Commonwealth Club of California Podcast Start in Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where We Live with Radical Common Sense
Oct 29, 2025
Steve Nygren, founder and CEO of Serenbe, shares insights from his journey to create a wellness community that integrates nature, agriculture, and housing. He highlights the importance of biophilic design and how it fosters connections within communities. Nygren discusses the consequences of urban sprawl, advocating for agri-hoods where residents can engage with local food economies. He also addresses the role of seniors in community life and the need for regenerative agriculture to build resilient food systems, envisioning a healthier, connected future.
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Weekend Farm Sparked A New Vision
- Steve Nygren discovered his weekend farm changed his family's priorities and led him to rethink suburban sprawl.
- That personal shift became the foundation for creating Serenbe as a model community integrating nature and living.
Biophilia As Integrating Principle
- Nygren adopted biophilic design to unite living systems and human habitats as Serenbe's organizing idea.
- He found it bridged environmental aims, density, and agricultural integration better than other labels.
Invite Experts And Idealists
- Admit what you don't know and recruit experts and idealistic partners to fill gaps.
- Invite diverse professionals and students into your project to expand possibilities and avoid conventional limits.
