I have had many people contact me about how to get a tool cooperative started, what tools to have, and just the basics of what needs to be done to make it successful.

I feel the tool-coops work best on the neighborhood level. Keeping it small (a few dozen members) works well for tools homeowners use only a few times a year. This also helps create more of a community in your neighborhood making it more enjoyable and safer. A neighborhood tool cooperative fulfills the needs of many handy homeowners who do not want to buy something they occasionally use and takes up space in their garage or shed.

The tools to get started can be purchased for a few hundred dollars depending on your members needs. I find that durable items used for landscaping and other minor repairs around the home is a good place to start. As interest grows and you get your own system in place to store, check out, and maintain items you can expand the offering as desired.

Here in Michigan the seasons dictate dealing with a variety of weather. This makes a tool-coop even more appealing- only using something for a few months a year.

Spring- landscaping and yard equipment. Shovels (flat and pointed), rakes (leaf and landscaping), a wheel barrow, lawn spreader (handheld and/or push), hand tamper, pruner, lopper, pruning saw, pole saw, and other hand tools are a good start. Power tools take maintenance, cost more, and can be dangerous if not used correctly. I would start small and expand as you find out what works well.

Summer- lawn equipment and home improvement tools. One lawn mower, edger, hedge trimmer, weed whip, and other tools can be successfully used by many homeowners. Pooling resources can let you buy one quality implement for less than many inexpensive ones. High end tools are safer to use, cost less to maintain (and can be maintained), do a much better job, and usually are easier to use. Yard work can be a joy when using the right tools.

Home improvement items can include taller step ladders and extension ladders, hammer drill, saws (hand, reciprocating, circular, miter) screw gun, pry bars, power washer, sprayer, among others. Proper training, safety equipment, supervision (do not work alone), and care must be used when climbing ladders and using power tools!

Autumn- leaf rakes, leaf vacuum/blower, and some of the tools used in the spring are good choices. Fall is a great time to prepare for next year- aerating, over seeding, tree trimming are good fall activates.

Winter- if you live in northern climates. Every home needs a snow shovel but one snow blower can clear many driveways and sidewalks. This is a place where you can get creative and on a weekly basis have one person store and use the snow blower to do all of the homes in the cooperative. A good snow blower is designed to be used for more than a few minutes at a time so go ahead and do the sidewalk all at once. Then in the evening people can schedule the use of it to clear their driveway. A roof rake is also an item that only gets used a couple times a year, but when you need it is is nice to have.