Communal Life: A Look at The Farm in Summertown

1 / 4
TOP LEFT: The Farm's new
TOP LEFT: The Farm's new "homebuilt" passive solar schoolhouse. TOP RIGHT: The left side of this house, the main section, shelters more than 20 people. The right side is still under construction . BOTTOM LEFT: A dedicated worker converts household garbage into compost. BOTTOM RIGHT: Some folks, still live in "classic beatnik" accommodations ... like this converted school bus with its plywood addition and protruding woodstove chimney.
2 / 4
LEFT: Stephen Gaskin, the group's spiritual teacher, gives a boost to a young friend. RIGHT: A batch of fresh tofu prepared in the soy dairy.
LEFT: Stephen Gaskin, the group's spiritual teacher, gives a boost to a young friend. RIGHT: A batch of fresh tofu prepared in the soy dairy.
3 / 4
Farming crew members harvest the community sweet potato crop
Farming crew members harvest the community sweet potato crop
4 / 4
LEFT: Ina May Gaskin, leader of the Spiritual Midwifery movement. TOP RIGHT: The Summertown group has its own down-home laundromat. BOTTOM RIGHT: Folks at The Farm's entrance talk with everyone who visits the rural Tennessee community
LEFT: Ina May Gaskin, leader of the Spiritual Midwifery movement. TOP RIGHT: The Summertown group has its own down-home laundromat. BOTTOM RIGHT: Folks at The Farm's entrance talk with everyone who visits the rural Tennessee community


Back in 1970, Stephen Gaskin — a religious teacher in that mecca for the 60’s Peace and Love movement, San Francisco — left on a speaking tour of the U.S., trailed by 30 remodeled school buses full of young people. For seven months, the mobile community lived together, grew together, and traveled together over the highways of America. When the tour was done, “The Caravan” was too united in purpose and experience to be willing to split up, so the community looked for some farmland . . . and settled in rural Summertown, Tennessee.
 


Today, ten years later, the community is still going strong (it even has treaties with some foreign countries!). In fact, some of the activities the folks in this collective are undertaking are so worthwhile MOTHER EARTH NEWS thought it was time readers had an update on how they’ve fared living the communal life.  

  • Published on Mar 1, 1980
Comments (0) Join others in the discussion!
    Online Store Logo
    Need Help? Call 1-800-234-3368