For Sale: Organic Farm Included

Developers are building more and more residential communities around organic farms, banking on increased resident demand for locally grown food, outdoor recreation space, and small-town charm.

1 minute read

November 30, 2010, 11:00 AM PST

By Emily Laetz


Across the country, a growing number of new housing developments are beginning to dramatically lessen the distance that produce travels from farm to table. However, these organic farm communities attempt to offer more than just a steady supply of fresh produce. Inspired by old-fashioned farming towns, many of the developments aim to foster a good dose of small-town charm and interaction amongst neighbors.

As The Los Angeles Times reports:

"Their emergence has banked on the growing demand for locally grown food and a changing outlook by some homeowners on what an upscale community should offer."

" 'People are willing to pay more for a smaller lot, because the lot comes with a 100-acre farm and 300 acres of forest or green space,' said Ed McMahon, a senior fellow with the Urban Land Institute in Washington."

"'Agriculture is the new golf,' he said."

Monday, November 29, 2010 in The Los Angeles Times

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Historic homes in St. Augustine, Florida.

Florida Considers Legalizing ADUs

Current state law allows — but doesn’t require — cities to permit accessory dwelling units in single-family residential neighborhoods.

March 18, 2025 - Newsweek

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

HUD Announces Plan to Build Housing on Public Lands

The agency will identify federally owned parcels appropriate for housing development and streamline the regulatory process to lease or transfer land to housing authorities and nonprofit developers.

March 17, 2025 - The Wall Street Journal

Bird's eye view of manufactured home park.

Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing

Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?

March 25, 2025 - Shelterforce

Aerial view of neighborhood under construction with houses and vacant lots.

Report Outlines Strategies for Resilient Wildfire Recovery in LA

Project Recovery offers a roadmap for rebuilding more sustainable and climate-resilient communities after wildfires and other disasters.

30 minutes ago - Urban Land Institute

Red rock landscape in Bears Ears National Monument, Utah.

New Executive Order Renews Attack on Public Lands

An order issued late last week pushes for increased mineral extraction on federally owned public lands.

1 hour ago - Rocky Mountain Community Radio

Black SUV viewed from rear in traffic.

Study: Larger Vehicles Lead to More Congestion

New research links large SUVs to lower traffic throughput.

2 hours ago - Bloomberg CityLab