The Farm Then and Now

The Farm Then and Now chronicles the history and evolution of The Farm, an intentional community founded in Tennessee in 1971. This firsthand account comes from Douglas Stevenson, a long-term resident who arrived at The Farm in its early years. The book documents The Farm's transformation from a spiritual commune of 1,200 hippies to its current status as an ecovillage of 200 residents. Stevenson records the community's experiments with sustainable living, midwifery, vegetarian diets, and alternative education over five decades. Stevenson examines The Farm's economic and social changes, including its shift from collective ownership to a cooperative model in 1983. The narrative covers both successes and setbacks in The Farm's development. Through The Farm's story, this book presents insights into the challenges and possibilities of intentional communities in America. The account serves as both a historical document and a practical guide for those interested in alternative social structures.

Readers describe The Farm Then and Now as a thorough history of The Farm community in Tennessee from its founding through modern times. Readers appreciated: - First-hand accounts from a long-term resident - Details about the community's evolution and changes - Practical information about intentional communities - Balanced perspective on successes and failures Common criticisms: - Writing style can be dry and academic - Too much focus on administrative/organizational details - Limited personal stories and emotional depth - Some readers wanted more details about daily life Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (50+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (30+ ratings) From reviews: "Provides valuable lessons for anyone interested in communal living" - Amazon reviewer "Could have included more about the interpersonal dynamics" - Goodreads reviewer "Important historical record but not an engaging narrative" - LibraryThing reviewer The book resonates most with readers specifically interested in intentional communities and The Farm's history.

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The Hippie Commune Experiments by William Hedgepeth Direct accounts from participants document the rise and fall of rural communes during the counterculture movement of the 1960s and 1970s.

Creating a Life Together by Diana Leafe Christian The book presents case studies and organizational frameworks from successful intentional communities and ecovillages across the United States.

America's Communal Utopias by Donald E. Pitzer This comprehensive study examines seventeen major communal movements in American history from the colonial period through the twentieth century.

🌾 The Farm Community, founded in 1971 in Tennessee, began as a caravan of 320 hippie idealists in converted school buses who eventually created one of America's most enduring and successful intentional communities. 🌿 Author Douglas Stevenson has lived at The Farm since 1973 and serves as the community's historian and media relations director, giving him unique first-hand insight into its evolution. 🏡 The community transformed from a collective where all resources were shared to a more sustainable cooperative model in 1983, proving that intentional communities can adapt and evolve over time. 🌱 The Farm pioneered many eco-friendly practices that later became mainstream, including the use of solar energy, sustainable agriculture, and natural building techniques. 👶 The Farm's midwifery center has helped deliver more than 3,000 babies and trained hundreds of midwives, establishing itself as a leader in natural childbirth practices in the United States.