Building An Ambitious Agrihood with Scott Snodgrass
The American landscape has undergone a profound transformation over the past century and a half. Our cities have burgeoned in population, and suburbs have sprawled across what was once fertile farmland and open space. Zoning policies have rigidly separated our activities – agriculture over there, and homes and commerce over here.
Simultaneously, our food system has undergone a radical overhaul. We've witnessed a shift away from the majority of the population actively engaging in the cultivation of plants and animals. Today, it's more common to find commodity crops on our dinner plates, grown thousands of miles away, than to savor nutritious food cultivated by local, small-scale farmers within our own communities.
As I traverse cities and neighborhoods across the country, it becomes abundantly clear why this has happened. Pristine lawns adorned with neatly trimmed shrubs, immaculately defined edges, and brilliantly lit driveways have become the markers of success in our culture. Rather than cultivating community gardens and neighborhood farms, we seem more inclined to install parks with off-leash areas for our pampered pets, plastic slides, and artificial turf for our children.
But working under the banner of Regenerative Real Estate has afforded me a unique insight into the yearnings of countless individuals. We receive daily missives at Latitude from people who share a common desire – to live in closer proximity to nature and within a thriving community. They long for a place where people come first, where health and wellness take center stage, where beauty and biodiversity flourish. They crave nutritious food to nourish their bodies, not just pills to ward off illness. They want water that flows pure from their taps and air that invigorates their lungs.
This is why I've become passionately captivated by the concept of agrihoods. In the seamless integration of homes with agriculture, I see the most compelling solution to combat urban sprawl and reconnect with the life force that resides beneath our feet: the soil.
While there are now several dozen agrihoods scattered across the country, I perceive agrihoods as a burgeoning movement that is grossly underserving the overwhelming demand. This is precisely why I was thrilled to welcome Scott Snodgrass of Meristem Communities to The Regenerative Real Estate Podcast.
Both Scott and I hail from the South, where agrihoods and urban farming are far from the mainstream. It's this cultural context that makes Scott's journey so fascinating. He has dedicated his life to reintroducing food cultivation into the heart of our cities. It's inspiring to hear about his entrepreneurial journey, which began with helping homeowners transform their lawns into food forests in Houston, Texas. From there, he evolved to managing farms for communities across the Southeast, and ultimately chose to step into the role of developer to create his own agrihoods.
If you possess even a glimmer of interest in understanding the creation of agrihoods or wish to explore the path of becoming a developer, this episode is a must-listen for you. Should you require support along your journey or aspire to create a community of your own, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. This is the type of living legacy work that excites us, and we are eager to help bring it to life in the world. Join us in cultivating a regenerative future that reconnects us with nature and community, and reshapes the way we live.
