The Project

A Quick Take

Our plan combines the preservation of our family farm with the development of a green sustainable community on an adjacent parcel of land. The developable parcel shares a border with the farm, which is controlled by a conservation easement and so cannot be divided or developed. Neighboring the farm, we envision a community of homes whose owners share a common interest in green, sustainable living. Beyond that, these homes will share access to the farm. American farmland is rare and disappearing fast. Our plan will offer environmentally aware people an opportunity to live in a community of like-minded people along with access to the recreational and traditional activities of the farm.

The Goal

Our goal is to create a model development fully integrating farm land conservation and sustainable residential housing in a suburban environment. We are calling the approach FarmFront™ development. The land for this project--two connected plots, the Farm and the Development--is 6.5 miles southwest of downtown Raleigh, NC, in the southeastern United States. It is adjacent to the end of Lake Wheeler and well inside the suburban ring around Raleigh. 

The Farm

Bordering on Lake Wheeler, the 92-acre Theys family farm is protected by a conservation easement grant to the Triangle Land Conservancy. This ensures that the farm itself cannot be divided or developed. Click here for more information about this easement. Currently, the farm hosts the Theyland horse co-op, a self-running co-op that has been in operation for 25 years. 

The Development

Sharing a common border with the farm is a 66-acre plot of partially forested land which is zoned R-40W and should yield at least 35 lots. Click here for a map. 

The FarmFront™ concept integrates suburban residential development with an adjacent operating farm. The intent is to adopt farming activities that mesh with suburban life in such a way that the farm can be productive while inviting meaningful involvement from development residents. Three organizing principles guide the concept: 

¨      The farm will generate a significant part of its operating expenses from farming activities, offsetting the need for substantial subsidies.

¨      Part of the farmland and its facilities will be made available to the community for trails, gardening, social gatherings and other open-land activities that are not traditionally part of the economics of farming but will enhance community life.

¨      The operation of the farm area will be structured to provide meaningful opportunities for involvement of community members.