I wrote the text below to be included in a new publication on The History of Lewis County. It was not easy to squeeze out a comprehensive description of our time here in 750 words!
Douglas
In August of 1971, Lewis County’s history took a surprising turn when it became home to a group of West Coast counterculture idealists, arriving in over 60 brightly painted school buses to found what would become the world’s largest hippie commune.
Farm Kids back in the day
Approximately 300 came in the first wave, growing to nearly 1400 residents by the end of the decade, while also attracting up to 10,000 visitors per year.
Why Lewis County? The previous year the bus “Caravan” had traveled on a cross-country journey spreading a message of peace to offset the discord caused by social issues of the time. To demonstrate that people dedicated to cooperation could live together in harmony, a decision was made to acquire land and build a self-sustaining community.
The question: Where to settle? Two areas of the country stood out. The reception in Minnesota had been warm, but the climate was deemed too cold, making it difficult to grow food and live off the land. Much to everyone’s surprise, so-called Southern Hospitality was found to be very real. Land was affordable. The Caravan arrived in Nashville and began a search for the perfect property.
By chance, they were invited to camp on a property in Lewis County while continuing their search. Making friends with a man named Carlos Smith who owned the adjacent property, an agreement was made to purchase his 1000 acre farm known as The Black Swan Ranch, for $70 an acre. A couple years later, an additional 750 acres were purchased from a neighbor, making a total of 1750 acres.
Stephen Gaskin
The principle spokesperson for The Farm was a former college professor turned New Age spiritual teacher named Stephen Gaskin. In many ways he functioned as the preacher of “The Farm Church,” delivering sermons each Sunday to inspire community members to grow spiritually. Gaskin set the tone for the community’s core values, siting the Bible’s Book of Acts. Everyone would be cared for equally, with work seen as an expression of love and devotion. All members took a Vow of Poverty in service of humanity, sending volunteers around the world to provide aid and relief to those in need.
Gaskin also emphasized the importance of making friends with its Tennessee neighbors, something he considered vital for the community’s chance of survival. All visitors were given free tours of the community. Its work crews built hundreds of homes, barns and performed various services throughout the region, establishing a reputation for honesty and hard work.
The Changeover
However by the early 1980’s The Farm found itself victim of a national economic depression. Construction work had been the primary source of income, but no longer generated enough revenues. The Farm was half a million dollars in debt, with a lean against the land.
Face with losing it all, in September, 1983, The Farm made a major shift, an event now known as “The Changeover.” Overnight it converted from a communal to a “collective” economy, making each resident responsible for their own income and support, while also equally responsible for their share of the community’s operating costs. Many became disillusioned and left, but a core group of 100 adults and 150 children stayed. This small number persevered, and by 1990 the community was debt free.
In its new incarnation, The Farm’s land and infrastructure, including all homes and public buildings, are held by a Trust. Members generate income through a diverse array of small businesses and services, including an electronics manufacturing facility, one of the only high tech firm in Lewis County. Both the businesses and numerous nonprofits continue The Farm’s original vision of service to humanity.
Swan Conservation Trust has established the 1400 acre Big Swan Headwaters (Nature) Preserve to protect the ecosystem of Big Swan Creek.
Plenty International manages projects around the world. Its Kids To The Country program brings children from the inner city, homeless and refugee centers to The Farm to experience a communion with nature.
Women come from all corners of the globe to have their babies delivered by The Farm Midwives.
As The Farm transitioned into a new century, the community simultaneously made an important shift in its demographics. A new generation of young families now make this land their home, carrying on the original vision of people living together in harmony and with the earth, hopefully for generations to come. No longer a hippy commune, The Farm is now considered an Ecovillage, a model for sustainable living, and proud to have its home in Lewis County, Tennessee.
