Nestled on the eastern slopes of the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Greene County, Virginia, Farmcolony is a farm-subdivision created in 1976. The subdivision contains 150 acres of working farm, 95 acres of homesites, and 40 acres of mountain open space.Farmcolony has been loved and nurtured by its residents throughout its history. It is also one of the most well known projects in the U.S. and consequently has been the subject of studies and commentaries that continue today.
Farmcolony was first featured in Volume 35, No. 2, of the February, 1976 Urban Land Institute publication Urban Land. Author Joe Nash (former Farmcolony lot owner) described the concept behind Farmcolony:
The basic concept of Farmcolony is to keep as much of the agricultural land in farming as possible while using the remainder of non-farm land for residential development. The owners of various lots and/or homes control use of the farm land through the Farmcolony Homeowners Association. The Association owns the beneficial interest in the common farm land, all the buildings, equipment, livestock, and produce. A Board of Directors directs the farm manager as to what the general uses of hte farm will be, and the farm manager implements the Board’s directives and operates the farm on a day-to-day basis.
Farmcolony was created by Florida developer Gilbert P. Edwards. In 1973, he hired Michael Redd, a landscape architect, to assist him in finalizing the concept. According to Nash, Edwards and Redd developed a matrix of criteria for selection of the first and future Farmcolony sites.
Farmcolony was created by Florida developer Gilbert P. Edwards. In 1973, he hired Michael Redd, a landscape architect, to assist him in finalizing the concept. According to Nash, Edwards and Redd developed a matrix of criteria for selection of the first and future Farmcolony sites.
Edward’s idea was that the food produced by residents would be made available to residents at the cost of production. Excess food could also be sold to the general public as a way to offset farm costs. Edwards and Redd canvassed the Blue Ridge Mountain area from Charlottesville to Front Royal and finally decided on the Shur Farm five miles from Stanardsville on the east slope of Parker Mountain. The lots were created in the uplands area of the parcel, leaving the pasture and steeper mountain land as common area. Lot sizes varied from 1.4 to 3.5 acres.
The Farmcolony HOA operates the common areas and buildings and equipment and legally is a Virginia Real Estate Trust, with a Board of Directors comprised of residents. Lots and common areas have fairly substantial covenants and restrictions. In addition, structures must be approved by an Architectural Committee. Nash’s article concludes with the thought that the subdivision would likely prove to be particularly attractive to commuters.
Today, 34 years later, Farmcolony not only endures, but thrives.
