Blending farming, residential real estate grows sustainability in rural Martin County
MARTIN COUNTY — Amid dwindling open space in western Martin County, a developer has hired four people to plant and nurture food, herbs and flowers there.
Andrew Gerren is both lead farm manager and lead farm educator at the sprawling Newfield development off Southwest Newfield Parkway in rural Palm City.
He and former farm educator Will Anderson were reestablishing a caterpillar tunnel in late September after Hurricane Helene brought strong winds to Martin County.
The tunnel is “just a makeshift structure for us to get our plants started and growing,” Gerren said. “I will eventually plant out into the field and other places.”
Inside the tunnel were a variety of plants such as broccoli, beets, bok choy and herbs, he said.
A new concept on the Treasure Coast
Indeed, Gerren’s team may eventually cultivate 170 acres in the midst of the 3,400-acre, 4,200-home development.
Outside of a similar farm at Atlantic Fields, also in Martin County, Gerren knows of no other Treasure Coast development with a farm.
In South Florida, the Arden residential development in Wellington includes a 5-acre farm and event barn.
Across the U.S. and Canada, 27 similar projects had sprung up by 2018, according to a report by the Urban Land Institute, which comprises urban developers and real estate professionals.
Farms are replacing golf courses as amenities in some residential developments.
Gerren’s background
Gerren was born in Massachusetts and grew up in South Florida. He left for Hawaii to pursue an education in ethno medicine and plant conservation, with a minor in production management.
He served in Peace Corps in Jamaica until the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
Gerren finds farming rewarding. He says only some people can do it.
“Farming is not always an easy job, but the idea of planting a seed, watching it blossom and then being able to provide sustenance for people, regardless of where you come from, I think is just a critical part of humanity,” he said.
Anderson’s background
Anderson, the second farm educator hired at Newfield, was from Perry, Florida. His previous experience included teaching in Houston, but he said he would rather be working outside. Teaching was the closest thing he had to an office job, he said.
“It was a little too close,” he said.
Anderson also had experience logging and growing ornamental plants and flowers, which, he said, was less nurturing. He liked the idea of bringing together these disparate experiences at Newfield.
“I think we need new models of agriculture,” Anderson said. “I think we’re very alienated from our food. This is a different model. I think it’s a good step to having local food in places that people can actually look at.”
People will also understand where food comes from, he said.
“Plants are fascinating, and it’s really cool to kind of foster their growth,” Anderson said. “I enjoy the farming. I enjoy working with the dirt. I enjoy working with the plants.”
The Newfield farm
The farm at Newfield was 5 acres in November with 1 acre under production, Gerren said. That 5 acres includes 15 community plots, a farm club with raised beds and a showcase garden, which will be a social event space.
Newfield also has a separate dedicated space for an apiary with 10 hives and may eventually cultivate a fruit tree orchard on 25 acres.
Those 25 acres plus five more are expected to be under cultivation in the foreseeable future, Gerren said. Long-term, 170 acres may be cultivated, though he was unable to say how long that might take.
A blend of food and real estate
Gerren and Anderson were hired by Agmenity — a farm consulting, design, installation and management company — that is partnering with Mattamy Homes on the Newfield development.
“We do a lot of agrihood communities and concepts like that,” Gerren said. Those are communities that blend of food and real estate.