Living with the Land

Living with the Land

MIDDLEBROOK FARM — IOWA’S FIRST AGRIHOOD — IS FOCUSED ON CULTIVATING COMMUNITY

By Gretchen Westdal Centers

Technology has enabled an unlimited amount of connection to family, friends and even strangers, so it might be surprising that 72% of people aged 30–49 say they know some or none of their neighbors, according to a Pew Research Center survey.

Virtual connections can be an amazing way to stay in touch with those living far away, but nurturing in-person relationships with neighbors can improve mental and physical health. Additionally,

tight-knit communities see an improved vitality where people are invested in the vibrancy of their neighborhoods.

One unique example can be found in Iowa’s first agrihood.

Nature and Nurture

Middlebrook Farm is the neighborhood — the agrihood — adjacent to the original town of Cumming. It was developed to bring the quintessential charm of smalltown Iowa to the convenience of a Des Moines metro suburb. The design promotes connectivity with neighbors and the land that surrounds them.

“Middlebrook is unique. We have around 800 acres, and we’re building a city more than a development,” explains Tim Portzen, vice president of Dilligent Development, the company behind the agrihood’s creation. “It’s a planful community that is centered around agricultural amenities. I liken it to Grinnell, Decorah, Pella — towns with really tightknit communities where you know your neighbors and where you can know the farmer you’re getting your eggs or milk from.”

The community was designed to encourage connection to nature and to nurture relationships with neighbors. Homes feature front porches to bring residents to the front yard instead of sequestered in the back. There are walking and biking trails, community garden plots and events that foster relationships.

“There’s a diversity in who’s attracted to the agrihood,” notes Kalen Ludwig, a realtor and sales and marketing representative for the agrihood. “Those of all ages and backgrounds are choosing to live here. From young families to retirees, people like the sense of community, the walkability and what the area provides.”

Matt and Kori Welbes moved to Cumming two years ago to be a part of the growing agrihood community, which was created with natural landscapes, community gardens and walkability to promote sustainable living, local food production and community engagement.

Kori and Matt Welbes, recent empty nesters, have been Middlebrook residents for more than a year. The agrihood has the ample outdoor activities including gardening that the couple love but also fosters connection to other neighbors and residents.

“The neighborhood is so peaceful,” says Kori. “It’s like a warm hug when you come home. Many of us live and work in the Greater Des Moines area, and the work plus commute can take a toll on your mental health, so we felt like we needed a little slower pace. We can garden and meet neighbors. We love that we can walk to everything. The idea for us was that we could retire in this home and have our community around us.”

In a different stage of life, Leah and Rob Becker are native Iowans who returned home after living in California. They have two young children and enjoy the active neighborhood and sense of community.

“When we were starting our home search in Des Moines, we had no idea this kind of community existed,” explains Leah. “It wasn’t the house we fell in love with; it was the idea of the neighborhood and everything that’s offered here. There’s a purposeful engagement.”

Mayor Tom Becker Park is a one-of-a-kind play space featuring an agricultural inspired playground, large open spaces and charming landscaping.

As the agrihood grows, so do the opportunities for residents and visitors to connect with one another and agriculture. Events, amenities and businesses abound in and around the area. Some of which include:

Fridays At the Farm: An outdoor event for all ages that features live music, local food and beverage vendors, shopping and more.

Wilson's Orchard: Recently opened, this working orchard and cidery has a bakery, restaurant and bar, as well as you-pick crops and farm activities.

The Community Garden: Plots are available to Middlebrook residents to grow and tend to crops.

The Middlebrook Mercantile: Preserving a 1900s schoolhouse, The Merc, as it’s known, is a coffee shop and bar that features live music, local bites and goods.

Great Western Bike Trail: This 19-mile stretch of trail connects Des Moines and Martensdale and is easily accessible from Middlebrook.

Built in 1900, this historic one-room schoolhouse was restored and preserved to maintain its original character. The Middlebrook Mercantile now serves as a centerpiece for the agrihood’s commercial area, just as it once served as a centerpiece for the rural town of Cumming.

Living With the Land

Middlebrook was created in harmony with the surrounding land. The homes use efficient features like geothermal heating and cooling. Landscaping guidelines encourage planting mature trees and using native prairie grasses and plants.

Existing ponds act as regional detention for stormwater, helping control erosion by stabilizing soil and preventing excessive runoff. Open green spaces and play areas are surrounded by walking and biking paths that reduce car dependency and get people out to enjoy the land.

“Some people think of an agrihood as 100% farms or net-zero homes,” says Portzen. “I think of sustainability as truly being able to sustain what makes this neighborhood a community and a viable neighborhood that people want to live in a century later.”

Plans continue to expand Middlebrook with new housing options and conveniences so people of all ages and backgrounds can experience the connected life of an agrihood.

There are an estimated 200 agrihoods across the U.S. Most are in the South and West portions of the country. But, with Iowa’s strong ties to agriculture, it makes sense that we have our very own agrihood