Steve Nygren

When I left Atlanta to live at our family farm in the ’90s, it was instinctual. I couldn’t really articulate why, I just felt something important was missing from modern life. Years later, reading Richard Louv’s Last Child in the Woods helped me connect the dots: children need nature, freedom, and unstructured play to truly thrive. Now, Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation continues that conversation, exploring how smartphones and social media have reshaped childhood, replacing outdoor play and in-person relationships with digital dependence, constant social comparison, and addictive feedback loops. Haidt’s insights are critical and he is right. But I believe there’s another critical piece we’re overlooking in the national conversation: the built environment itself. I shared my reflections on childhood, nature, and how our communities shape well-being in Finding Nature News from Children & Nature Network. Read more at the link in bio.

Wonderful weekend in London, attending and speak at the Longevity Med Summit. From near and far, grateful for the invitations to share my new book and Serenbe’s radical common sense solutions for healthier, more connected communities.

Across the world’s Blue Zones, places like Okinawa, Sardinia, Ikaria, Nicoya Peninsula, and Loma Linda, we see consistent patterns: natural daily movement, strong social bonds, a clear sense of purpose, and food systems rooted in place. These characteristics are the result of environments that naturally support healthier choices. At Serenbe, our aim has been to explore what a modern community might look like if designed around similar principles. While Blue Zones have demonstrated their longevity outcomes over decades, Serenbe is far too young to claim that kind of data. What we can offer, however, is a thoughtful framework that prioritizes walkability, access to nature, local agriculture, and connection integrated into daily life. The question is not whether we can replicate a Blue Zone, but whether we can intentionally design places that make living well the default. If we can, the implications extend far beyond any single community. Read more on Substack. Link in bio.

Last weekend, as I was sitting in the Fox Theatre listening to Yo-Yo Ma, it became clear this was not simply a concert. Ma is widely regarded as one of the greatest cellists of our time, but this particular program, Reflections in Words and Music, was something different. It moved beyond the traditional format of a soloist performing with a symphony orchestra into a weaving of music, story, and reflection. That evening reinforced something we have been practicing for more than twenty years at Serenbe: people are not moved to change by information alone. They are moved by what they feel. That’s the power of art. It bypasses debate and speaks to memory, identity, and belonging. It creates shared experiences where rather than defend positions, we feel something together. It’s in that context that perspectives begin to shift. If we want communities that are resilient, inclusive, and connected, we have to expand our definition of infrastructure. Roads and utilities matter, but they don’t create belonging or build empathy. They do not help people understand each other. Art and nature, I believe, are cornerstones of the better world we hope to build. Read more at the link in my bio.

What a thrill to sign copies of Start In Your Own Backyard at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport today! It was inspiring to meet travelers from all over the world and to share more about my vision for communities that connect people to nature and each other. Grateful to Hudson News for this unique opportunity and to everyone who stopped by to be part of the conversation. Happy Earth Day 🌿🌎

On Substack, I kicked off 2026 with a post about optimism. But over the past few months, the headlines tell a much different story. There is a steady undercurrent of anxiety about war, about human rights, about leadership, and especially about what comes next. It’s enough to overwhelm even the most grounded among us. In my latest piece, I reflect on something simple, but often overlooked: nature as an antidote to that overwhelm. Not just for its ability to calm our individual nervous systems, but for its pro-social benefits. When we’re in natural settings, we tend to be more open, more present, and more inclined to engage. A passing smile turns more easily into a conversation. A moment of shared space becomes a sense of shared experience. But reconnecting with nature isn’t just about stepping outside. It’s a shift in how we move through the world, from convenience to intention, isolation to participation. It shows up in the choices we make every day: opting to walk when we could drive, spending time in places designed for gathering, and valuing shared spaces as much as private ones. And in a moment that feels increasingly uncertain, I believe this reconnection is a fundamental piece of the way forward.

One of the most radical things we can do for our future is preservation. Protecting the land, so both people and nature can thrive together. 🌿 At Serenbe and within Chattahoochee Hills, over 70% of the land is permanently preserved, allowing forests, wetlands, and farmland to remain intact. It’s a commitment to conservation that shapes not just how we build, but how we live. More connected to nature, and more connected to each other. In his newly released book Start in Your Own Backyard, @stevenygren shares how thoughtful land conservation can create healthier communities, protect natural systems, and ensure future generations inherit something worth keeping. 📚 Available now at the link in our bio. Support independent bookstores when you can. Our local shop is @hillsandhamletsbookshop

Last week, I had the privilege of speaking at the Super South Summit, a gathering of leaders who are advancing the circular economy, sustainable innovation, and meaningful climate action. I was honored to join an inspiring panel that explored how regenerative land use, agriculture, and long-term stewardship can strengthen communities and shape a more resilient, hopeful future. Grateful to share the stage with such thoughtful leaders who are doing the work every day: Courtney Weinstein, Founder & Principal, Ecosystem Works; Will Harris, Owner, White Oak Pastures; Michael Carter Jr., Executive Director, Africulture / Unionville; and Brandy Hall, Mayor of Pine Lake & Founder/CEO, Shades of Green Permaculture Thank you to the Super South Summit team for convening these important conversations. The momentum building across the South around regeneration and climate solutions is real and growing.

At Serenbe, beauty has been foundational from the start. Early on, I was drawn to English villages, places shaped over centuries with an inherent balance of beauty, efficiency, and community. That’s why partnering with Dr. Phill Tabb (@drphilltabb ) was so meaningful. He brought both scholarly insight and planning rigor, studying these villages not just for their charm, but for what they teach us about walkability, energy use, and human-centered design. Throughout history, builders and architects didn’t think of beauty as a luxury. Today, science reinforces that instinct: our surroundings directly impact how we feel, think, and connect. Yet much of modern development prioritizes speed, standardization, and return on investment, often at the expense of beauty. When beauty is treated as optional, we create places that technically function, but don’t nourish. And over time, that absence shapes our well-being, contributing to stress, disconnection, and loneliness. Read more about the connection between beautiful places and wellbeing on my Substack at the link in bio.

Retirement is a financial milestone. Elderhood is a human stage. To see it this way is to recognize that this chapter of life holds its own wisdom and exciting possibility. When people are supported in staying active and engaged, elders become an incredible force in the world. They spend time with children, care for family, show up for their communities, keep working in ways that feel meaningful, and give their time to important causes. Every Saturday, for example, Marie and I watch our seven grandchildren so our kids can take a well-deserved break. It’s one of the highlights of our week. At its best, elderhood is about staying present and involved, just in a different, often deeper way. I recently wrote on Substack about how this perspective has shaped the way I think about building Serenbe, especially as I step into elderhood myself. If you’re interested, you can read it and subscribe at the link in my bio.

In a recent interview with The New York Times, Jay Shetty described the clarity of purpose he found as a monk. In recent years, I have observed a growing fascination with monasteries, ashrams, kibbutzim, and other intentional communities. These places offer what modern life often withholds: belonging, structure, and a sense that daily actions serve a greater purpose. For decades, we’ve built communities that separate living from working, isolate homes from daily needs, and prioritize private space over shared experience. We’ve engineered convenience, and unintentionally, engineered loneliness. As a result, we look elsewhere. We romanticize retreat. But what if the answer isn’t escape? What if it’s redesign? In Serenbe, there’s no shared ideology, just a land plan. Seventy percent of the land is permanently preserved, with homes clustered near schools, shops, and restaurants. The result is what I call “accidental connection.” Like a college campus, proximity leads to participation and participation in daily community life leads to purpose. The deeper lesson is this: people flourish when belonging is easy and contribution is visible. Monasteries, kibbutzim, campuses each achieve this differently. Maybe towns can, too, through thoughtful design. Read more on Substack (link in bio).

Arrived Istanbul