The potential of agrarian communities as a model for farmland preservation in Central Texas

This report examines agrarian communities as an emerging model of residential real estate development and their potential to preserve threatened farmland in Central Texas. Facts on farmland loss during the last three decades will be shown, followed by environmental, social, and economic reasons to justify its preservation. New Ruralism is then presented as a framework for responsible growth management in peri-urban areas, under which conservation development could serve as a specific mechanism to establish agrarian communities. The local food movement is identified as a market driver for an agrarian lifestyle and a literature review is given of the most relevant publications related to agrarian communities within the last five years. Lastly, two case studies of agrarian communities near Central Texas are discussed.