What does it take to turn a 200-acre family farm into an entirely new kind of community?

In this episode of Building the Agrihood, Jennifer Ross sits down with Craige Hoover and Brian Wright, the developers behind Armistead, an ambitious agrihood taking shape in Franklin, Tennessee.

Built around the Short family's historic Century farm, Armistead brings together walkable neighborhoods, homes, shops, preserved farmland, and a working nonprofit farm.

Craige and Brian share how the project began, the challenges of turning a vision into reality, and what makes a genuine agrihood different from an ordinary subdivision with a few gardens.

They also discuss the complexities of planning, working with local government, preserving agricultural land, and creating a community where farming is part of everyday life.

And for anyone dreaming of creating something similar, they offer perspective on where to begin—even if you've never developed a community before.

It's a behind-the-scenes conversation about what it really takes to build an agrihood.

Leslie Aberlin was close to selling her family's farm when a health crisis changed how she thought about food, land, and community. That turning point became the beginning of Aberlin Springs. In this conversation, she shares what shaped the project—and one thing people often misunderstand about agrihoods.

Don't miss this podcast! It's the one to listen to if you are thinking about devleoping an agrihood or even planning to move to one.

Find more episodes and information here:

https://buildingtheagrihood.com/

Can you build a thriving village with an 11 acre organic farm and homes ranging in size from 1.200 square feet to 5,600 square feet, and have teachers, firefighters, pilots and business owners all happily living on the same street? Yes. And this 20 year old agrihood is living proof.

My guest is William Johnston, the CEO of Agritopia's development company; Johnston and Co. William is a 3rd generation steward for Agritopia's 160 acres. Purchased in 1960 by William's grandparents, the land was farmed as a monocrop for 30 years. Agritopia was born when his father and uncles decided to preserve the farm and create a community that honors the farming heritage and is a unique place for multi-generational living and everything else that makes this village special.

Agritopia is a master planned community that has everything from an assisted living facility, to a pre-k-8 private Christian school, over 450 single family homes, and an 11.3 acre certified organic farm. The commercial side of it is nearing completion and in the end, they'll have close to 100k square feet of retail space and restaurants and 320 multifamily apartment units!

"Preserving urban agriculture makes life better, ...more and more we see the value... This is the way to develop in the future that can really impact people's lives positively."

Don't miss this podcast! It's the one to listen to if you are thinking about devleoping an agrihood or even planning to move to one.

Find more episodes and information here:

https://buildingtheagrihood.com/

Agrihoods need land, and a lot of it! Finding the right piece has been a 6 month or more journey. In this episode I am sharing the updates regarding acquring acreage and some of the ups and downs that go along with it.
Have I made an official offer? Do I have a contract? Listen in and find out!

https://buildingtheagrihood.com/

What's is like living in an "award winning biophilic community that connects people to nature and each other," and boasts a 25-acre organic garden? You'll find out in this episode! My guest is an almost 10-year resident of the well-known Serenbe agrihood. He shares his first-hand knowledge and experience and gives everyone looking or considering moving to an agri-community a lot to think about, and some great suggestions too!

Building the Agrihood - Home

7,000 miles + 11 months = 21 agrihood visits across the US for my guest Brett Coleman along his wife, Lena and their young son. But why?

Don't miss this podcast to hear about how agrihoods are more community focused compared to typical neighborhoods. Why they are so popular and so sought after. And for someone who's visited so many, I ask, how do they compare to one another? What are the drawbacks and what is Brett's advice to anyone looking at moving into an agricultural community?

For more information on agrihoods, visit us at https://buildingtheagrhiood.com

Visit my guest, Brett Coleman at: https://agrihoodliving.com

A journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step. While I'm past the first step stage in building the agrihood, there are still quite a few miles to go! On a recent episode I talked about a developer I'd met through a mutual friend at a REIA one night. In this podcast I share with you the update, the conversations that have happened since that first night and how it's okay that things like this don't get built over-night.

In August 2021 I drove my 5 youngest children down to Chattahoochee Hills, GA to visit Serenbe. This is easily one of the largest and most established agrihoods in the country. Did I love it and make plans to model this agrihood? Or are there things I'd change for our own ag-community? I share it all in this episode.

Either way, we enjoyed that Sunday afternoon just walking and driving around Serenbe, recapping not only what I liked, but what I plan to do a little differently in the agrihood we build.

http://buildingtheagrihood.com