Editor's note: This story is part of an ongoing “Sowing Change” series about urban farming.
In the Phoenix suburb of Gilbert, a rebellion against traditional urban sprawl is taking root. While most suburban developments are defined by towering cinderblock walls and manicured lawns, Agritopia offers a different vision of a village where front porches and storefronts overlook 11 acres of certified organic farmland and the morning air smells of citrus blossoms.
A Legacy Preserved: From Cotton to Community
Agritopia's story began long before the modern “agri-hood” trend. In 1960, Jim and Virginia Johnston purchased the 166-acre plot, originally a 1927 homestead, to raise their three sons, Joe, Steve and Paul. For decades, the land was a working farm producing cotton, wheat and hay.
By the late 1990s, the rapid expansion of the Phoenix metro area and the construction of the Loop 202 freeway threatened to swallow the family farm. While many neighbors sold to developers of traditional subdivisions, the Johnstons chose a different path. Led by the eldest son, Joe Johnston, a Stanford-educated engineer and entrepreneur, the family decided to “un-sprawl.”
They envisioned a neighborhood that honored its heritage by keeping the farm at its center. This transformation was literal: the family's 1960s ranch-style home was converted into Joe's Farm Grill, the tractor shed became The Coffee Shop and the family barn was reimagined as Barnone, a hub for local craftsmen.
The “Farm-First” Philosophy
The logistical tension of running a high-yield, USDA-certified organic farm in the middle of a residential neighborhood is managed through a clear set of priorities. According to Christy Davis, executive director of the Arizona Urban Agriculture Foundation at Agritopia Farms, the community's governing documents explicitly state the farm comes first.
“Regardless of the noise, the dust ... that comes first,” Davis says. This clarity has created a culture where residents view the farm not as a nuisance but as a vital community anchor.
Under the leadership of head farmer Kelly Saxer, Agritopia grows over 45 varieties of fruits and vegetables. The farm specializes in specialty crops that are difficult to find in standard grocery stores:
- Leafy greens: Three types of kale, arugula and napa cabbage.
- Root vegetables: Specialty radishes such as daikon and watermelon radishes.
- Citrus and dates: One of the last remaining commercial orchards in the East Valley, producing up to 20,000 pounds of fruit annually, alongside 26 medjool date trees, often called “nature's candy.”
A Closed-Loop Community
The farm's produce feeds the neighborhood through a modernized CSA program serving 75 to 100 residents, while restaurants like Joe's Farm Grill integrate the harvest directly into their menus.
Beyond the plate, Agritopia serves as an educational hub. Their Farm Hands program brings children onto the land three days a week to teach them about seasonal eating and the patience required for agriculture.
Davis says she has seen firsthand, “If kids are involved in that process, they're more likely to eat their vegetables.”
In an era of extreme heat and water scarcity, Agritopia remains ahead of the curve. The farm uses drip irrigation and its original on-site well to mitigate costs. Even with the completion of the high-density Epicenter development, which added luxury apartments and retail, the farm has maintained its core footprint of 11 acres.
As Gilbert continues to densify, Agritopia stands as a living testament that agriculture and urban life don't just coexist; they can thrive together.
