Literature to lift spirits through the Trump Slump. Tales of other dangerous times and what some people did to make it through.
The great life experiment is in full swing. We are doing the thing. Hundreds of dedicated, good-hearted, high-minded people unite to attempt to create a cool, affordable way to live, a model of a lifestyle the whole world can afford.
A fun read and an important piece of history. How to make it through dangerous changing times and live a good life.
Stories of extraordinary personal and group transformation.
Like now, the 60s were dangerous, challenging times. Millions of minds changed. Movements were born. Folks moved back to the land.
Melvyn Stiriss takes the reader on an entertaining, action-packed first-person journey through the ages, creating a portal into the inner realms of those heady, revolutionary times—times rich in lessons that can help now.
Observe every day life over a dozen years in a grand social experiment. A far-out journey deep into the psyche and mindscape of the 60s. Beyond sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll—beyond hippies—Humorist/Journalist Melvyn Stiriss sheds new light on the sixties when, as a UPI reporter, he followed the story of the times over the edge to live the story himself.
Stiriss—“I co-founded and lived thirteen years in America’s biggest commune not undercover but as a full-fledged member of the hippie collective, living the dream, “saving the world.” The idea of writing about the experience came after, when I realized the importance of reporting behind-the-scenes, everyday observations of one of the most-intriguing social experiments to come out of that heady era.”
Enter what may seem another world. Entertaining, informative, true stories of America’s biggest commune—The Farm—a remarkable bold attempt to “get out of the box” and create a better way of life—Earth-friendly, people-friendly, eclectic, agrarian, vegan community and pioneering cannabis church—a commune awarded the Swedish Right Livelihood Award—“For caring, sharing and acting with and on behalf of those in need at home and abroad.” An example of The Farm’s humanitarian outreach, the author worked with Mayans and a crew from the community in remote villages after a devastating earthquake in Guatemala—building rural schools, clinics, houses and a clinic for Mother Teresa.
“Imagine all the people living life in peace.”—John Lennon
That was us! We had it going. Cool, fun, weaving of journalism, pathos and humor transports the reader on an entertaining, mind-expanding, psychedelic odyssey.
Over the collective’s 13 years, 5,000 people lived and worked together as “voluntary peasants” sharing labor, life and friendship—a path with heart—working without pay—to create a globally-affordable, sustainable safe, sane, eclectic, agrarian, egalitarian, meaningful, fun lifestyle. The Farm was a grassroots, 24/7 peace demonstration.
Pooling resources, working together, we built our own town—complete with farming, construction, motor pool, soy dairy, clinic, lab, doctors, midwives, bakery, cottage industries, FM radio station, solar-heated school, a dozen satellite communities and humanitarian outreach projects around the world. At peak—1,450 people enjoyed Zero Unemployment, Universal Healthcare, and all necessities on $100/person a month!”
This includes the author’s deeply personal spiritual student-teacher relationship with Stephen Gaskin; personal “yogas” placed on him, “spiritual missions” to perform and what that all led too. We also examine surprising effects of group think.
The whole remarkable story, will be available in print June, 2017
Visit www.VoluntaryPeasants.com
The great life experiment is in full swing. We are doing the thing. Hundreds of dedicated, good-hearted, high-minded people unite to attempt to create a cool, affordable way to live, a model of a lifestyle the whole world can afford.
A fun read and an important piece of history. How to make it through dangerous changing times and live a good life.
Stories of extraordinary personal and group transformation.
Like now, the 60s were dangerous, challenging times. Millions of minds changed. Movements were born. Folks moved back to the land.
Melvyn Stiriss takes the reader on an entertaining, action-packed first-person journey through the ages, creating a portal into the inner realms of those heady, revolutionary times—times rich in lessons that can help now.
Observe every day life over a dozen years in a grand social experiment. A far-out journey deep into the psyche and mindscape of the 60s. Beyond sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll—beyond hippies—Humorist/Journalist Melvyn Stiriss sheds new light on the sixties when, as a UPI reporter, he followed the story of the times over the edge to live the story himself.
Stiriss—“I co-founded and lived thirteen years in America’s biggest commune not undercover but as a full-fledged member of the hippie collective, living the dream, “saving the world.” The idea of writing about the experience came after, when I realized the importance of reporting behind-the-scenes, everyday observations of one of the most-intriguing social experiments to come out of that heady era.”
Enter what may seem another world. Entertaining, informative, true stories of America’s biggest commune—The Farm—a remarkable bold attempt to “get out of the box” and create a better way of life—Earth-friendly, people-friendly, eclectic, agrarian, vegan community and pioneering cannabis church—a commune awarded the Swedish Right Livelihood Award—“For caring, sharing and acting with and on behalf of those in need at home and abroad.” An example of The Farm’s humanitarian outreach, the author worked with Mayans and a crew from the community in remote villages after a devastating earthquake in Guatemala—building rural schools, clinics, houses and a clinic for Mother Teresa.
“Imagine all the people living life in peace.”—John Lennon
That was us! We had it going. Cool, fun, weaving of journalism, pathos and humor transports the reader on an entertaining, mind-expanding, psychedelic odyssey.
Over the collective’s 13 years, 5,000 people lived and worked together as “voluntary peasants” sharing labor, life and friendship—a path with heart—working without pay—to create a globally-affordable, sustainable safe, sane, eclectic, agrarian, egalitarian, meaningful, fun lifestyle. The Farm was a grassroots, 24/7 peace demonstration.
Pooling resources, working together, we built our own town—complete with farming, construction, motor pool, soy dairy, clinic, lab, doctors, midwives, bakery, cottage industries, FM radio station, solar-heated school, a dozen satellite communities and humanitarian outreach projects around the world. At peak—1,450 people enjoyed Zero Unemployment, Universal Healthcare, and all necessities on $100/person a month!”
This includes the author’s deeply personal spiritual student-teacher relationship with Stephen Gaskin; personal “yogas” placed on him, “spiritual missions” to perform and what that all led too. We also examine surprising effects of group think.
The whole remarkable story, will be available in print June, 2017
Visit www.VoluntaryPeasants.com
