The Farm is an intentional community in Lawrence County, Tennessee, near the town of Summertown, Tennessee, based on principles of nonviolence and respect for the Earth. It was founded in 1971 by Stephen Gaskin and 320 San Francisco hippies; The Farm is well known amongst hippies and other members of similar subcultures as well as by many vegetarians. The Farm now has approximately 175 residents.
The Farm was established after Gaskin and friends led a caravan of 60 buses, vans, and trucks on a speaking tour across the US. Along the way, they checked out various places that might be suitable for settlement before deciding on Tennessee. After buying 1,064 acres (4.1 km2) for $70 per acre, the Farm began building its community in the woods alongside the network of crude logging roads that followed its ridgelines. Another adjoining 750 acres (3.0 km2) for $100 per acre was purchased shortly thereafter.
The Farm was established after Gaskin and friends led a caravan of 60 buses, vans, and trucks on a speaking tour across the US. Along the way, they checked out various places that might be suitable for settlement before deciding on Tennessee. After buying 1,064 acres (4.1 km2) for $70 per acre, the Farm began building its community in the woods alongside the network of crude logging roads that followed its ridgelines. Another adjoining 750 acres (3.0 km2) for $100 per acre was purchased shortly thereafter.
From its founding through the 1970s, Farm members took vows of poverty and owned no personal possessions, though this restriction loosened as time passed. During that time, Farm members did not use artificial birth control, alcohol, tobacco, man-made psychotropics, or animal products.
Lacking any form of government, distribution of wealth and housing allocation often fell to Gaskin and the more 'popular' members of the Farm.
In the original manifestation of The Farm, all members were believers in God and smoking marijuana was a sacrament, though Farm members did not accept alcohol or other drugs. Also there was no private property, no leather products, no harming of animals and no consumption of meat. Stephen Gaskin had been a marine and got his start as a religious leader in San Francisco in the 1960s, coming to teach a blend of Eastern religions and Christianity. Due to his devotion to marijuana, he and three followers spent time in 1974 in the Nashville Penitentiary following convictions for growing marijuana on Farm land. (see published article, "How They Keep Them Down On The Farm" in Harrowsmith, v.2,no.1 (whole number 7, from original start), May/June 1977, pages 45–47 et. seq., AS REPRINTED from The New York Times; specifically quote: "The Farm's way of life is religious communism in which work and raising children are considered spiritual disciplines... ""No private property, no private use of money, no Government welfare, no artificial means of birth control, no abortions.... "Smoking marijuana, according to their religious beliefs, is a sacrament... "Stephen and three followers spent much of 1974 in the Nashville Penitentiary...").
The Farm installed its own water system but resisted running 60-cycle alternating current powerlines beyond the main house that served as its administration office and publishing center, hoping some day to establish home power systems off of the grid. Communications within the Farm were carried out with an old plug wire phone system donated by a local town and later with CB radio for emergencies. Kerosene lamps and outhouses were standard for the first 5–10 years. A 12-volt trickle charge system charged used golf cart batteries in homes, which in turn powered automobile tail light bulbs hanging from the ceilings and walls. Oftentimes these home systems would be powered by returning off-Farm work vehicles' batteries. Many of the buildings on the Farm were unconventional, ranging from converted school buses to modified 16 x 32 army tents. Over time, larger homes were constructed, each providing shelter for multiple families and single people, often with up to 40 people under one roof. Visitors were also housed in a two-story tent made by sewing two army tents together.
The Farm had its own electrical crew, composting crew, farming crew, construction & demolition crew, clinic, firewood crew, alternative energy crew, motor pool, laundromat, tofu plant, bakery, school and ambulance service. It established The Book Publishing Company, which published the works of the Gaskins and other Farm members. The Farm's midwifery school and Ina May Gaskin's seminal book "Spiritual Midwifery" are highly regarded throughout the world for their very high maternal and newborn compassion, safety and success rates.
They also ran a "soy dairy", which developed and later marketed a soymilk ice "cream" called "Ice-Bean", and a vegetable store in the town of Summertown. A crew constantly manned the gate where all traffic passed and was logged.
They maintained The Farm Band, a rock group in the early Jam Band genre, which toured the country performing for free at parks, schools, churches, and other accessible venues. Albums included 'The Farm Band' on Million Records, 'Up in Your Thing','High On the Rim of the Nashville Basin' and 'Communion'; issued on Farm Tapes and Records. These were self-produced and distributed. Mantra Records and Akarma Records distributed bootleg copies of their albums in later years.
In 1974, after helping local neighbors after a tornado, the Farm formed Plenty (later, Plenty International), its charitable works arm. It began by gathering and supplying food for local disaster victims and holding weekly "quilting bees" to make blankets for them.
Plenty's most notable early project was its four-year presence in the Guatemalan highlands after the earthquake of 1976, helping to rebuild 1,200 houses and lay 27 kilometers of waterpipe. There, it established a micro-commune of volunteers and their families, living simply among Mayan populations and working under the approval of the military government.
Plenty donated an ambulance in the early 1980s to the Akwesasne Mohawk Reservation in upstate New York. Two Farmies - one a paramedic and one an EMT - taught a licensed Emergency Medical Technician course to 22 reservation residents, helping them set up their first Mohawk-run EMT service, the "Mohawk Council of Akwesasne Ambulance Unit". Plenty has set up clinics in Lesotho and Mexico and created the Jefferson Award-winning South Bronx Ambulance Project in New York City.
Plenty maintains an office in Belize, Central America, which initiated a school lunch program based on organic gardens planted next to each school to help provide more vegetables for the children's diets. A midwifery program helped train over 60 Mayan women from villages throughout the region in prenatal care and safe delivery techniques.
Plenty was one of the first relief organizations to enter New Orleans, getting past federal roadblocks to bring supplies to survivors just three days after Hurricane Katrina. Plenty helped establish a base camp for volunteers and channeled funding to Common Ground, a local group assisting in clean up, legal defense services, and the operation of free clinics. Plenty volunteers purchased and restored a home in the area to serve as a headquarters for housing relief volunteers and construction crews helping to rebuild
Gaskin believed that marriage was a sacred act and that the sexuality between two people was created by the flow of cosmic energy, which was known as “the juice”. “For a community to exist in harmony and balance, both kinds of energy had to be nurtured, and most importantly shared.” The ideology of marriage at the Farm could be described as “synergistic”. Seriousness and commitment were required in marriage. Birth control was frowned upon, and abortions were prohibited in the community. Childbearing was natural and performed by midwives. Premarital sex was greatly discouraged, and most couples on the Farm were married.
Some of the original community members believed in the practice of group marriage. The “four marriage system” was viewed as an important social structure in the early days of the commune. Gaskin himself was in a “six marriage” in which there were three women and two other men (the third man deciding not to participate). They shared three beds and would switch partners continuously. This, however, was not required; Gaskin understood that not everyone was ready to be in a group marriage. It was taught only people with great ability and “the juice” were in plural marriages. None of these "marriages" survived more than 10 years, most falling apart within five.
At its peak, the Farm claimed somewhere between 1200 and 1600 members living on the main property, along with many small "satellite" communities located in the U.S. and internationally. However, the Tennessee community lacked the infrastructure and income to properly support its growing numbers and grew increasingly in debt. Furthering the Farms growing pains was a 'baby boom' shortly after the commune's establishment. As the Farm's population peaked, the proportion of the population that could not significantly contribute to the work required to maintain the commune increased.
In 1983, due to financial difficulties and also a challenge to Gaskin's leadership and direction[citation needed], the Farm changed its agreement and began requiring members to support themselves with their own income rather than donate all income to the central bank.
The 'Changeover,' also known as 'the exodus', was a difficult time. The local area provided few possibilities for employment. The nearest large city, Nashville, was a 1.5-hour drive and 75 miles (121 km) away. Disillusioned, many people left to start over, and eventually the population settled down to its current (2009) level of about 175 adults and children. Those that stayed made the choice to continue living in community for its freedom and peaceful atmosphere, and the safety and security it provided for the children. It is also argued, however, that the members who stayed were close to Gaskin and had been benefiting from a disproportionate distribution of wealth for years. Many of the members were upset with an inequitable distribution of wealth, favoritism and a lack of plumbing despite large giardia outbreaks.
The $400,000 plus debt was paid off after several years and the community has remained debt-free to this day. An entrepreneurial spirit took hold, and numerous small businesses were established to provide support for the residents. Many members went back to school to get degrees in the medical field, and many now work at clinics and hospitals throughout central Tennessee.
In the nineties, with the community back on solid ground, The Farm returned to its original purpose of initiating social change through outreach and example. The Ecovillage Training Center was established as an educational facility in new technologies such as solar energy, bio fuels, and construction techniques based on locally available, eco-friendly materials.
The Farm maintains contact with its over 4000 former members through list serves, an annual reunion, and through the work of its nonprofit organizations. Former members have gone on to become leaders in many different fields and endeavors, maintaining a sense of right livelihood and a commitment to the betterment of the world.
Four ex-members of the Farm (Matthew McClure, Cliff Figallo, John Coate, and Nancy Rhine) were instrumental in establishing and managing the Whole Earth Lectronic Link (The WELL), one of the most influential early online communities. One of them (Nancy Rhine) went on to found Women's Wire, which became Women.com, the first commercial women-focused online community. Another (John Coate) founded SFgate, one of the first newspaper-based online sites (of the San Francisco Chronicle).
The man who had been in charge of growing food for the Farm (Michael O'Gorman) is an established leader in the organic farming movement, managing production on over 4,000 acres (16 km2). Recently O'Gorman has extended his farming reach to establish the Farmer Veteran Coalition, bringing returning war veterans into the fold of small-scale family farming. Former members of Farm Foods are now the marketing force behind many healthy food products found on store shelves nationwide. A former member who was an MD spent years helping to eradicate polio in India. Many other former members help manage other nonprofits. (wikipedia)
Plenty was one of the first relief organizations to enter New Orleans, getting past federal roadblocks to bring supplies to survivors just three days after Hurricane Katrina. Plenty helped establish a base camp for volunteers and channeled funding to Common Ground, a local group assisting in clean up, legal defense services, and the operation of free clinics. Plenty volunteers purchased and restored a home in the area to serve as a headquarters for housing relief volunteers and construction crews helping to rebuild
Gaskin believed that marriage was a sacred act and that the sexuality between two people was created by the flow of cosmic energy, which was known as “the juice”. “For a community to exist in harmony and balance, both kinds of energy had to be nurtured, and most importantly shared.” The ideology of marriage at the Farm could be described as “synergistic”. Seriousness and commitment were required in marriage. Birth control was frowned upon, and abortions were prohibited in the community. Childbearing was natural and performed by midwives. Premarital sex was greatly discouraged, and most couples on the Farm were married.
Some of the original community members believed in the practice of group marriage. The “four marriage system” was viewed as an important social structure in the early days of the commune. Gaskin himself was in a “six marriage” in which there were three women and two other men (the third man deciding not to participate). They shared three beds and would switch partners continuously. This, however, was not required; Gaskin understood that not everyone was ready to be in a group marriage. It was taught only people with great ability and “the juice” were in plural marriages. None of these "marriages" survived more than 10 years, most falling apart within five.
At its peak, the Farm claimed somewhere between 1200 and 1600 members living on the main property, along with many small "satellite" communities located in the U.S. and internationally. However, the Tennessee community lacked the infrastructure and income to properly support its growing numbers and grew increasingly in debt. Furthering the Farms growing pains was a 'baby boom' shortly after the commune's establishment. As the Farm's population peaked, the proportion of the population that could not significantly contribute to the work required to maintain the commune increased.
In 1983, due to financial difficulties and also a challenge to Gaskin's leadership and direction[citation needed], the Farm changed its agreement and began requiring members to support themselves with their own income rather than donate all income to the central bank.
The 'Changeover,' also known as 'the exodus', was a difficult time. The local area provided few possibilities for employment. The nearest large city, Nashville, was a 1.5-hour drive and 75 miles (121 km) away. Disillusioned, many people left to start over, and eventually the population settled down to its current (2009) level of about 175 adults and children. Those that stayed made the choice to continue living in community for its freedom and peaceful atmosphere, and the safety and security it provided for the children. It is also argued, however, that the members who stayed were close to Gaskin and had been benefiting from a disproportionate distribution of wealth for years. Many of the members were upset with an inequitable distribution of wealth, favoritism and a lack of plumbing despite large giardia outbreaks.
The $400,000 plus debt was paid off after several years and the community has remained debt-free to this day. An entrepreneurial spirit took hold, and numerous small businesses were established to provide support for the residents. Many members went back to school to get degrees in the medical field, and many now work at clinics and hospitals throughout central Tennessee.
In the nineties, with the community back on solid ground, The Farm returned to its original purpose of initiating social change through outreach and example. The Ecovillage Training Center was established as an educational facility in new technologies such as solar energy, bio fuels, and construction techniques based on locally available, eco-friendly materials.
The Farm maintains contact with its over 4000 former members through list serves, an annual reunion, and through the work of its nonprofit organizations. Former members have gone on to become leaders in many different fields and endeavors, maintaining a sense of right livelihood and a commitment to the betterment of the world.
Four ex-members of the Farm (Matthew McClure, Cliff Figallo, John Coate, and Nancy Rhine) were instrumental in establishing and managing the Whole Earth Lectronic Link (The WELL), one of the most influential early online communities. One of them (Nancy Rhine) went on to found Women's Wire, which became Women.com, the first commercial women-focused online community. Another (John Coate) founded SFgate, one of the first newspaper-based online sites (of the San Francisco Chronicle).
The man who had been in charge of growing food for the Farm (Michael O'Gorman) is an established leader in the organic farming movement, managing production on over 4,000 acres (16 km2). Recently O'Gorman has extended his farming reach to establish the Farmer Veteran Coalition, bringing returning war veterans into the fold of small-scale family farming. Former members of Farm Foods are now the marketing force behind many healthy food products found on store shelves nationwide. A former member who was an MD spent years helping to eradicate polio in India. Many other former members help manage other nonprofits. (wikipedia)
link in comments
Looks very interesting, Ankh. I'll be sure to give it a listen this weekend.
OdpowiedzUsuńRegards,
RF
This link bypasses multiupload and goes straight to an ilivid download manager page - wtf? I have never trusted ilivid and doubt that anyone does.
OdpowiedzUsuńI lived here 7 years. Michael O'Gorman caused the 400k debt. There was plenty of work just no one wanted to do it. There were 4 of us that worked everyday to make money off the Farm, often in Nashville for the first few years. We started just to make money to build our own house. We'd stockpile our materials and come home and the stuff was given to others by Stephen. Later they just took the money we earned and lived off of it in the winters when there was no food and most people went to live with their parents. Later they just kept the money period. Then Michael O'Gorman made deals with other local farmers and rented parcels, didn't tell anyone aside from his crew what he was doing. Then a Florida farm opened up and he took the whole farming crew to florida leaving us, at least my construction crew, to farm in the dark before work, work all day, get home at 10pm and do it again. The 400k was lost in partnerships that weren't fulfilled with neighbors, leases that wound up not getting paid, failed crops, unharvested crops etc. I'm glad he's a big deal now but he screwed all of us. When people found out they had to go to work or make money most of them went back to their parents. From almost 2500 down to what's left. They dissolved the commune, rescinded the vows of poverty, yet the houses we built and they sell for hundreds of thousands we never made a dime. Also, the Farm Band sucked. There were much better bands. We often got offers to play for really good money and weren't allowed to do work you loved. People drank, people smoked tobacco from the very beginning. They found there was a running whore house, managed by a former Manson family member, right by the meditation field. Louise, one of Stephen's wives was busted for running an international 'tantrik' brothel. Don't let them snow you.
OdpowiedzUsuń