10 Ways To Get Involved

Did you hear? We’re designing a sweet new community near Bennington, NE. It’s a neighborhood built around a working farm! Wanna get involved?

There’s a lot of ways to be involved with The Bennington Agrihood. From helping us design the community to helping us physically build the development to living here - we’ve got you covered.

This listicle provides 10 ways to get involved.

Ways To Get Involved Pre-Development

1. Attend a Participatory Design Event

Before the first shovel breaks ground, we’re gathering ideas from people like you. Because everyone lives in a community, we believe everyone is an expert in one facet or another when it comes to community design. Our public design events are a chance to shape the agrihood’s layout, community spaces, and amenities. Bring your thoughts, creativity, and curiosity—we want to hear from you!

2. Have Coffee with Me

Let me buy you a cup of coffee and let’s talk shop. Whether you have questions, ideas, or just want to learn more about what we’re building, I’d love to chat.

3. Visit an Existing Agrihood with Us

There’s no substitute for seeing something in the wild which is why we’re planning trips to visit existing agrihoods to learn more about what works and what doesn’t. If you’re interested in sustainable development and like to travel, we’d love for you to join us on one of our research missions - it’s a great way to get inspired and see firsthand how these communities function.

4. Partner with Us to Cohost a Participatory Design Event

If you're part of an organization whose mission aligns with sustainability, community building, or local food systems, let’s collaborate! We’d love to cohost a participatory design event where your community can contribute ideas while also advancing your organization’s goals.

Ways To Be Involved In The Development Process

5. Help Plant Our Food Forest or Arboretum

We’re creating a food forest and an arboretum, and we’d like to make this “groundbreaking” a community event. So if you want to get your hands dirty and do a bit of very meaningful work, we’d love to have you!

6. Provide Professional Services

If you have skills that could help bring this project to life—whether in architecture, legal services, marketing, event planning, or anything else—there’s probably a way to plug in. Let’s talk about how your expertise could contribute.

Ways To Be Involved After The Development Is Built

7. Be a WWOOFer at the Agrihood

Once the farm is up and running, we plan to host WWOOFers—volunteers who help with farming in exchange for room and board. If you love hands-on work and want to experience life at the agrihood, this is for you.

8. Stay at One of Our BnBs

Not ready to move in? No problem. We’ll have short-term stays available so you can experience the Agrihood without a long-term commitment. Come for a weekend getaway, a farm-to-table experience, or just a change of pace.

Ways To Be Involved In The Development Forever

9. Live Here

Of course, one of the best ways to be involved is to make the agrihood your home! Whether you’re drawn to the connection to nature, the fresh food, or the strong sense of community, we’d love to have you as a neighbor.

10. Start a Small Business Here

The agrihood isn’t just for residents; it’s a place where local businesses can thrive. Whether it’s a farm-to-table café, a wellness studio, a farmstand, or something else, this could be the perfect setting for your next venture.

Disclaimer: This article was drafted by Sabastian Hunt with AI-assisted enhancements for clarity and additional context