Residential amenities are typically thought of in terms of golf courses and fitness centers. But at new type of neighborhood popping up all over the U.S., the main attraction is a farm. Called ‘agrihoods,’ these communities center around farm-to-table living.
Agrihoods take community gardens to the next level. They feature organic vegetable row crops, fruit orchards, and even resident livestock.
For residents, agrihoods represent a return to simpler times, when we knew our neighbors and the origins of our dinner. For developers, they are an opportunity to create suburban enclaves with green spaces that turn a profit.
Homes and shared spaces are designed to encourage interaction with nature and neighbors. There are open porches, sidewalks, farm stands, and a centrally-located town square. Residents pay – through fees or labor – to get weekly boxes of fresh produce, eggs, and other farm goods.
Agrihoods are a way to get involved in rearing food without committing to the reality of farming 365 days a year. And because the farms are self-sustaining, they can employ full-time farmers to oversee operations, creating stable work.
Commitment to sustainability often extends beyond the kitchen table. For instance, Vermont’s South Village has a one-acre solar array that produces carbon-free electricity for not only itself but for the City of South Burlington.
Purchasing a home in many agrihoods costs no more than similar housing in the area. Swimming pools and fitness centers are nice, but a sustainable neighborhood that offers farm-to-table living, a cooperative community, and environment ethics? Now those are amenities.
**********
.
Web Links
“Agrihood” Builds on Popularity of Farm-to-Table in Northern Virginia
Farm-to-Table Living Takes Root
Connection to the land defines Rancho Mission Viejo ‘agrihood’
Photo, posted in October, 2010, courtesy of Detroitunspun via Flickr.
.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio, with script contribution from the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies.