Topic 1 of 28: introductions
Mon, Jan 26, 1998 (19:34) |
Paul Terry Walhus (terry)
Please introduce yourself? How did you hear about the Farm?
Did you live there? What are you doing now? How do folks
get in touch with you?
39 responses total.
Topic 1 of 28 [farm]: introductions
Response 1 of 39: Annette Mercer (LaughingSky) * Mon, Jan 26, 1998 (20:32) * 9 lines
I am a 35 yr.old nurse, and I was brought up in Summertown, not very far
from The Farm. I was 10 yrs.old that summer that all the beautiful
multi-colored buses came rolling down the highway, headed to the Farm's
present location.I sat in the swing in the back yard, and, counted them
as they passed down the road!I have never lived there, but, I have many
friends there, and visit every week. I get most of my organic food at
The Farm Store!I am also a bass guitarist, and, have played at alot of
Farm benefit concerts.
Topic 1 of 28 [farm]: introductions
Response 2 of 39: Maria Graf (doozer) * Mon, Jan 26, 1998 (22:10) * 2 lines
i grew up for only 4 yrs on the farm but was privleged to go back and rediscover
the place which there was no rat race or class of soiciety. My parents especially my father Alan and Jane Graf, talked abt the times they had and the friends that went with that time. I am only 21 now and am just living life as i want too. I somtimes just sit back and rember a certian 7-11 there, and i smile a quiet smile remembering the time way back...........
Topic 1 of 28 [farm]: introductions
Response 3 of 39: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Mon, Jan 26, 1998 (23:34) * 4 lines
Welcome Annette. I knew Alan and Jane, wonder what they're up
to these days? I seem to remember that Alan had moved from Austin
to become a lawyer in Oregon several years back, is that right?
Topic 1 of 28 [farm]: introductions
Response 4 of 39: Annette Mercer (LaughingSky) * Tue, Jan 27, 1998 (13:56) * 1 lines
Yea - "AlanG"! He and his group played at the Farm, last summer; I do recall that it was during 7-11! Great music, too! We were all glad to have them!
Topic 1 of 28 [farm]: introductions
Response 5 of 39: Jason Black (Jason) * Thu, Jan 29, 1998 (23:58) * 2 lines
I'm a 26 year old college student. I read about the Farm in what Stephen called a "republican publication."... some magazine ran by Whittle Communications. The article wasn't very positive, but I knew enough to know what was going on or at least what had gone on at the Farm. I split one weekend and just went there. I took a videocamera back to the junkyard and made a little tour of all the old buses. I also met Aaron Christopherson and we hung out for a while. It was a good thing that I had the vidcam., a
I was able to tape a little bit after my car's engine threw a rod on one of the exits in Nashville at midnight on the way back!! I still have the tape, BTW. I went back 4 or 5 times after that. Call it whatever you want, but I get a really good positive feeling about the place. Once I get another one of my buses running, I'll probably try to make it down there again...
Topic 1 of 28 [farm]: introductions
Response 6 of 39: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Tue, Feb 10, 1998 (21:58) * 21 lines
I had to copy and paste this from the 'apps' conference.
Response 134 of 135: Andy Fieldflower (mindspace) Tue, Feb 10, 1998
(18:17) 4 lines
Hi there! I live in Sweden, and am interressted in a site about 'the
Farm' these days! Know that I have been in here before, but I don`t know
under what pseudonym, so....! I`m a member of the LYCAEUM!
http://www.lycaeum.org
And there my 'Pseudonym' are
mailto://arba@nym.lycaeum.org
(end copy and paste)
Welcome Andy, I hope we get to hear more about this LYCAEUM, you
have peaked my curiosity! You've found the Farm discussion place, dive in!
Topic 1 of 28 [farm]: introductions
Response 7 of 39: joe johnston (sewanee88) * Mon, Apr 27, 1998 (14:28) * 4 lines
I visited the Farm while I was attending college in Sewanee in the mid-to-late 80's; can't remember the exact year. My (then) wife and I met Ida Mae Gaskins and her husband, who happened to be dealing with a recently deceased Volvo, if I remember correctly. My wife was very impressed with the Gaskinses and the farm, I less so, although I appreciated its otherworldly air. It was a hot summer day, and we drove by the swimming hole, where many were beating the heat. I was impressed by the musical stage,
sort of geodesic arrangement. I was also impressed by the general air of leisure and no-hurry of the people there, just whiling away a hot day in the most natural way.
I sit here in my office in a high-rise building in downtown Chicago, with my expensive shirt and tie and my Italian shoes and my big paycheck, and I remember that day and the woman who was then my wife, and I wonder at it all, how one day lay on the path, inexorably, to the other. How strange.
Topic 1 of 28 [farm]: introductions
Response 8 of 39: Stacey Vura (stacey) * Tue, May 5, 1998 (09:11) * 2 lines
are you happy now?
strange indeed.
Topic 1 of 28 [farm]: introductions
Response 9 of 39: Tim Guenther (TIM) * Sun, Nov 15, 1998 (19:36) * 1 lines
This would probably be more interesting if I had a clue what was being discussed.
Topic 1 of 28 [farm]: introductions
Response 10 of 39: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Mon, Nov 16, 1998 (07:52) * 2 lines
This whole conference is about a large communal Farm in Tennessee. Mostly
vegetarian.
Topic 1 of 28 [farm]: introductions
Response 11 of 39: Tim Guenther (TIM) * Mon, Nov 16, 1998 (08:32) * 1 lines
O K
Topic 1 of 28 [farm]: introductions
Response 12 of 39: Roan Carratu (Roan) * Fri, Feb 5, 1999 (03:09) * 14 lines
Hi. I am Roan Carratu. I lived on the Farm or it's 'secondary' Farms in a bunch of states from 1974 to 1983. I learned more on the Farm than anywhere else I ever lived, and still live by the spiritual vows I took then. I work with the New Civilization Network and the forming Foundation, and the instigator of an email list about the Farm which is not quite going yet. The members may check into here soon, since I notified them of this club.
I regret nothing about the Farm Experiment, and consider it, slightly modified, to be the civilization of the future. It was too socially/politically naive, but the premise was and is the only survivable proposal for sane living I have ever found, so far.
Experiments don't fail, they educate, and always lead to further experiments...
--
Peace and Good Health,
-------------------------------
Roan Carratu
Business Site: http://www.OurMoment.com
Home Site: http://www.bibbs.com/roan
GeoDemocracy Site: http://geodemocracy.webjump.com
Farmlist Site: http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Andes/3262
Email: roan@bibbs.com roan@worldtrans.org worldmind@geocities.com webmaster@OurMoment.com
Topic 1 of 28 [farm]: introductions
Response 13 of 39: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Fri, Feb 5, 1999 (07:29) * 8 lines
Great that you're checking in, Roan. What are you doing nowadays? And
what is your current connection to the Farm? Do you visit there? Do you
still have friends on the Farm? Who did you "hang" with when you lived
there?
I think it's great that you're maintaining a listserv mailing list and
I've just started to follow it.
Topic 1 of 28 [farm]: introductions
Response 14 of 39: frank matthews (akia) * Fri, Feb 5, 1999 (20:05) * 28 lines
Hi,
this is Frank from Dogwood Blossom and the Austin Farm...I lived on Dogwood at about the same time Roan did...then I did the Austin Farm during the early dairy scene...we got it going...the other guy who was going to make tofu left...and we opened...sold a lot of good tofu.
I left 'cause of a hep outbreak...had to close the dairy...
I understand later Farm Foods of Texas re-opened doing an ice-bean thing.
I split and did the carnival...went back to school...got a BSET and now do computer work for a church software company.
-and still live by the spiritual vows I took then.
I don't...I'm a gun owning omnivore...I voted for Pat Buchanan for President.
but The Farm as a church still influences me to this day.
and my diet is still different...I still eat GTNY (red star)and think of brown rice,"fancy" beans, and a salad as being a nice dinner...(it -IS- a good dinner...but ask your general omnivore about it)...I own a pressure cooker and know how to use it.
-I regret nothing about the Farm Experiment,
I do not regret my Farm time.
It was an educational experience.
I learned a lot.
Topic 1 of 28 [farm]: introductions
Response 15 of 39: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Sat, Feb 6, 1999 (09:36) * 3 lines
Are you a big tall guy? I'm trying to remember if I ever ran accross you
in Austin, when did you leave Austin and where (what town) are you living
now?
Topic 1 of 28 [farm]: introductions
Response 16 of 39: Christina Moon (moonpi) * Sat, Feb 13, 1999 (18:57) * 11 lines
Hi! Christina Moon (formerly Tina Long) here. I lived on the TN Farm from
1977 till I left in 1983. I have 5 kids, Sean, Jeff, Peter, Erin & John.
My ex's name is David Long. He worked in the Book Publishing Co. I was a midwife.
I now live in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, in the woods, on a mountain top.
I am now a Hospice Midwife/RN. All 5 kids live near enough that we get to
see each other fairly frequently.
I am interested in reconnecting with Farm folks & continuing the discussion.........
Blessed Be! Christina
Topic 1 of 28 [farm]: introductions
Response 17 of 39: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Sun, Feb 14, 1999 (00:24) * 2 lines
What's the view like from your mountaintop?
Topic 1 of 28 [farm]: introductions
Response 18 of 39: christine detwiler (detwilerc) * Sat, Mar 18, 2000 (10:20) * 3 lines
Hi
This of course is my real name,not a pseudonym. It makes me laugh to think maybe Im wrong and Im really someone else. Oh well-- Im a beginner on the web. I got an address at the library and may be bumped off at any minute. Its luck i found my way to this chat. Im very thrilled and hope I can get back tommorrow to see if I get any responses. I joined the Farm in l980. Lived at Fourth South for almost a year, then moved next door to Fourth North, Also lived with James and Bea Staggs at First Road House with Leslie and Pamala next door. I spent a year and a half at the New YOrk Farm and some months at the DC Center before returning to the Farm . I did canning, dairy, gate, and worked at the Recording Studio/Tape Co. I have alot to say , but for a long time I was too mad to do anything but turn everyone off----even folks who agreed with me. I tried going to the "offical farm site" but not much there. Finally got connected through a link to the Farm Net News and got a sample copy, and a way to t
is site. I sure look forward to communicating with ex Farm folks who want to talk more then the party line. I was stunned to hear of John Iburs death. I was close with the Iburs when I lived in TN, but have lost touch with all my friends there for some years now. I live in Ithaca, New York now at 3l8 Plain St. 14850 2750361 , e-mail detwilerc@Yahoo. Ill be wrinting more if I can get back here.
Topic 1 of 28 [farm]: introductions
Response 19 of 39: (sprin5) * Tue, Mar 28, 2000 (09:08) * 1 lines
Wow, Christine, glad you found this via the FNN of Karen Flaherty. I talked to Karen for about a half hour day before yesterday thanks to the miracle of http://www.dialpad.com. The net and apps like dialpad are letting us renew long lost relationships. Why were you so mad? I really hope you find your way back here.
Topic 1 of 28 [farm]: introductions
Response 20 of 39: christine detwiler (detwilerc) * Tue, Mar 28, 2000 (16:12) * 2 lines
Hi Terry
Was really amazed to find my letter featured. I'll think about this a little bit and respond to your question, "why was I so mad", soon. I didn't read the Farm Net for many years, so alot of my stuff has probably been covered before, but I did return to the Farm from the New York Farm at a time when most other folks were gone or heading out.(after the coup) I observed some real disturbing things that alot of people didnt. By the way, do I know you? Im back at the library on 15 minute express so have to go now, but will be in touch. I realize It was wrong to call this a chat. Is there a chat going on other then here with ex Farm members? Thanks again===your response has made my week. Christine
Topic 1 of 28 [farm]: introductions
Response 21 of 39: christine detwiler (detwilerc) * Mon, Apr 10, 2000 (13:17) * 4 lines
HI
Well, Im back. Its been hard for me to pin it down in words I want to say about why I was so mad, but Ill give it a try. I felt that when I joined the Farm and sacrificed many many things worth more then just the money and the car that I gave the Farm, the I was entering into an agreement---a legal agreement as well as spiritual. We owned all things in common. I felt angry that a group of people could plot behind other peoples back and just announce that everything was changed because they said so. I felt that the "new Farm---Firm,whatever" accomplished the restructuring of the Farm by being bullies and indimidating any one else who didnt agree with them. The children of God are not worldly wise,and most folks just rolled over and left. There was also the factor that the leaders of this coup were people who had been entrusted with positions of power, heads of businesses, bank,etc. They knew the change was going to happen (because they were engineering it) way before the general populace and were a
le to financially prepare for it. An example of this would be how Robert Moore of Solar Electronics would buy a new car for the business before the change then after the change also be the one who owned Solar Electronics (because he said so) and have a car to drive whenever he wanted to even if it wasnt technically his. (or his to have to pay for) I wouldnt put it past him to somehow have this covered making it part of the Farm debt to be paid off with common funds. Im not saying he did this, but I think he did. Then there was the deal with the soy dairy. The Foundation would sell these business at their descretion (LEGALLY COMMUNIALLY HELD BUSINESSES) for whatever and to whomever they wanted to. There was supposed to be open bidding for the soy dairy but the announcement to that effect was for such a short time period that people like Romona and Jeff lost the chance by just being out of town for a few days. To add insult to injury Ron and Michele Lee came up with a big part of their down payment by se
ling off every bit of stainless steel they could scam from canning and the bakery.(all the big cooking pots,sinks etc.) Im sure in the "real world" this is a piddeling amount of money, but Im sure the deal they made with the Foundation was quite generous, because thats how things were in those days. You kissed ass, you got stuff. You complained and you were ostercized and told, if you dont like it here, why dont you just leave. Well, I got to run. Im being bumped off here. Ill add more later Christine
Topic 1 of 28 [farm]: introductions
Response 22 of 39: christine detwiler (detwilerc) * Sat, Apr 15, 2000 (11:11) * 5 lines
I notice that this site doesnt get hit very often. Oh well, I guess this is really doing me some good to say these things so I might as well finish even if no one else reads this except perhaps for you Terry. Id like to add a few more things in answer to why I was mad. I was mad about how some people who left the Farm blackmailed those behind by threatning to talk to authorities about things we agreed not to talk about and in return got vehicals. Also those who left the Farm and were allowed to sell the houses on the Farm (our legally common-owned houses) from a distance because their money had gone into said houses and they had pals on the board or at least were able to indimidate the board into allowing them to do that. Of course legally no one got to own a house prior to the coup but fairness and legality was not in operation at that time. It was who you knew, what you knew, and how good you were at psycologically bullying that mattered in those days. Also it makes me really mad to read comments
bout how a big reason the farm failed was because some people were doing all the work and some folks were hardly working. I dont know Matthew McClure.( see item"Why the Farm Failed" ) He was one of those high holy hippies. At least I never saw him down at canning scrubbing compost buckets. But I definetely think hes a jerk and an apologist for a group of thieves. People had to work hard on the Farm because if you didnt youre household would be up into your thing on a daily basis and you wouldnt have a place to live if you didnt come up with it to be fair. I never saw many hard working people in my life as on the Farm. This lie about all the loafers on the Farm particulary pisses me off because so many of us were willing to do the menial never noticed dirty jobs and hard physical labor so guys like Albert (his highness Bates) could develope their personal dreams. I believe the New Firm folks use this lousy excuse so often as one of the reasons they needed to take over the Farm because its the numbe
one reason capitolists, parents and other people of little faith give for why they think communes cant work,and they knew it would be readily believed.(though I think its bullshit) Im mad because I feel the property in TN was illegally stolen from my kid, from many hippy dreamers and visionaries in this generation, and unfortunately from probably seven generations to facilitate creating a planned community for the benefit of a few and their children. Of course if you remember your teachings the Farm is not a physical place. Also because everything that was done was quite illegal, maybe someday some Farm person with a good lawyer will be able to do something about what happened there. Im sure collectively we dissidents would have many stories that would help. I know suing the Farm sounds really square, but dont forget Ghandi was above all a lawyer and won most of the freedoms for people that he did through the courts, by insisting the law that was already there must be followed. So, by for now. I do
ant to write about one more thing Im mad about if I dont get thrown off the spring. I appreciate the chance to do this.I actually feel like Im channeling or something. Hope someone writes back.
Christine
Topic 1 of 28 [farm]: introductions
Response 23 of 39: birdinflight (birdinflight) * Wed, Dec 27, 2000 (12:11) * 2 lines
I have to agree with Christine on many things most especially about the hard working "little people" on the Farm. I was never a signed on member like her and I guess that was mainly because I didn't want to give up what little I had being a slum girl from the big city that never had too much growing up. But I did spend some time there from 1979 to about 1983 when all the bad stuff happened and some very close friends of mine that worked their butts off and were on the caravan, etc. were very hurt by the way everything unraveled. I still find it very hard to say anything negative about the Farm in general and people like Ina May in particular who I know to be a high and spiritual lady and a true revolutionary along the lines of Gandhi and Mother Teresa but then I never had any dealings with Stephen whatsoever and really only thought of him as Ina May's husband. lol I regret not one minute I ever spent on the Farm or with Farm folks and if I had it to do over I would probably spend more time there. Go
ng there to have my children was the best thing I ever did and I treasure the memories more than I can express.
Topic 1 of 28 [farm]: introductions
Response 24 of 39: The Farm still lives (sprin5) * Thu, Dec 28, 2000 (12:20) * 1 lines
"all the bad stuff"? What happened and what went wrong? And what could have happened differently for things to have turned out better?
Topic 1 of 28 [farm]: introductions
Response 25 of 39: birdinflight (birdinflight) * Sat, Jan 27, 2001 (21:40) * 1 lines
"all the bad stuff" the stuff that Christine was talking about which I wasn't really privy to, however, I take her word for her side of it. "all the bad stuff" is also the bad stuff I knew about personally like friends of mine that worked very hard doing all kinds of Farm stuff and when it reorganized they had to leave because they had been doing non-traditional jobs ON THE FARM instead of traditional 8 to 5 jobs with a paycheck. And I don't really know what could have happened differently for things to have turned out better, as I stated I was never a signed on member just a friend that observed various things. I have only the best feelings about the Farm myself as I also stated.
Topic 1 of 28 [farm]: introductions
Response 26 of 39: Shelbi Cassel (shelbi) * Sun, Mar 4, 2001 (22:16) * 1 lines
Hi everyone! I am quite naive about the real farm compared to most of you especially from what I have read. I have never visited the farm myself but I have read everything that I could about the farm. I have also heard many discussions about the farm at Rainbow Gatherings, and some of the dead shows that I have been to. The first time I heard anything about the farm was from a girl named Wokonda who had been born there. I was going to school with her at Antioch. She didn't seem to be connected with the farm anymore. I hope to hear more about the farm and learn more about intentional communities from this website. I still have a "hippie daydream" that I would like to live out with my friends and family. I would love to gather all these people together and really make a community based upon love, trust, and a real sense of brotherhood/sisterhood where we live well and treat each other kindly.
Topic 1 of 28 [farm]: introductions
Response 27 of 39: The Farm still lives (sprin5) * Mon, Mar 5, 2001 (08:17) * 6 lines
Where are you living now Shelbi and what is your life like there?
I never ran across a Wokonda at the Farm, how old is she now and who were her parents, do you know?
Where would you base your community, these are wonderful ideals you have.
Topic 1 of 28 [farm]: introductions
Response 28 of 39: Shelbi Cassel (shelbi) * Mon, Mar 5, 2001 (18:45) * 4 lines
I am living in San Diego and life is far from my ideals. I am currently a member of the service and am so regretting my decision to join an organization that I feel is morally deprived and fundamentally wrong. But, I have two kids to support and was put in a situation where we would've been homeless if I didn't do something drastic so I "bit the bullet" as they say and joined the Navy. Now, everyday I am confronted with the fact that I am a fish out of water. I am constantly ridiculed for my beliefs and ideals. I had forgotten what this world was like. I had spent so much time on tour with the Dead, going to Rainbow gatherings, and going to school at Antioch that I forgot that there were these supposedly "normal" people. I don't think they are normal and I never again want to have to go through this type of experience. But, I try and learn as much as I can about this experience because for whatever the reasons my karma has led me to this life. I just know that no matter the situation I will never ag
in volunteer myself to the indentured servitude that I am now engaged in. A pacifist should never join a military organization. But, after the Navy I plan to study botany, and possibly midwifery. I haven't decided about midwifery yet since I will have two small children. It is very difficult to manage a lifestyle where you are constantly on call when you have small children. But, midwifery is something that I feel so strongly about that I think I should still consider it. After all, anything worthwhile in life is usually the most difficult path.
Wokonda is 21 years old and I don't remember her dad's name. I think it might have been Mike but I am not sure.
If I could have a community, I think I would base it in Oregon. It would have to be southern Oregon. I would have enough rainfall for my straw-bale house to catch to support my family and enough wind/ sunshine to power our electrical needs. Also, I could raise enough food during the growing season to can for the rest of the year.
Topic 1 of 28 [farm]: introductions
Response 29 of 39: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Thu, May 3, 2001 (23:43) * 1 lines
There are some great communities in Southern Oregon, I lived there about 20 years and my wife at the time and I worked a little natural foods store (called affectionately the "Wonder Dome" by area folk) on the highway from Takilma to Grants Pass. There was (is?) a place there called the Meadows, it's about 200 acres of springfed woods and gardens and the Illinois River borders it. It's quite paradaisical, I remember some of the folks, Romaine, Bear, Beth and Michael. Joohnhnny the ham operator lived down the road and there were the sisters who lived at a Farm behind Talsalsan Farm, Laurie and, and ? , Apple's Larry Tessler lived at a commune in the neighborhood with a name that's on the tip of my tongue, Canaan I think it was, they had a huge lodge and ran the local peoples clinic. Crooks Creek and the Family of the Mystic Arts were other phenomenal communities, I could write a book about this era!
Topic 1 of 28 [farm]: introductions
Response 30 of 39: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Wed, May 9, 2001 (23:14) * 37 lines
Date: Thu, 10 May 2001 14:51:33 +1000
From: rebecca kellock
To: "terry@spring.net"
Subject: Thanks for old e-mail
Hi there,
Sorry this has taken such a long time to reply - I'm a sporadic e-mail
user. I'll definitely look at the discussion board re the Farm soon.
I lived for a while on a farm in northern NSW Australia in 1988 to
1990 with a few folks making essene bread, a business which is still
going under different people.
We were always inspired by the Farm in Tennessee and I hope some of
the people who toughed it out at the Farm know many people appreciate
them for holding the vision even if some of us balance sustainability
within semi-mainstream lifestyles now.
I always see the Farm and Findhorn as being two of the major pioneers
in the ecovillage movement and Ina May Gaskin and the midwive's work
has been far reaching.
I've been reading about Marcos and the Zapatista movement lately and
as in Australia there seems to be some more networking going on
between our indigenous brothers and sisters and ourselves.
I wish you well in your current projects.
Love and Light
Rebecca
__________________________________________________________________
Get your free Australian email account at http://www.start.com.au
Topic 1 of 28 [farm]: introductions
Response 31 of 39: Don James (beatnick) * Fri, Jun 29, 2001 (07:19) * 18 lines
Growing up in the bay area in the fifties and sixties, the only thing
that made sense to me was the hippie thing when it came along. I embraced
it and then when I heard of Stephen in '75, I embraced him also. I went
there with my lady friend the next year, we arrived in Feb and I had had
it with it all by November, haha. I had no idea what was going on on the
Farm when I went there and spent almost all my time being reactive there,
either denying or being angry. I left on bad terms with everyone and today
have no hard feelings at all and am really happy and feel priveledged to
have spent the small amount of time I did there. I've been working with
computers one way or another since '83 when I went to work for Intel in
Santa Cruz, Calif. Now I design web pages and cds and have worked for the same c
company for 13 years. That company has relocated me twice, once to Philadelphia
and now 4 years in North Carolina. I'm 55, have been married to my 4th wife
for 8 years, and am learning new stuff all the time. I've emailed a couple
Farm people from my days there, even exchanged a few with Stephen. I told
Stephen he should take his bid for President more seriously, tone down the pot
rap, cut his hair and beard and wear one of those brooks brothers suits, haha.
He coulda been a contenda! He ignored my advice, of course.
Topic 1 of 28 [farm]: introductions
Response 32 of 39: Dan Jacobson (jidanni) * Mon, Oct 15, 2001 (15:01) * 14 lines
gee, this spring is haggersome:
[some comments i told my friends]
by the way, those urls are funny. they cannot be clicked on in
lynx and netscape, but can be entered on the command line...
Newsgroups: comp.security.misc
Subject: they put my password right in the URL
Here's a new one for you. I signed up and was browsing on
http://www.spring.net/ and checking my WWWOFFLE cache, I noticed that
they put your password right there in the URL:
http://jidanni:my_former_passwd@www.spring.net/yapp-bin/restricted/read/farm/12
Topic 1 of 28 [farm]: introductions
Response 33 of 39: Kurt Tazelaar (Kurt) * Sun, Feb 24, 2002 (05:00) * 45 lines
My name is Kurt Tazelaar I lived in the Adobe house from July to October
of 1975. I was 17 years old and impressionable. During my stay I fell
in love with the place and intended to make it my permanent residence.
But when I went home for a short visit I gradually realized that while
The Farm may not have been a cut and dry cult, for the person whom I
was at the time it had had a cult like affect on me. There were several reasons for this. There was a strong psychological need within me to
conform to the character and tastes of the Farm elders. I had tried to
become a part of the community, and at the time the community spoke in
a slang vocabulary, where phrases like “far out” were used in nearly
every sentence, meaning anything and everything. The adoption of a
limited vocabulary does have a cramping effect on a person’s thoughts.
Also, my status as a newcomer teenager in the Adobe house meant that
some of the Farm brethren would “hip” me up on what was proper and what
was not. I was not supposed to like Bruce Springsteen. I was not
supposed to have opinions. Their attitude was at times overbearing.
And as a headstrong teenager, I began to resent it, and I decided to
not return.
So while my stay on The Farm was a positive experience, in the aftermath
I had bad feelings. But recently I stumbled upon an informative television documentary, then found this website and read the narratives, and then
reread my 1974 copy of Hey Beatnik. I developed respect and questions.
My first impression was of how hard the initial settlers worked, how they
took a wilderness and in a few short years built so many buildings from scratch, and how organized and informed they had to be. There is a
current television show where people are put in fend-for-yourself
circumstances for a mere 39 days. They struggle to endure the contest.
The Farm settlers endured years of challenges and were largely successful.
Perhaps some of my questions can be answered. During my stay on The Farm, Stephen was revered and had a larger than life status. The coup in 1983
is shocking, and the narratives on this site give radically different
points of view. Was the coup a mere political restructuring that was
provoked by changing economics circumstances and needs, or was it a
spiritual rebuke for Stephen, where he might have become to be regarded
as a person who acted like he was more equal than everyone else? And
after the restructuring and downsizing, are the remaining people, while
focused on their spiritual lives, less pressured to conform to a certain
kind of thought and attitude, is the language less constrained, is individuality and eccentricity more respected? In my rereading of
Hey Beatnik, I was left with the impression that the religious
declarations went beyond guidance and generalities, the attitude was
that the group had “the answers” and “the received wisdom” to the
mysteries of life. They had it all figured out. Is the current
attitude less audacious?
Despite my persnickety questions and statements, please understand
that my lasting feeling towards the Farm is that it is an historically interesting and amazing way of life.
Topic 1 of 28 [farm]: introductions
Response 34 of 39: User & (admin) * Thu, Jan 9, 2003 (16:26) * 1 lines
Some very interesting issues! I hope we get some feeback and response from this though provoking post.
Topic 1 of 28 [farm]: introductions
Response 35 of 39: Laurie Rossa Vazquez (mexicana) * Sat, Feb 15, 2003 (03:24) * 6 lines
Hi everybody,
I lived at the Round House and Solar Plexis. My kids are Gabe and Govinda. I lived on the Fram from 1981 to 1983. I was also involved with the Ettrick, Wisconsin Farm and a long time ago in San Rafael and San Francisco trying to get a farm going there in 1975.
I don't regret my time there. I'm grateful to have had the guidance I did at such a young age. Thanks to Stephen, Ina May, and Karen Flaherty too. She counseled me once.
I would like to see or know of a Farm memorium. I feel sad that I don't know who has passed on.
Topic 1 of 28 [farm]: introductions
Response 36 of 39: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Sun, Feb 16, 2003 (05:20) * 1 lines
Have you seen Ellie's site Laurie? Ellie is Karen's daughter.
Topic 1 of 28 [farm]: introductions
Response 37 of 39: Laurie Rossa Vazquez (mexicana) * Fri, Feb 21, 2003 (01:05) * 1 lines
Yes, I've seen it. That sight of Farm pictures, that is, the link on this menu is really amazing.
Topic 1 of 28 [farm]: introductions
Response 38 of 39: Don James (beatnick) * Sat, May 31, 2003 (09:37) * 17 lines
In response 33, Kurt wrote:
"I was left with the impression that the religious
declarations went beyond guidance and generalities, the attitude was
that the group had “the answers” and “the received wisdom” to the
mysteries of life. They had it all figured out. Is the current
attitude less audacious?"
I don't think Stephen or the people on the Farm had it all figured out,
but what happened was Stephen actually did get enlightened. Look at what
the Farm was about. Helping the poor, teaching people to be self-sufficient,
midwifery, vegetarianism, being truthful with each other. These are enlightened
ideas, and Stephen had been pushing them since the Haight days. He had been
on a mission of the heart and transmitted that to others. Look at what the
rest of the hippies were coming up with. Leary, Woodstock, the Hog Farm, all
fun ideas, but not on the same level of enlightened ideas Stephen was coming up with. Stephen's stuff was on a par with true mystics and saints, more like what gurus in India are about. It was a tall order to integrate that with the kind of western indulgent child rearing and consumerism adaptation and all kinds of other baggage that people carried who went to live on the Farm. At the core of what the Farm was/is about was Stephen's enlightened condition, in my opinion. Without that, none of it would have happened.
Topic 1 of 28 [farm]: introductions
Response 39 of 39: rchandler (bSirius) * Sat, Nov 8, 2003 (19:19) * 5 lines
brandon......original drummer from wild dogs wants to hear from you...sorry there were no cars at the oakland museum. your phone number has changed and i no longer have your e-addie. get in touch.
christina you are so right about everything! some of us saw the class society for what it was and the preferential treatment of the insiders, people like leslie hunt who never really did anything except get taken care of by the single people they filled their homes with to cook and do dishes for then while they sat on their asses dreaming of how "heavy" they were.
farm conference 
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