The Rise of Agrihoods

Words by Christine Van Dyk

A gaggle of pig-tailed girls skip down the sidewalk, stopping momentarily to pick blueberries from a bush. Their hands are sticky and their feet are dirty but those smiles are undeniable.

Running in and out of the rows of vegetables, these free-range children are residents of a neighborhood in Georgia known as Serenbe. The community is built on a commitment to wellness where fresh food and fresh air seem to be the mission. It’s a place where folks grow their own produce, go for neighborhood jogs, and pick herbs from the medicinal garden. There are yoga classes and seasonal farm-to-table restaurants, walking trails and a doctor of Chinese medicine. It’s a world away from modern-day life, and yet just a half-hour from the Atlanta Airport.

Neighborhoods like this one are known as “agrihoods,” or agricultural neighborhoods. They are the latest trend in residential housing. Where developments were once designed around golf courses and tennis clubs; these communities are anchored by working farms and community gardens.

Some agrihoods have sprawling pastureland for cattle to graze while others feature horse stables. There are communities with honey bees and some with chicken coops and orchards.

While each development is slightly different, the goal is to give residents access to food grown within walking distance of home.

Currently, there are about 200 agrihoods across America—from Texas to Virginia, South Carolina to Oregon. The Grow, sprouting up near Orlando, Florida, is one of the latest.

“As cities grow larger, there’s a greater need for housing,” Blake Lapinsky, Vice President of Sales at Pulte Group, said. “But as more and more people come to town, it impacts the landscape. You start to notice all the orange groves and trees that are suddenly gone.”

It seems many municipalities have “paved paradise to put up parking lots.” But with agrihoods, growing areas such as central Florida can provide housing while still maintaining the natural landscape, blending agricultural land and urban living.

“Sustainability and environmental consciousness is important, especially to millennials,” Chris Wrenn, Director of Development for Pulte Group, said. “The Grow will offer residents everything from U pick farms to seasonal cooking classes to summer farm camps.”

At first glance, agrihoods may seem a bit like communes, but residents rarely have the same political views, religious convictions, or hobbies. Instead, they share the belief that life is better when it’s simple and lived outdoors. And above all else, residents of these unique communities value healthy food that is grown close to home by farmers they know and trust.

But isn’t this just a “farm?” Not exactly.

“You don’t have to be a farmer,” Shannon VanCleave, Manager of Land Development for Pulte Group, says. “Residents of The Grow will pay a fee for a share of the crops.”

Most agrihoods have a farm manager and professional staff who farm the land and care for the crops. These costs are covered in a variety of ways: HOA fees, profits from neighborhood restaurants, and community farmer’s markets. It’s hands-free—all the benefits of having a farm without the work of actually maintaining it.

While most agrihoods don’t require you to pick up a shovel or plant a row of seeds, there are some that allow residents to volunteer their time in exchange for the produce gathered from the farm.

One of the more innovative ideas in shared-farming is a development known as Agrihood in Santa Clara, California. Located in a busy section of the South Bay, this urban farm provides fresh produce as well as affordable housing to low-income seniors and veterans who live in one of the priciest areas of the country. But it’s not the only urban farm hoping to reap a harvest of good.

The Michigan Urban Farming Initiative has been planting seeds since 2012, when it began as an urban garden in downtown Detroit. Today, the three-acre city farm and agricultural campus is

addressing food insecurity through educational programs, a café, and two commercial kitchens. Neighbors borrow tools and other community resources in exchange for produce that’s always free of charge. All in all, the agrihood has brought better housing, deeper community roots, and overall good health.

While farming and gardening remain at the core of every agrihood, these developments are as diverse as the homeowners. Some communities are built for families while others cater to the 55-plus crowd. There are agrihoods with large, custom residences and some with tiny homes.

At The Grow, you’ll find a community designed for people of varying ages, incomes, and housing types—all hoping to live off the land while still enjoying the amenities of a large city.

No matter the particulars, these neighborhoods are all about growing something lasting, building strong communities, and above all, living “well.”