Where Farming Meets Community: Inside the Middlebrook Agrihood with Steve Bruere

The Regenerative Real Estate Podcast

The Regenerative Real Estate Podcast
Where Farming Meets Community: Inside the Middlebrook Agrihood with Steve Bruere
Jun 11, 2025
Neal Collins

For years, we’ve seen the rising demand: people looking for more than just a home. They want community. They want connection. They want to live where food, farming, and stewardship are part of daily life.

But while the vision for agrihoods has gained attention, real-world examples that fully integrate regenerative agriculture, diverse housing, and a true sense of place are still few and far between.

In this episode, Neal sits down with Steve Bruere, President of Peoples Company — one of the nation’s leading agricultural brokerages — to explore both the current state of regenerative agriculture and what it actually takes to bring one of these communities to life.

Steve isn't just advising from the sidelines — he’s developing Middlebrook, a 540-acre agrihood outside of Des Moines, Iowa that blends working farmland, residential neighborhoods, and vibrant mixed-use spaces. With a 20-acre organic farm at its core, Middlebrook represents a compelling look at where agriculture and placemaking intersect.

We dive into the shifts happening across the ag industry, the unique opportunities (and challenges) of building agricultural communities, and why projects like Middlebrook may just be the blueprint for a new kind of living.


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This podcast isn’t just about ideas—it’s about action. From these conversations, two organizations have emerged to bring regenerative real estate to life:

Latitude Regenerative Real Estate is the world’s first regenerative-focused real estate brokerage, dedicated to aligning values-driven buyers and sellers. With a strong presence in the Pacific Northwest and Great Lakes regions, Latitude also supports purpose-driven developments across North America through strategic marketing and branding services. If you're looking to buy, sell, or amplify a regenerative project, Latitude is your trusted partner.

Hamlet Capital is an investment and development firm committed to building resilient communities rooted in working farms. If you’re developing an agrihood or conservation community, we’d love to hear from you. Together, we can turn visionary ideas into thriving, place-based investments.

Episode Artwork Where Farming Meets Community: Inside the Middlebrook Agrihood with Steve Bruere 52:26 Episode Artwork The Agrarian Future Is Here: Judith Horvath on creating homesteads and compelling agricultural communities 50:53 Episode Artwork Building a New Model: Geoship's Vision for Dome-Based Housing with Micha Mikailian 53:33 Episode Artwork Rethinking Housing Through Community-Led Development with Wendy Reid Fairhurst 57:51 Episode Artwork Agrivillage co-housing community creation through farmland conservation with Katie McCamant and Dave Boehnlein 1:11:01 Episode Artwork Merging Natural Building & Modern Manufacturing with Evan Ryan of Croft 57:53 Episode Artwork Building urban resilience through development with Mazyar Mortazavi 47:53 Episode Artwork Building Life-Centered Organizations with Tre' Cates 1:04:31 Episode Artwork Building An Impact Investment Cooperative with Blake Jones 55:55 Episode Artwork Master Planning With the Land As Brand With Kris Maher 49:08 Episode Artwork Inspiring Regenerative Economies with Jenny Andersson 1:17:56 Episode Artwork Purpose-Driven Sustainable Housing and Education with Emily Niehaus 59:43 Episode Artwork High Performance Natural Building with Jacob Deva Racusin 1:11:52 Episode Artwork Net Positive Capital with Paul Rabinovitch 54:25 Episode Artwork Unlocking the Potential of Place with Sean McLean 1:02:10 Episode Artwork Raising A $100m Impact Fund with Analise Roland 1:00:19 Episode Artwork Reflecting on 100 Episodes and the Evolution of Latitude with Neal and Alissa Collins 1:02:07 Episode Artwork Combining Conservation and Development with Doug Davis 1:28:10 Episode Artwork Finding Levers for Change with Lindsay Baker 1:06:24 Episode Artwork Building a Passive House Community with Greg Hale 54:14 Episode Artwork Designing a Connected World with Peter Block 57:05 Episode Artwork Mass Timber Construction with Nathan Helbach 58:53 Episode Artwork Capital Conversation: Organic Financing with Brandon Welch 41:45 Episode Artwork Reviving Public Spaces with Mark Lakeman 1:13:04 Episode Artwork Capital Conversation: Funding Regeneration with David Leon and Drew Dumsch 1:02:14