
The Regenerative Real Estate Podcast Agrivillage co-housing community creation through farmland conservation with Katie McCamant and Dave Boehnlein
Mar 25, 2025
Katie McCamant, a co-housing pioneer, and Dave Boehnlein, a permaculture designer, share insights on transforming a former dairy farm into Rooted Northwest, a thriving agri-village. They discuss the challenges of securing land for sustainable co-housing and the importance of community involvement. The duo highlights innovative funding strategies and the benefits of multi-generational living in these communities. Their vision combines farmland conservation with community resilience, urging a shift toward environmentally conscious housing solutions.
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Misalignment of Housing and Values
- Most people's largest investment, their home, is rarely aligned with their values.
- The cultural assumption of isolated single-family home living is outdated and limiting.
Learning from Community History
- The Rooted Northwest founding team spent 1.5 years visiting existing communities to learn from their failures and successes.
- Their in-depth exploration aimed to avoid repeating common mistakes made in past community projects.
Secure Buyers Before Building
- Successful co-housing projects require proving there are committed buyers who can afford the homes.
- Financial commitment from participants enables developers to secure loans and move projects forward.

