Where and How 'Agrihoods' Work

"In Central Kentucky, the historical trend has been to clear an agricultural property of all vestiges of its previous use, then name the development for what used to be there. To do otherwise goes against all rules of subdivision design and development. Agrihoods bend those rules into the symbiotic relationship of pioneer days," according to a post on The Lexington Streetsweeper blog to introduce the idea of Farming Community Subdivisions.

The post compares agrihoods to housing developments built next to a golf course, but "[instead] of golf, the amenity which draws these homeowners is the benefit of fresh food within walking distance. Their own CSA or farmers market in the backyard where they can participate or not."

The post related question about whether an agrihood would work in Central Kentucky to how badly Baby Boomers, Millennials, and parents desire these kind of amenities, especially because Farming Community Subdivisions are still, essentially, sprawl.

As noted by the article, the agrihood has recently gained renewed attention thanks to a 2,130-home development in Willowsford, Virginia covered by John Gittleson recently for Bloomberg Business, which "set aside 2,000 acres of green space, including 300 acres for raising fruit, vegetables, chickens, and goats." Beth Buczynski has also reported on the specifics of 12 agrihoods around the country.