We don't inherit the earth from our ancestors, the Native American proverb goes, we borrow it from our children.

The wellbeing of our planet and the quality of life that we'll leave to future generations is what Grow Community is all about.

Every facet of our design, planning and construction asks a simple question: How can we build a healthier, more sustainable community?

The success of our first neighborhood, the Village, says we're finding the right answers. Now, as work progresses on our next two phases, the Grove and the Park, word is really getting around.

Over this past year, we were honored to present the community at the Northwest Eco-Building Guild Green Building Slam event.  The Urban Land Institute made Grow a prominent waypoint on its roadmap to healthy neighborhoods, the excellent "Building Healthy Places Toolkit." And we were featured in the new eco-focused publication Conscious Company.

As we reached 100 percent solar participation among our single-family homes in the Village, Solar Builder magazine named Grow one of the nation's top residential solar installations, and we were named 2014 Home of the Year by Green Builder Magazine.

Perhaps the best accolade of all came from the National Association of Home Builders, who gave Grow its very highest honors - the prestigious Platinum Award and Best In Green Award in the 2014 Best In American Living contest.

We think we're really on to something - a new model for healthy, sustainable urban living, one that offers the template for new neighborhoods and multi-generational living around the country and the globe.

We're thinking ahead, and we're thinking big. At Grow Community, we know we borrow the earth from our children - and we want to return it to them, with interest.

Grow Community hosted a tour this past weekend for University of Washington students interested in innovative approaches to urban planning.

 

Sixteen students representing the university's urban design and planning, architecture, environmental engineering and computer science programs toured the grounds.

 

"The goal of our visit was to experience a successful example of an innovative, intentional and sustainable community," said Carolyn Foster, a senior in the Community, Environment and Planning program.

 

Grow embodies many program components, she said, including sustainability in action, stewardship of the land through gardening, mindful living, and creating successful social spaces that encourage spontaneous interaction.

 

"Everyone had a wonderful time and came away impressed and inspired," Foster said.

Thank you to UW students for visiting Grow and finding out more about our approach to urban design and community building. Come back anytime.