Smithsonian in the May, 2015 issue writes about a new trend in planned living involving farm life. Housing is connected not to golf courses or lakes but to gardens.and farm land. Interconnectively is the key concept. In some developments, apartments and homes are wedged together to make use of limited space and encourage social interaction.
There are already dozens of agritopian developments and, fueled by the local-food movement. There is highly planned housing together with an environmental focus . Waste water, for example is filtered in a biological treatment system and reused for irrigation. There as much focus on providing bike and hiking paths as streets. Parks become common meeting grounds.
Serenbe is perhaps the country’s most popular and profitable “agritopia,” outside Atlanta. It tries to combine what it would term the “good life.” – arts, agriculture, education.
At Serenbe, there is a 25-acre organic farm. Plus there farmlands all of which produce enougth vegetables to supply a number of restaurants, a farmers’ market and a Community-Supported Agriculture program
Their website provides an attractive description “Year-round cultural events include outdoor theater from Serenbe Playhouse, culinary workshops and festivals, music events, films and lectures, boutique shopping, art galleries, a spa and trail riding, plus a robust Artist in Residence program featuring dinners and talks. “ Currently there are 400 homes
Links 1. Serenbe 2. Smithsonian article