Agrihood Arden’s focus on healthy living is enhanced by a five-acre working farm and event barn. under construction near Orlando, Florida, called Lake Pickett South, will contain almost 3,000 homes. " Matthew Redmond runs a company called Agriburbia that has been experimenting with developments incorporating high-tech, small-scale farming projects for more than a decade. Under the direction of our two skilled Farm Directors, the five-acre parcel will produce fruits, vegetables and herbs to be shared among residents. “Here, it feels like the real Florida.”. By using different technologies, including computer-aided growing systems, specially made trellises, drip irrigation, and geothermal heating, Agriburbia wants to make real estate and agriculture inseparable. The rest of what will become Arden is currently covered in white gravel, construction equipment, and piles of shingles and supplies sitting at dead-end roads waiting to be turned into more homes. This community was designed to combine two of Vermont’s most cherished traditions: open space and village living. Arden’s developers expected most of the residents to be like Bouek and Helman, older adults and retirees looking for healthy, active living. Healthy, organic food has been getting closer and closer to your home; why can’t it be part of your neighborhood? “And in most stores, farmers get a little less than 15 cents on the dollar of every retail food dollar.”. It was a fantastic view, helped by the visible number of straps landscapers had used to position each tree just so. Arden is an agrihood: Instead of being built around a golf course, the heart of Arden is an organic farm where residents are allowed to till the soil and reap some of the bounty grown on-site. [ CHET FROHLICH | Freehold On a small farm in Loxahatchee, Florida, perched on the edge of the sugarcane fields that run through the state’s midsection, married couple Carmen Franz and Tripp Eldridge look perfectly cast as hip millennial farmers. They led groups through a horseshoe-shaped collection of raised beds behind the barn. “Trying to change how people eat food is important, and they’ll pay more when they know.”. Look outside the manicured entryway, and you can see how what developer brochures and hand-outs call “the natural choice” seems somewhat unnatural in its surroundings. But it’s also true that Arden suggests that if suburban housing developments are going to continue to be built, there are ways to make them better. Simply put, an agrihood is a housing development centered around community farming. I would love to see this concept evolve so everybody has a farm in their community; it’s like a hyperlocal professional you trust, like your dentist.”. A national trend called "agrihoods" is planting roots in Tallahassee with the introduction of Pine Dove Farm. “We’ve done a good job finding ways to grow without having to make the capital investment.”. A good example of a working agrihood is The Cannery in Davis, California. The agrihood features paths for cycling and cross-country skiing, community gardens, and a 4-acre organic farm that plays a vital role in connecting South Village residents to local food production via a cooperative CSA. But the development also suggests, if not a rejection of sprawl, at least better-intentioned sprawl. An agrihood is a community that is built around a farm. welcome to the agrihood! Everyone just wants a nice story to tell about home. Materials are protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. Tenants can wash, prepare, and grill veggies raised on-site, or use the industrial-grade juicing station to enjoy the produce on the go. As gardeners ourselves, we’d noticed that t here’s a vital, engaged community around growing food. The Farm at South Village focus is on organic farming and a true farm to table experience. Deep dives on cities, architecture, design, real estate, and urban planning. Sustainable Urban Farming. All rights in these materials are reserved. These communities are producing their own food, which eliminates the need for outside sources. All of them agree that the agrihood concept—which they saw as a distribution center and educational asset for quality food—was a benefit to the local agriculture community. The ability to ride your bike right by the farm and go past the barn or meet at the ranch house and at your outdoor fireplaces, sit, talk, connect that way, makes the farm portion of it even more attractive.”. Franz and Eldridge believe the Arden job is perfect for them. The cost of land, equipment, and student debt leaves many aspiring farmers of their generation in debt. Welcome to the Agrihood. Inside the barn, a small market features products such as honey, hot sauce, and eggs from local farmers and makers (alcoholic fruit popsicles, I was told, were far and away the best-sellers). Their current job provides stable salaries and health care, as well as the ability to advocate for healthy eating and other local farmers. Welcome to Agrihood Living Love The Farm to Table Lifestyle! A group of moms were helping them put baitfish on fishing poles, snapping photos of each cast with their phones. “Not everyone living at the Cannery is getting their hands dirty, getting in the dirt, and farming,” he said. Tripp began his career as a Peace Corps volunteer, and has since put his skills to use in a variety of settings ranging from botanical gardens to row crops and ranch land. The 1,200-acre plot will have 2,000 homes, built around a five-acre farm. “The surest path to sustainability is using some of the land in larger developments, both commercial and residential,” he said. The community event barn in the agrihood at Arden in Palm Beach County. 954-476-5085. Welcome to the Agrihood! “We’re not trying to feed 2,000 homes and replace their grocery bill. “Now I start looking at the supermarkets or the specialty stores for the things they grow here.”. After working with consultants, Freehold Communities built the Miralon agrihood in Palm Springs, California, around olive trees, which fit the soil and the water constraints, says Suzanne Maddalon, vice president of marketing for Freehold Communities. But he said it’s also important to think beyond the farm itself. At the grand opening celebration, a number of local farms and farming groups, many of which sell goods at the Arden store, set up displays. Just about every home on their block has kids Ethan’s age. Southeast Florida’sfirst agrihood is being built in Loxahatchee. That Truman Show-esque feeling of entering a staged environment hit me as I drove into the development. Water is a constant—and expensive—issue that any farm operation must address. Just northwest of the development sits the massive West County Energy Center, a 240-acre natural gas plant run by Florida Power & Light. Phase I has just finished; roughly a quarter of the site, and the main amenities, are complete. They’re tan, trim, and gregarious, ready to talk composting or crop rotation at a moment’s notice. “The joy we get every single day from helping Arden bring the agrihood movement to South Florida is beyond rewarding. At Arden, a moderate-sized development which will eventually boast 2,000 single-family homes, the five-acre farm and big red barn sit a few hundred feet from the development’s clubhouse, which boasts terraced pools and waterfalls straight out of a resort. Nearby farmers felt the educational component was a great way to promote locally grown agriculture and help out struggling community farms. Three homebuilders, Lennar, Kenco Communities, and Ryan Homes, are building and selling models on-site, which range from roughly $300,000 to $900,000 and have sold faster than expected, according to Freehold and agents for the homebuilders. Farming has always been a passion—they started a teaching farm in North Florida, worked for the Peace Corp, and worked at a nonprofit encouraging people to spend food stamps at farmers markets—and a difficult way to make a living. Freehold reps said it’s a little too early to call the development a success. Bobby Humphrey, a sergeant in the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s office, 36, and his wife, Christine, 35, who have a young son, Ethan, 5, said they came because the schools are fantastic. They are also dedicated to long-term sustainability. Models do not reflect racial preference. “It’s tough to be a farmer, especially since you need to grow and sell to consumers, and nobody can do it on their own,” he said. “Other places feel like a fake tropical escape,” said Franz. They don’t work the land in a rural hamlet surrounded by empty fields. Like so many suburbs past, Arden is a simulacrum: in this case, an artificial version of a healthy, farm-fresh lifestyle that, due to housing patterns and commercialized agriculture, is far from the norm in modern America. At a record-setting pace, people are purchasing homes in Farm-to-Table neighborhoods as a way of connecting with the land, getting to know their neighbors and trusting the source of where their food comes from. That’s why they call their farm “the fishbowl.”, “You have to have the right personality type to do this,” said Eldridge. Carson, who works for the firm behind the Cannery, said they hope to do another farm community. In these suburban subdivisions, farming is just another amenity. Recently, Agriburbia helped install an open farm on the top floor of a new residential development in Denver called Lakehouse. But Redmond’s ultimate vision would be to bring agrihood-like concepts—which he calls “agriculturally augmented business enterprises”—everywhere. According to the Urban Land institute, when it comes to master-planned This is accomplished by creating systems that will provide the food for the present and future generations. The main roadway to reach Arden, Southern Boulevard, is lined with huge pits and earthmoving equipment, part of a widening project bringing even more development to the region. “They were incredibly gregarious and very engaging,” said Maddalon. In front of the barn, community herb gardens lining the main drive were open to all comers; many residents said they stop by on their way home from work to pick herbs for their evening meals. The presence of greenspaces, such as a community garden, can provide food, generate employment opportunities, increase social recreation, and even promote neighborhood growth… Part of a growing trend of communities built around farms instead of golf courses, Arden is one of 90 agrihoods in the United States and is the first in South Florida. Farms use less land and require less maintenance than golf courses or swimming pools, and offer a point of differentiation in a crowded market (nearby megadevelopments will add thousands of new homes to West Palm Beach county over the next few years). Allison Linn, a farm manager with CoLab Farms, located 40 miles northeast in Indiantown, said she supports Arden and the “responsible growing” Eldridge and Franz promote. Helen Bouek, 61, who sold her horse farm and moved in in early 2018, volunteers to help plant vegetables. Dentists’ offices could grow mint to make fresh toothpaste. ARDEN BROCHUREPlease submit info to view: At the center of Arden is a five-acre farm and event barn, offering events, seasonal classes, and lively gatherings wrapped within the beauty and bounty of the land. They grow fruits and vegetables within a 1,209-acre real estate development, Arden, a subdivision in western Palm Beach County. They grow fruits and vegetables within a 1,209-acre real estate development, Arden, a subdivision in western Palm Beach County. Two employees work the 1.5 acres of designated farmland which includes some livestock. The concept of growing lean, nutritious food and then celebrating that food together as neighbors, is what drew us to this remarkable community. This story is part of a group of stories called, other developers experimenting with the agrihood concept, add thousands of new homes to West Palm Beach county, farmers get a little less than 15 cents on the dollar of every retail food dollar. During my visit, the main highway leading to the development was lined with “Welcome to the Agrihood” signs. Arden is set on 1,209 acres and includes a mile-long central lake, 20 miles of trails, and 500 acres of parks and open space. “I’ve been doing golf communities all my life, and they’re like mausoleums,” he said. They grow an incredible assortment of food, 30 varieties of fruit and 100 varieties of vegetables, including mangoes, mamay, papaya, bananas, coconuts, and avocados. The pair even occasionally posts video on their YouTube channel, Farmers on Bikes. These kinds of developments work for multiple reasons, said Kevin Carson, northern California president for the New Home Company, developer of the Cannery, a “farm-to-table”-themed development in Davis, California. “When I met them in person, it’s like they could have an HGTV show, 100 percent. I looked out across the water to an island where cranes landed and stretched on perfectly placed palm trees. This information does not represent a specific offer of sale or solicitation to purchase property within Arden. https://www.globest.com/.../the-rise-of-agrihood-communities Dan Rawn, a senior project manager with Freehold Communities, the national builder behind the project, said he’s never seen a reaction from buyers like the one he’s witnessed at Arden. “You need to unplug for a small moment and have meaningful connections, and get your hand in the dirt,” said Eldridge. Amid the carnivalesque atmosphere of the grand opening, a mini street fair featuring tents, live music, games for kids, and food trucks, guests could tour the grounds of the farm, where Franz and Eldridge prepare a farmshare every four weeks for every family in the development. Franz and Eldridge think the appeal is in a return to basics, even if that shift is happening somewhere that’s as much a theme park as it is a working farm. I was told the sculpted, curved road on which I entered, lined in native purple grasses swaying in the wind and pointing straight toward the development’s large central lake, was planned by landscape architects to help me decompress. Two fully furnished Model Homes from The Stanton collection are now available for showings to interested homebuyers. Arden is a prestigious community offering new homes in Palm Beach County, FL as well as a clubhouse with 2-level resort-style pool & waterfall, 4-acre farm with event barn, 20 miles of trails, … It’s about the site plan. The term describes residential communities which feature food production as an amenity and focus. Privacy Policy   Terms of Use, New Master-Planned Community in Palm Beach County, The Paired Villa Collection by D.R. The whole family lifestyle is fantastic.”. Freehold’s Maddalon said they were already trying out different concepts in different areas: Orchard Ridge in North Austin has community gardens, and Miralon in Palm Springs features olive groves instead of a golf course. Her friend Brenda Helman, who runs the community’s Facebook page, said she’s lost 25 pounds since moving here, which she attributes to healthier cooking and eating. The tours were second nature for the couple because at Arden, the education and public-facing part of the job is just as demanding as growing. At the center of Arden is a five-acre farm and event barn, offering events, seasonal classes, and lively gatherings wrapped within the beauty and bounty of the land. The couple took the farm concept and ran with it, building out the general store and adding events and cooking demos. 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