Between 300 and 350 homes are being built along the French Broad River near Asheville, North Carolina, over the next ten years, in a wellness community described as an “agrihood in the making.”

Olivette is set on 346 acres in the Blue Ridge mountains, and the farm-based community will focus on a connection to food, nature, neighbours and the arts. The community is one of many popping up worldwide that focuses on creating a place where wellness – physical, mental and social – is built into the fabric of the community.

“New models of sustainable development are needed,” says Allison Smith, director of sales for Olivette. “Humanity is truly at a crossroads that absolutely requires us to find new ways of living and interacting with the environment – and with each other – to create a more sustainable, peaceful, open and connected world.”

Olivette Farm – an on-site organic farm – purposefully preceded the residential development, and is designed to affirm the community’s commitment to re-localising food production. At peak production, the farm will feed 175 families, and the community also features edible gardens, berry and fruit orchards, honey bees, and edible landscaping as part of its ‘plough-to-pantry’ philosophy.

A large portion of the land at Olivette is preserved for hiking trails and green space, with more than 10 miles of interior hiking trails and an eight-acre community park on the French Broad River – the second oldest river in the world.

“Blue Mind” points are being developed throughout the community, to create places where people can connect with the water. Olivette features 1.5 miles of French Broad River frontage, a seven-acre riverfront beach and pavilion, and a riverside amphitheater, where residents can gather around a firepit for storytelling and music.

“Olivette is home to many beautiful river and stream overlooks, mountain views, pastures and mature forests,” says Smith. “We believe that such spaces are sacred, and should be enjoyed by the community at large.”

Stringent energy efficiency is required in all new home construction, and the community is subsidising geothermal heating and cooling for every house in the first phase, in order to reduce carbon footprint and eliminate noise pollution.

Olivette will also include a bike-sharing programme and two Little Free Libraries. In future, the community will have a primary school, and garden education is designed for all ages.

For more on wellness communities, see our coverage of communities in Asia here and in Europe here. Stay tuned to Spa Business in the coming months for more in our wellness community series.