agrihoods

Below, I am republishing something I ran across on internet while looking for co-operatives/collaborationst/ different types of community that I feel the alternative progressive world needs to endorse for any type of revolution. And Revolution is the key word here. How these (largely middle class) communities are organized or how they vote is not important here. This is an example of what needs to be done worldwide, the development of real sustained community un-reliant on state, national interests, like the quakers or other farming communities, such as Amish, without the reliance on religion or national politics for its internal organization.

There is no doubt in my mind that unless we (progressives, anti-violence, freedom loving people) have to eat and we have to work, and we have to live in accordance with our values and beliefs and still leave room for those who don't share some of our values, BUT those natural divisions shouldn't interfere nor destroy social cohesion.

And, of course, some will be left out or leave themselves out. I'm giving you the link to the full, advertised, and "corporatized" link but if you want to skip that, read the excerpted version (copied) to get the basic idea and do your own research.

If anyone has visited any of the seven or any other communities based on sustained living, such as co-housing, cooperative, or collaborationist, farming, let's start a conversation by you sending your links, conversation to this blog via comments.

And since, like millions of others, i am completely flustered and horrified that the fascist cat is out of the bag, we need to forget that dissent and our beliefs are always going to be targets for those who not just disagree but are willing to throw us under the bus of oppression.

https://farmonaut.com/blogs/planned-agricultural-communities-7-agrihoods-youll-love

Historical Context and Evolution of Planned Agricultural Communities

While the term “agrihood” may be new, the concept is rooted in a long legacy of intentional, land-based community development. Let’s take a brief look at the history that shaped modern agrihoods:

Freedom Farm Cooperative: An Early Vision of Community Self-Sufficiency

Long before today’s organic farm neighborhoods, pioneers such as the Freedom Farm Cooperative in Mississippi (founded 1967) set a transformative precedent. Led by acclaimed civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer, Freedom Farm provided Black families with access to land, food, housing, and education. This cooperative model not only supported self-sufficiency and food security, but also championed economic empowerment and social justice. It remains a testament to the power of communities coming together through agriculture, blending political participation and daily livelihood.

From 20th Century Intentional Communities to Modern Agrihoods

Throughout the 20th century, intentional communities with farms attracted people seeking shared values, communal living, and direct connection to nature. By the 1990s, agrihoods became a formal part of urban planning — not just relief from urban sprawl, but blueprints for sustainable living communities built around food production and environmental principles.

Today, we see this legacy reflected in the best agricultural residential developments: purpose-driven neighborhoods where food, farm, education, and environmental care are central to an inspired lifestyle.

At their heart, agrihoods thrive on the powerful synergy between agriculture and community-oriented residential living. Let’s explore the defining characteristics that set them apart from typical housing developments:

Centralized Working Farms and Community Gardens

• Integrated Farm Spaces: Most agrihoods are built around a central organic farm or community garden that supplies residents with a constant stream of fresh, locally grown produce.
• For example, Agritopia in Gilbert, Arizona features an 11-acre certified organic farm, while Cobb Hill in Vermont maintains extensive vegetable fields, orchard, and pasture.

Sustainable Design and Eco-Friendly Building Practices

• Homes and community spaces are constructed with green building methods: high-efficiency insulation, solar orientation, smart resource use, and energy-efficient appliances.
• Communities such as Cobb Hill lead the way in sustainability, minimizing their ecological footprint and supporting renewable energy.

Community Engagement, Education, and Social Interaction

• Educational programs — workshops, youth camps, farm tours — aim to cultivate knowledge of organic practices and healthy living.
• Frequently, design features (like shared gardens or narrow, pedestrian-friendly streets) encourage meaningful neighborly interaction.
• Serenbe in Georgia, for example, boasts regular farm-to-table dinners and wellness workshops, fostering a close-knit communal spirit.

Mixed-Use and Accessible Living Spaces

• Agrihoods blend housing with commercial and recreational areas —think farmers’ markets, small shops, playgrounds, and trails.
• This maximizes walkability and provides diverse opportunities for community gathering, food sales, and leisure activities.

Commitment to Environmental Stewardship and Health

• Most agrihoods implement organic farming, water conservation, wildlife-friendly landscaping, and reduced pesticide use.
• Direct access to locally grown fruits and vegetables not only benefits nutrition but encourages a deep sense of place and purpose.

“Agrihood residents can access up to 70% of their produce needs directly from on-site community farms.”

To help us understand the landscape of modern agrihoods, here’s a comparative table that highlights each community’s location, population, acreage, percentage of land dedicated to agriculture, main crops, sustainability practices, and unique features.

Agrihood	Location	Population (Est.)	Total Acres	% Farmland	Main Crops/Products	Sustainability Practices	Unique Community Features
Agritopia	Gilbert, Arizona	~1,000+	166	7%	Organic fruits, vegetables; chicken eggs; honey	Certified organic farming, sustainable irrigation	Farmers’ market, on-site restaurants, community gardens, front-porch housing
Serenbe	Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia	~850	1,000	2.5%	Vegetables, herbs, mushrooms, flowers	Organic certified farm, natural building, energy efficiency	Hamlet clusters, community events, charter school, wellness center
Cobb Hill	Hartland, Vermont	~60	260	23%	Dairy, maple syrup, vegetables, flowers, mushrooms	Solar orientation, shared resources, forest stewardship, green building	Co-housing, community work days, rotational grazing, maple production
Prairie Crossing	Grayslake, Illinois	~400	677	~15%	Certified organic vegetables, grains, grass-fed beef, eggs	Renewable energy, wetlands preservation, organic crop rotation	Community barn, farmers’ market, nature trails, edible landscaping
South Village	South Burlington, Vermont	~350	220	30%	Vegetables, berries, cut flowers	Green building, shared gardens, wildlife corridors, water conservation	Organic CSA farm, pond, walking paths, solar installations
Willowsford	Ashburn, Virginia	~2,000+	4,000	4%	Vegetables, pastured eggs, honey, maple syrup	No-till farming, pollinator habitats, conservation easements, green design	Demo farm, adventure park, culinary programs, CSA, farm-to-table events
Harvest	Argyle, Texas	~1,200+	1,150	2%	Fruits, vegetables, herbs, community