In the heart of southwestern Ohio, Aberlin Springs is redefining what suburban living can mean. As the state's first agri-community, this development integrates modern housing with a fully operational farm, offering a new model for sustainable suburban development. Located in Morrow, Warren County, the community is built around a vision of regenerative agriculture, community supported agriculture (CSA), and a deep commitment to health and wellness.

Launched in 2018 by homebuilder Leslie Aberlin, Aberlin Springs spans over 140 acres of pasture, woodland, and homesites. Unlike traditional subdivisions that center on golf courses or pools, this community is designed around a working farm that includes livestock, vegetable gardens, hoop houses, and a farm market. Residents not only enjoy the amenities but contribute to the farm's sustainability through a required CSA membership included in their homeowners association (HOA) fees.

Homeowners pay a $2,500 capital contribution upon purchase and an $850 annual HOA fee, nearly half of which directly funds farm operations. In return, each household gains access to seasonal produce, pasture-raised meats, and the opportunity to participate in the farming process. Engagement is flexible-about one-third of the residents are highly involved, volunteering regularly and shaping the farm's operations. Another third participate moderately, while the rest simply enjoy the benefits without direct involvement.

The community diversity is notable: from young families to retirees, from single professionals to multi-generational households, including residents of eight nationalities. Children learn farm chores alongside professional staff, while parents help care for animals like chickens, sheep, pigs, donkeys, and Kunekune piglets. Trails meander through the woods, and community events foster a strong sense of belonging.

Farming operations are led by Nathan Reidel, a manager focused on regenerative practices. The farm follows principles inspired by Joel Salatin's Polyface Farms, emphasizing closed-loop systems, natural pest control, and soil regeneration. Reidel oversees a market garden producing crops like broccoli, squash, onions, and Chinese cabbage, while another manager handles livestock. The entire system is designed without synthetic pesticides, and water is reused via a private treatment system, irrigating fields and replenishing the aquifer.

Aberlin Springs is more than a neighborhood-it's a response to the growing crisis of disappearing farmland and the rising demand for local food systems. With farmland increasingly lost to development, agri-communities offer a solution that protects open space while meeting housing needs. Residents like Jerry, a retiree with no prior farm experience, now feed livestock daily. For him, and many others, the experience goes beyond fresh food-it's about reconnecting with land and community.

The concept has roots in Aberlin's personal story. After a serious autoimmune diagnosis, she reconsidered the fate of her family's farmland and decided to transform it into something meaningful. Inspired by the healing power of natural food, she combined her experience in luxury home construction with a desire to create one of the healthiest neighborhoods in the world.

The development also sets a precedent for land use policy. Across the U.S., more than 200 agrihoods have emerged in at least 30 states, with increasing interest from urban planners and housing developers. A study by the Urban Land Institute found agri-communities often receive stronger public support than conventional developments, due to their emphasis on farmland preservation and community engagement. In Illinois, Kane County enacted zoning laws to support developments like Serosun Farms, which preserves 300 of 400 acres for agriculture.

Aberlin Springs embodies this future: a place where food, housing, and health intersect. It offers a glimpse into how suburban design can evolve-replacing isolated sprawl with a holistic, integrated community model. Here, a farm isn't just scenic-it's essential, supported, and lived in by those who call the neighborhood home.

This model challenges traditional real estate logic, but Aberlin remains convinced it works: "Homeowners have money, we have land, and people need local food. So why not bring it all together and build something that truly serves a purpose?"

As more developers face rising land costs, climate concerns, and growing consumer demand for healthy lifestyles, communities like Aberlin Springs could become not just a novelty-but a blueprint for the future of rural-suburban America.