Utopia in San Francisco

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That same kind of concern for the planet's resources is built into the community's daily life. One example is diet. The members eat meat, but only about 50-60 pounds each per year as compared to the average American's 200 . . . and they hope eventually to meet much of their protein requirement by raising their own poultry and catching their own fish, since those sources don't require high inputs of feed. Chemically processed foods are avoided, along with all unnecessary items such as sugar, tobacco, alcohol and drugs. And the Submariners don't keep pets, which consume food that could be eaten by humans.

Last we heard, the first utopian superfamily was in the process of filling out its membership. When the quota of 24 adults is reached, the second group will be started . . . and before long the community will acquire land where they'll live part of the year.

The plans for the country facility include the use of natural energy: solar heating and the generation of electricity with wind, sun and possibly water power. All organic wastes will be converted to methane and fertilizer, and the gasoline-fueled engine will be phased out in favor of vehicles run by electricity, hydrogen or methane.

Meanwhile, the members of The Purple Submarine are citybased and cooperatively self-employed (which is also good ecology, since they don't have to transport themselves to work or occupy expensive offices which are used only in business hours). Their economic base is a monthly theatrical performance and the publication of a bi-monthly newspaper called The Storefront Classroom . . . an attractive journal of social and environmental concern which includes a people's-Yellow-Pages-type guide to San Francisco.

Five dollars will make you a member of the Utopian Society of America and bring you one year of The Storefront Classroom. The money will also help support the group's educational projects: a Museum of Utopian Art and a directory to San Francisco's free and low-cost health care facilities. Checks should be made payable to P.A.S.S., Inc. (that's short for Performing Arts Social Society) and sent to P.O. Box 1174, San Francisco, Calif. 94101. And, if you'd like more information about The Purple Submarine's philosophy and activities, the utopians will be more than glad to help you. "We've never met a question yet we couldn't answer," they say, "and we like answering questions." If you're in the Bay Area, the phone number is (415) 752-0773.—J N.

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