The Big East Fork AGRIHOOd - A Community of watershed stewards

We are a community of about 20 families, living privately, and sharing common recreational, agricultural, and inspirational land and experiences. Miles of private and non-profit trails maintained by the Center of Sustainable Stewardship (CSS) and community members (Big East Fork Agrihood Association, BEFAA) are accessible by the invited public. The agricultural commons may be used by community residents, resident farmers committed to sustainable and regenerative agriculture, and the invited public.

The residents of the Big East Fork watershed are composed of several groups:

1) New owners who are buying a parcel from BEF Holdings are required to join the Big East Fork Agrihood Association (BEFAA),

2) Existing owners/renters of homes and land within the Big East Fork Watershed (HSAA membership optional),

3) Future owner/renters of homes and land who have bought adjacent land and who wish to join BEFAgrihood,

3) Present longterm renters of property located in the watershed,

4) Short-term renters needing weekend or weekly accomodations and experiences,

5) New long-term lease holders of property currently in the Big East Fork conservation easement,

(BEFAA) membership required),

6) People owning community shares, one or two week periods of time (in cabins or homes),

7) The community farmer (and family) living in community-subsidized housing and supported by members of the BEFAA and the greater community (by buying produce and experiences from agro-tourism activities),

8) Workers, artists, and makers living in co-housing arrangements living in short term rentals through third party arrangements (AirBnB, VRBO)

All communities take care to provide for the purpose for which they are created. We envision a community sharing common meeting and recreational space centered around the existing CSS farm, Big East Fork Farm, Lake Gratitude, Sustainable University, and the yoga studio at the former Big East Fork Retreat. We look forward to future structures to be added by Community agreement. If you are interested, let us know your own vision of community.

Big East Fork Watershed Community

Land for Sale

4 lots in Chinkapin Area off Mt. Laura Road

4 lots between Bedford Creek Rd and Big East Fork Rd

West Fork (“Yellow chain”) Hollow building sites

5594 Big East Fork Rd

5596 Big East Fork Rd

5195 Firetower Rd (5400 Big East Fork Rd)

Big East Fork Heritage Trust

Bryant Property - 980 acres

Houses for Sale

5327 Big East Fork Rd

5575 Big East Fork Rd

5596 Big East Fork Rd

5141 Firetower Rd

5155 Firetower Road

Big East Fork Valley home owners: Tommy and Libby Shell, Jay and Be Harrison, Kenny and Susie Meeks, Lee Anne O’Brien, Jonathan Oppenheimer, Be and Jay Harrison, Susie and Kenny Meeks, Larry Tower, the Andersons, Jed and Tiffany Atkinson, Hardy and Sherri Burch, Trish and Jim Munro, David and Kim Jennings, Carl and Connie Haley, Olga and David Loy, Sandy Zeigler.

Subsidized Rental Housing

5350 Big East Fork Rd

5576 Big East Fork Rd

5575 Big East Fork Rd

5350 Big East Fork Rd

Existing renters: Veronica, Wade, Drake and Abby, Mary Alice, Deidre, Diana, Luca

Short term rentals: Through AirBnb, VRBO

Land Leases 50 and 100 year leases: Backbone Ridge Rd, various sites Big East Fork Rd, Fire Tower Rd, Poor House Rd, and Backbone Ridge Rd in Franklin TN

Private Farming Leases from Big East Fork Farms

Agricultural Commons Leases

Grazing Leases

Big East Fork Agrihood Association members

Membership in the BEFAA is required for all new homeowners desiring the benefits gained by joining (gardening, farming, and livestock privileges at Big East Fork Farms, Access to community walking and horse trails, private 24/7 access to the community forest and seven-acre Lake Gratitude, and the fellowship of like-minded stewards). BEFAA fees cover costs of the Community Farm, community meeting center, maintenance of common watercraft, and any common costs agreed to by the BEFAA. Private land is of course the property of the owner, who may share a part if it (hiking trails, ponds, streams, pasture) with other members of the BEFAA. Compensation may be provided by the BEFAA if all members in good standing agree. BEFAA determines its budget and what benefits it supplies its members. Its costs are shared by its members, with the cost of dues distributed among its membership according to guidelines that BEFAA determines.

Williamson County has zoned Big East Fork Valley as RP-5 which requires 5 acres per parcel

Acreage parceled out from Big East Fork Holdings may place the non-Residence portion of their land in a conservation easement created for the purpose of allowing existing timber to become old growth and to provide habitat for diverse nature flora and fauna, as well as trail for hiking,

The current 1200 acre Big East Fork Conservation Easement prohibits:

1) commercial or industrial activity,

2) fences except for the purposes of reasonable and customary management of livestock or to enclose pets within the one acre residential portion of the property,

2) subdivision of the parcel into less than 5 acre parcels,

3) outside lighting that interrupts the view of the night sky,

4) obstruction of hiking easements across the property,

5) cutting, removal, or destruction of trees or timber with a diameter of greater than 5 inches at chest hight unless for the creation of walking trails less than eight feet wide. Trails may not be cut for the purpose of harvesting timber,

6) placement of signs which significantly diminish the scenic diminish the scenic character of the protected property,

7) filling, excavating , mining, surface mining or any extraction of materials for commercial purposes except for site preparation for construct of any residences,

8) activities or operations that damage or negatively impact the water quality or watershed,

9) intentional introduction or cultivation of invasive exotic plants.

10) use of agrochemicals that could result in contamination of any impairment of any natural ecosystem or process,

11) filling, excavating, dredging, mining, or any surface mining.

12) removal of topsoil, sand, gravel, rock, peat, minerals, gas, oil, or other hydrocarbon products or other materials

13) conveyance of mineral rights separate from surface rights

14) engage or permit and activity or operations that damage or negatively impact water quality or watershed

15) use or permit property for sanitary landfill or install underground storage tanks

16) install or use an incinerator for the destruction of waste material

17) dump, store, dispose, or treat refuse, trash, garbage, rubbish, junk, ashes or hazardous substances anywhere on their property or within the valley or ridges of Big East Fork.

18) install towers or antennae greater than six (6) feet in height

19) install facilities for the development and utilization of energy resources without the prior written approval of BEFAA

20) remove timber from the land except to provide space for residence and ancillary structures permitted by Williamson County, or to remove diseased or exotic trees, or to remove dead or dying trees which pose a threat to travelers on trails or to residents

In addition to restrictions of the Big East Fork Conservation Easement, members of the Big East Fork Agrihood Association agree not to permit

A) repeated discharge of firearms for more than ten minutes at a time or four individual discharges of firearms over six hours

B) restriction of foot traffic (hiking) across their property on trails designated by BEFAA provided such trails are at least yards from a lodging structure

C) place structures or signs that inhibit the scenic beauty of the area. Signs may not exceed twenty-four (24) feet in area

D) frequent visitation by guests that would significantly increase the traffic in the area

E) noise or music that materially disturbs the natural soundscape of the area. Although intermittent use of farming machinery is permitted, constant noise or prolonged mechanical or animal sounds are not.

F) lighting that causes light pollution. In order to minimize light pollution and allow all residents to have an uninterrupted view of the night sky, no additional pole lights or overhead outdoor lighting is allowed. Acceptable outdoor lighting will be limited to motion sensor lighting or manually controlled lighting 12 feet or less in above-ground height and employing downward-directed deflectors.

Members of the Big East Fork Agrihood Association agree to allow hiking trail(s) across their property for use by other members of the BEFAA provided that such trails are not less than 50 yards from their residence. Trails must be no wider than eight (8) feet. Only trees smaller than five (5) inches in diameter at breast height may be cleared to create trails. Trails may not be created for the purpose of harvesting timber. Off-road vehicles may be only used on trails for patrolling, maintenance, and transport of elderly or handicapped.