How Agrihoods Attract Wellness-Minded Renters
As Millennials continue to search for healthier lifestyles, sustainable communities that grow their own food are gaining momentum.
Millennials are among the most proactive and health-conscious generations out there. No wonder they’re willing to spend more money on fitness, wellness, self-care, leisure and healthy food than their parents and grandparents. For some, agrihoods are the type of communities where they can have it all.
While the term can mean different things to different people—from development-supported agriculture to sustainable subdivision designs—the Urban Land Institute established that agrihoods are “single-family, multifamily or mixed-use communities built with a working farm or community garden as a focus.”
These communities began to become popular in the 2010s, according to a report from the National
Center for Appropriate Technology’s ATTRA program. Today, there are more than 200 agrihoods across the country, spanning some 30 states, according to Ed McMahon, senior resident fellow of sustainable development at ULI. These communities typically include significant portions of land used for conservation, agriculture and farming—some 70 percent—while the remaining land is used for housing. Varying in size, agrihoods are usually built either on the outskirts of urban areas or around existing rural farms.
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Nowadays, these complex communities have multiple purposes: from food production to land preservation, sustainability and community-building. They typically cater to Millennials’ need to be close to nature, to be part of a learning process and to experience a different lifestyle in a different environment, far from the urban bustle. The younger generations are more in tune with the products they consume, they pay attention to the origin of their food, and they are more inclined to be mindful of the long-term effects they have on the environment.
And despite their more remote location, the value of properties that include elements such as working gardens and farms with organic food, is way above average, making agrihoods a solid investment opportunity.
But are they feasible? How do they work in practice? One such community in Georgia has been thriving since its inception more than two decades ago.
Serenbe, an urban village
After visiting an organic farm in the early 1990s, Steve and Marie Lupo Nygren discovered a piece of land in Chattahoochee Hills, Ga., just outside of Atlanta. To conserve and protect the countryside’s natural landscape, they decided to build Serenbe—a name that resulted from the combination between “serenity” and “to be.” The first house was erected in 2004 and since then, the community has expanded significantly and is now home to more than 1,000 residents.
Serenbe features a 25-acre organic farm that produces more than 300 varieties of vegetables and fruits, as well and herbs and flowers. Serenbe delivers fresh food year-round and is one of the first farms to be certified as organic in Georgia. Through its seasonal Saturday Farmer’s Market, both residents and visitors cand enjoy natural products, either at the community’s own restaurants or at home.
Serenbe organizes cultural and artistic events and gatherings. All images by J. Ashley Photography 
Serenbe Farms produces more than 300 varieties of fruits and vegetables, herbs, and flowers that supply the weekly Farmers Market, the community-supported agriculture program, and four farm-to-table restaurants. 
Yoga sessions at Serenbe 
The Spa at Serenbe has 12 treatment rooms across more than 3,000 square feet.
Deeply rooted in biophilic principles, agrihoods and wellness communities are evidence that a definitive shift has taken place in how people want to live now, Steve Nygren believes.
“Sustainable, community-focused places like Serenbe will continue to gain traction, not just as an alternative to traditional suburbia, but as a blueprint for sustainable living that prioritizes holistic well-being, intergenerational connections and nature-based living,” he said.
But what truly makes Serenbe stand out is its focus on building a community. That includes film screenings, lectures, reading sessions, outdoor performances and various events taking place throughout the year—such as culinary workshops, live music and visiting artists in residence with classes, dinners and talks.
At Serenbe, residents can gain knowledge of the local farms and how to build relationships with farmers. Another way through which agriculture in particular has fostered a sense of community at Serenbe is the edible landscaping that allows residents to not only connect with nature more often, but also learn about food seasonality.
Serenbe’s blend of conservation, farming and arts makes residents feel involved and have a sense of belonging. Additionally, the community’s design encourages organic connections, or what Steve Nygren calls “accidental collisions.”
“By centering Serenbe around the arts, wellbeing and agriculture, we are fostering a community where connection is the core of the living experience,” he said.
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What’s next?
Although there were challenges along the years, the Nygrens kept expanding their community to keep up with growing demand. Recently, they unveiled a new hamlet within the neighborhood. Spela will feature 82 homes and will be delivered over the next two years. It will be centered around a 4-acre park dedicated to children and adults and, alongside the natural forest, it will include special places for gathering, meditation and play structures.
Steve Nygren also told Multi-Housing News that he intends to develop a wellness campus and an aging-in-place community with 48 cottages and 47 apartments that will provide access to personalized health care, among others.
“Our aging-in-place project is important because we understand the value of intergenerational living. It’s been a foundational element of life within Serenbe since its inception and it’s important that we designate a space for residents requiring additional care and services,” Nygren believes.
