Romantic and Practical Perspectives

The Romantic Definition

Small farmsteads on the rolling hills of Georgia, evoke a vision of rural charm and tranquility that blends the natural beauty of meadows, woodlands, and pastures with a lifestyle rooted in land stewardship and community. The Georgia area is renowned for its unspoiled, picturesque landscapes, quiet rural roads, and strong community values around conservation and sustainable living. Living on a small farmstead conjures images of:

• Waking up to the sounds of nature and livestock

• Enjoying locally grown food, open skies, and unobstructed views of forests and fields

• Gathering eggs from backyard coops or harvesting vegetables from lush gardens

• Participating in a setting that preserves the “rural character” and natural serenity, even as Atlanta is less than an hour away

• Walking or riding along trails that connect to vibrant but carefully planned village centers

The Practical Definition

From a planning and regulatory point of view, small farmsteads—often called “farmettes”—are large-lot rural subdivisions that allow homeowners to build a custom home, barns, outbuildings, and maintain gardens or even keep some livestock.

Key practical details:

• Farmsteads: Defined by local ordinances as large-lot residential subdivisions of rural land, often processed administratively by the zoning board, with multiple lots for small-scale residential hobby farms.

• Typical Size: Farmsteads are envisioned to consist of 3+ acres per lot—enough space for a home, vegetable gardens, accessory dwelling unit, and sometimes sheep pastures or small herds. A strict minimum of 3 acres per farmstead.

• Conservation Focus: In Georgia, land-use rules state that much of the land is preserved for agriculture or forest, with limits on overdevelopment and incentives for sustainable land use, per the comprehensive plan. Similarly, the Farmsteads are envisioned to maintain a 80% protection of green space (can be placed into conservation when applicable) while focusing the built environment on the remaining 20% of the property.

• Agricultural Activity: These farmsteads can operate as hobby farms, small-scale ranches, or organic farms supplying local markets, restaurants and families within the community; land use is flexible but will center on family sustenance and community farming and consumption.

• Location and Community: These properties are intentionally connected via trails or roadways to our neighboring village centers, enabling a blend of rural living with walkable and easy drive access to amenities.