Why Sustainability is a Core Value
For John and Rebecca, sustainability is more than a buzzword—it’s been his life’s work.“I worked for the EPA and on environmental initiatives. We have to move toward more sustainable living, and cohousing allows us to do that.” Burns Village & Farm is designed to reduce waste, preserve farmland, and will use resources more efficiently whenever possible. By living in Burns Village & Farm, residents gain access to a healthier, greener lifestyle.
For John and Rebecca, Burns Village & Farm isn’t just a housing development, it’s a vision for a more sustainable way to live.
“Well, I come from a sustainability background, both with the EPA, and that's where I worked, and also with the farm, with farming the way it is, the problems that we have with, I'll say, industrialized agriculture. So we need to change those things. We need to move toward where we're more sustainable.” - John
Rebecca has considered herself to be an eco-psychologist for decades. She teaches a graduate course called the Psychology Of Sustainability, and views being connected with planting, cultivating, harvesting, preparing, and sharing food with others is a cornerstone of health and well-being.
Living Lighter on the Land
For John Patrick, sustainability is more than a buzzword—it’s been his life’s work.
“I worked for the EPA and on environmental initiatives. We have to move toward more sustainable living, and cohousing allows us to do that.” - John
Burns Village & Farm is designed to reduce waste, preserve farmland, and will use resources more efficiently whenever possible.
By living in Burns Village & Farm, residents gain access to a healthier, greener lifestyle.
For Burns Village & Farm members, sustainability begins with a mindset, one rooted in conservation and collective care.
Located in the heart of Tennessee, our future cohousing agrihood offers an alternative to the isolated, resource-intensive lifestyle many people are eager to move beyond. Here, sustainability isn’t a checklist, it’s a way of living more intentionally, together.
Living With, Not Just Beside, Your Neighbors
Burns Village & Farm is built around the idea that community itself is a sustainable resource. In a world where individual households each replicate the same appliances, tools, and lawnmowers, we're exploring how much more efficient and practical it can be to share.
Residents will have opportunities to collaborate, exchange, and co-create, reducing waste and consumption while strengthening human connection.
Food at the Center
A sustainable farm is at the heart of our community, offering fresh produce and an ongoing relationship with the land. This isn’t just about eating well, it’s about knowing where your food comes from and how it’s grown. For many of us, it’s also a way to get our hands back in the soil and rediscover the rituals of planting, harvesting, and sharing meals.
A Future in Progress
We’re not offering a perfect solution, and we’re not promising a utopia. What we are building is a community of people who care—about each other, about the earth, and about doing things differently. Sustainability here is practical, evolving, and deeply human. It’s about living with intention, sharing resources, and making decisions as a community.
Join us for an event and discover how Burns Village & Farm is redefining modern living
June 25th at 7:00 - 8:00 pm (CT)
July 19th at 12:30 - 1:30
July 20th at 2:00 - 3:30 pm
This Is What Sustainable Living Really Looks Like
When most people think about sustainability, they imagine reusable grocery bags and compost bins. Maybe a solar panel or two. But at Burns Village & Farm, sustainability runs deeper than checklists and carbon stats. It lives in the way we eat, relate, build, and belong. It’s not a trend. It’s a way of life.
When most people think about sustainability, they imagine reusable grocery bags and compost bins. Maybe a solar panel or two. But at Burns Village & Farm, sustainability runs deeper than checklists and carbon stats. It lives in the way we eat, relate, build, and belong.
It’s not a trend. It’s a way of life.
You Can Taste the Seasons
Sustainability here starts with the soil. Our farm, which uses sustainable methods, isn’t just scenic, it’s sustenance. Neighbors learn to live with nature’s rhythm instead of against it. You don’t need a label to know something is sustainable when you watch it grow. From the first strawberries of spring to hearty winter greens, the food is fresh and local. That changes how you cook, how you eat. And how you think about where nourishment comes from.
Shared Living, Smarter by Design
At the heart of Burns Village is the common house, a gathering place, a lending library, a tool shed, and a community kitchen. Instead of everyone owning their own everything, we share what we can. Need a ladder? A pressure cooker? A listening ear? It’s all right here. It reduces waste and loneliness.
Farm Next Door
Kids grow up knowing how carrots come out of the ground and what bees actually do. Adults rediscover what real tomatoes taste like. And everyone eats a little better, because they understand the story behind their food.
A Life Designed for Connection
The homes at Burns aren’t lined up with fences in between. They’re clustered to encourage walking and spontaneous conversation. We trade garages for gardens. Cul-de-sacs for courtyards. It’s not unusual to bump into a neighbor and end up chatting under the oak tree for twenty minutes. That kind of connection isn’t just charming, it’s what keeps people grounded, mentally healthy, and deeply invested in where they live.
Time Is a Renewable Resource Here
In most places, time feels scarce. At Burns, it’s shared. Neighbors team up for childcare. Carpool to town. Organize repair days instead of tossing broken things away. When people look out for each other, life slows down, so you can savor it a bit more. You suddenly have time to take a long walk, try a new skill, or join a community meal. That’s not just sustainable living. That’s sustainable being.
We Care for What We Build
Whether it’s the land, the homes, or the relationships, what we build, we care for. There’s a sense of stewardship here, of shared responsibility. It shows up in how we plant cover crops, clean up after potlucks, and help new families settle in. We’re not just renting space. We’re shaping a legacy. One that can grow, adapt, and thrive for generations.
Want to See It for Yourself?
This way of life draws people in. But it’s the people who make it sustainable. Join us at an upcoming virtual information session.
Get a glimpse of what it’s going to be like to live in a place where your values, your neighbors, and your daily life are all aligned.
Because the future isn’t something we’re waiting for.
We’re building it together.
Welcome to the Agri-hood
Burn Village and Farm was featured in Edible Nashville’s May/June 2022 Garden Issue. Along with grounding the community – quite literally – around a working farm, an agrihood is all about cohousing. While the homes are privately owned with their own full baths and kitchens, stakeholders in an agrihood share a communal space with a full kitchen and dining area of its own, allowing neighbors to get together for regular meals and providing their kids with a safe place to play.
Burn Village and Farm was featured in Edible Nashville’s May/June 2022 Garden Issue. Along with grounding the community – quite literally – around a working farm, an agrihood is all about cohousing. While the homes are privately owned with their own full baths and kitchens, stakeholders in an agrihood share a communal space with a full kitchen and dining area of its own, allowing neighbors to get together for regular meals and providing their kids with a safe place to play.