Rockwood Common

Rockwood Common Shared community resources to improve neighborhood resilience. Rockwood Common Tool Library and skill workshops are free to the public.

We need to talk about "affordable" housing, folks.This highlighted text from –pulled from a recent report on UNaffordab...
06/05/2026

We need to talk about "affordable" housing, folks.

This highlighted text from –pulled from a recent report on UNaffordable housing–provides clear evidence that our system is broken. Low-Income Housing is unaffordable to Low-Income People. This is not new information to many in our community. It's a painful reality.

Working a minimum wage job ($16.80/hr) for 3 weeks pays only $1,296 BEFORE TAXES. By lunchtime the 4th Wednesday, you've barely made rent on your 2 bedroom "AFFORDABLE" housing unit. This is not sustainable.

There will ALWAYS be minimum wage jobs. Increasing the minimum wage will ALWAYS raise the median income. And these minimum wage workers will never be able to afford housing based on 60% the median income. We need a better standard for affordable housing tied to ALL future housing dollars. And we need to make the changes NOW before any more public funds are transferred into private hands.

DISCLAIMER: you may be wondering why WE are bringing this up. A local tool library is an affordable housing initiative. We help homeowners stay in their homes and reduce the cost of living for renters and homeowners alike, by providing access to home improvement and repair resources for ALL of our neighbors. Housing policy is very important to us, and it should be important to anyone who appreciates a place to sleep at night.

June 7th - Mending Circle cancelled!Unfortunately we are not able to book the community room at the library this month. ...
06/03/2026

June 7th - Mending Circle cancelled!

Unfortunately we are not able to book the community room at the library this month.

Fear not! Mending Circle will return. Our new Tool Library location includes a community classroom space, and we are working diligently to get it ready!

Want updates? Sign up for our Mending Circle email list at RockwoodTools.org

Beautiful beds of abundance at being cared for by the amazing Farmer Tierra at Roc10 Farm. Summer squash, cilantro, an...
05/26/2026

Beautiful beds of abundance at being cared for by the amazing Farmer Tierra at Roc10 Farm. Summer squash, cilantro, and baby kale are already coming up. Land tenders are sowing more new plants on this perfect shady afternoon.

We're so thrilled to have this beautiful greenspace and community care project right across the way from our new tool library building in Rockwood Town Center. Come explore the abundance that community can make!

Our friendly neighborhood barista is now offering durable reusables for your beverages, available in 8/12/16 oz! The pr...
05/25/2026

Our friendly neighborhood barista is now offering durable reusables for your beverages, available in 8/12/16 oz! The program costs $10 to join. After that, you can skip the disposable paper cups. Keep your Okapi cup for up to two weeks, or return it.

Save the environment. Treat yourself. Support a local business. Find (and other food and stuffs) in , right across the street from our new location at 18600 SE Stark St.

Cut flooring to complex shapes with our Contour Gauge and Portable Band Saw!The simple contour gauge is made of name sma...
05/24/2026

Cut flooring to complex shapes with our Contour Gauge and Portable Band Saw!

The simple contour gauge is made of name small pins. Press against any shape to capture the contour. Then trace the shape onto your workpiece.

Cutting complex shapes is easy with our Portable Band Saw! (Thanks Mary Ann, for the donation.) Slice several small wedges to avoid twisting the blade. Clean up your work with a file (for wood) or a box cutter (for vinyl).

All tools are free to borrow for one week at Rockwood Common Tool Library.

Thank you to our neighbors, Flavours of India (.us ) for making a community donation to our remodel project. This $300 w...
05/22/2026

Thank you to our neighbors, Flavours of India (.us ) for making a community donation to our remodel project. This $300 will directly fund fresh paint and flooring to restore and protect our new building!

After 10+ years of disuse, there are many "deferred maintenance" needs in this 2,600 sq ft property. If you'd like to help out with time, talent, or funding, check the links in our bio!! Linktree.ee/rockwoodcommon

Have you ever used a w**d wrench? These amazing tools help remove woody plants using the power of leverage. Think tree o...
05/21/2026

Have you ever used a w**d wrench? These amazing tools help remove woody plants using the power of leverage. Think tree of heaven, blackberry, and holly. This easy to use tool is effective at removing invasive plants at the root, ensuring they don't spread and return.

Check out the item listing on our website to watch a short video on how they work.

Thanks to for donating these tools to us! They have quickly become one of our most popular items. (Seriously, this is the first time I could get a picture of them together since February!)

What's even better? Members have saved 131 kg of carbon emissions on these tools by borrowing instead of buying. (That's the equivalent of 54 gallons of gasoline!)

This week, we're starting in with some routine maintenance at the new building. Walls need to be scraped, touched up, an...
05/19/2026

This week, we're starting in with some routine maintenance at the new building. Walls need to be scraped, touched up, and painted in the garage before moving in all of our tools.

Experienced professionals will be in hand to teach safety and technique for cinderblock repair.

We need your help to finish prep and paint by the end of the week, so we can start moving in!

Check out the new bulk clothing price ($3/lb) at Gresham. We love having these sustainable reuse partners in the neighb...
05/18/2026

Check out the new bulk clothing price ($3/lb) at Gresham. We love having these sustainable reuse partners in the neighborhood!!

Rockwood Tool Library needs your help! We have to repair 1,200 sq ft for our new library and repair center, on a very li...
05/17/2026

Rockwood Tool Library needs your help! We have to repair 1,200 sq ft for our new library and repair center, on a very limited budget.
⚡Activate COMMUNITY-POWER ⚡

Bring your skills and enthusiasm to build something with your neighbors. Inexperienced volunteers will receive FREE basic training.

DM for work party details!!

Address

18600 SE Stark St
Gresham, OR
97233

Opening Hours

10am - 1pm

Website

http://www.rockwoodcommon.org/, http://givebutter.com/rockwoodtools

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Rockwood Common posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Rockwood Common:

Shortcuts

Share

Category