The mix of features here is unique to Nature Towns. No other new developments are being built with large-scale, food-producing, regenerative organic farms around walkable communities.
Exact features will vary somewhat according to specific preferences of residents in each Nature Town.
Table of contents
Housing: A mix of the following
- Single-family homes based on 25′, 37.5′ and 50′ wide lots.
- Human-scale multi-family housing (4-plexes, 8-plexes, 12-plexes, 2-3 stories high)
- Live-work units (2-3 story walk-ups: retail store or office on ground floor, office or home on 2nd and 3rd floors)
- Intentional communities and co-housing (2-3 stories, some micro-units with shared kitchens and baths, some full-size apartments with community kitchens, etc.)
- Some blocks may be entirely residential, but many will be mixed, with shops and other community spaces interspersed
- Some blocks may be dominated by certain demographic groups: mature adults in a quieter area, families and kids in another area closer to the playground or dog park
- All housing is green built to save energy and money
Shops and Services
- Daily farmers market
- Food hub (farm produce is delivered here for distribution to local restaurants/food trailers or commercial kitchens, and for residential produce deliveries)
- Renewable energy microgrid
- Laundry facility
- Library
- Childcare center
- Coffee shops
- Grocery store
- Restaurants
- Bakery
- Ice cream shop
- Bike shop
- Hair & nail salons
- Wellness center for allopathic and alternative medicine
- Emergency care clinic
- Dental office
- Postal & deliveries/business center
- Co-working spaces
- Community kitchens for larger-scale production (making applesauce or tomato sauce; baking for fundraiser; etc.)
- Commercial kitchen for residents’ small business ventures (ice cream from the farm milk, honey from on-site hives, essential oils, etc.)
- Artisan market for residents to sell products made locally from farm products (honey, soap, yarn, bone broth, dog treats, extra food grown in individual allotment gardens, etc.)
- Repair cafe: shared tools & spaces for woodworking or electronics repair; sewing machines and needles for clothing and upholstery repair, etc.
- Multi-purpose community meeting spaces (gaming groups, political groups, service groups, Boy Scouts…)
- Community spaces for banquets, performances, etc.
Hubs
- Health & wellness hub: regional magnet for natural products and services
- Transit hub: commuter bus stop (connections to regional centers) and community electric car fleet
- Food hub: allotment gardens for residents; daily farmer’s market for steward and residents selling locally produced foods and products; meat-and-vegetable processing facility on-site, including cold storage; value-added processing (broth, jams, etc.)
- Circular economy hub: repair, reuse, recycling centers
- Commercial opportunities and jobs
Nature and Outdoors
- Pocket parks
- Miles of nature trails
- Great birding
- Outdoor fitness center with workout equipment
- Allotment gardens for residents, with veggie washing stations; professional help provided by steward (compost, etc.)
- Covered basketball courts that can also be used for concerts or dances
- BMX park maintained by steward with farm equipment; kids can help determine design
- Public art
- World’s best dog park
- Large natural playgrounds
Ecosystem Services
- Food production
- Optimized habitats for birds, butterflies, bees, and other pollinators & beneficial insects
- Optimized soil quality as habitat for micro-organisms and for growing food
- Water and air purification
- Cooler micro-climate / local climate regulation
- Protection against effects of climate change such as drought, flood, wildfire
- Spiritual renewal
- Recreational access
- Nature therapy
- Bioenergy
- Carbon sequestration
