Via Cyberhomes:

Calling themselves the “Weapons of Mass Construction,” complete with official T-shirts, nine neighbors in Sacramento, Calif., banded together for two years to tackle home improvement projects on a rotating basis. From building raised garden beds to remodeling an entire garage, members of the five households took turns working on each other’s homes, finishing projects in one party-like day that would have taken several weekends of back-breaking work on their own. For homeowner Michelle Johnston, that speed was the group’s biggest advantage. “It’s amazing how much work you can get done in a day when eight or nine people are involved,” she says.

Layton Turner, the Cybehomes contributor who wrote the aritlce, interviewed me for the piece:

Expect to see more neighborhood cooperation in the near future, says Realtor Brandon Green of Brandon Green & Associates in Washington, D.C. When money is tight, homeowners cut back on home maintenance, often out of necessity, he explains. One of the first things to go is exterior upkeep.

Unfortunately, deferred maintenance can impact the whole neighborhood, potentially devaluing nearby properties. But Green is seeing more neighbors banding together to pitch in and help out, “sometimes with [the homeowner’s] approval and sometimes not.” They may make needed repairs, paint or cut the grass.

These gatherings are a great way of interacting with your neighbors saving money, improving your home, and having fun.