In the 60s and 70s many young idealistic Americans founded communes in various places in the States in an attempt to build a better world. Many of them ended up emulating the problems they saw in the wider society, or simply collapsing.
The Farm in Summertown, Tennessee, was founded in 1971 by Stephen Gaskin and around 300 followers, and despite many shifts along the way, still survives till today.
The film shows how the collective started as a highly successful night class at San Francisco State College, became a country-crossing bus caravan, and eventually settled near Nashville, where they acquired 1,000 acres of land, and started a farm.
In the 80s the Farm underwent quite a radical reorganisation which saw many members leave, and changed from a commune into a cooperative, and it continues with around 200 members to this day.
The community is earth-centered and vegan, and undertake voluntary poverty and avoided many of the things characteristic of the wider society: artificial birth control, alcohol, tobacco and animal products.
They also promoted natural birthing techniques, adoption in place of abortion, and started a book publishing company, produced Geiger counters, have an eco-village and provide training in such things as house building, solar energy, and bio fuels.
The film includes interviews with founders, including Stephen Gaskin and his wife Ina May, and also with people who grew up on the farm, and people living there now to give a picture of how they have been able to survive, and what they were able to accomplish.
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