 1hr and 15 - ish min. I am a slow hiker so I will bring up the rear, but it will be fun all the same. A hike, a snack, and an air high-five!

Where we at?

For this group hike, we will be at Soilder’s Delight’s Serpentine Trail. The Serpentine Trail is a 2.4-mile hike that is rated as easy on All Trails. Learn more about this trail here. We’ll meet at the trailhead here (Coming Soon!).

Serpentine Trail, Owings Mills, MD 21117

For everyone’s safety and your own WEAR A MASK

Oh, we got plans?

Yup! By plans, I mean snacks. Bring yourself for obvious reasons and your water bottle for hydration reasons. I’ll bring the snacks! If you are ordering a Coop 2021 t-shirt (Select the $25 “Company, water, snacks, sticker, and Coop t-shirt” option at checkout"), be sure to use this order form by May 15th https://www.customink.com/g/prp0-00ce-dqds and I will bring it with me to another event or mail it to you.

Hot-tip.

If you have seasonal allergies, please take your appropriate allergy medication. Talk to your doctor before doing this if you have any concerns. If you have an inhaler or any other health-related items for your wellbeing please bring them! I am relying on your to know your own limits and know what you need.

Items Available at Sign Up

• Hiking snack pack

• Community Coop Sticker

• Community Coop T-shirt (https://www.customink.com/g/prp0-00ce-dqds )

Sign Up: https://www.thecommunityco.org/shop-the-coop/spring-coop-hike