Out to Change the World: The Evolution of the Farm Community

by Douglas Stevenson

In 1971, a caravan of 60 brightly painted school buses and assorted other vehicles carrying more than 300 hippie idealists landed on an abandoned farm in central Tennessee. They had a mission: to be a part of something bigger than themselves, to follow a peaceful and spiritual path, and to make a difference in the world.

Out to Change the World tells the story of how those hippies established The Farm, one of the largest and longest-lasting intentional communities in the United States. Starting with the 1960s Haight Ashbury scene where it all began and continuing through the changeover from commune to collective up to the present day, this is the first complete account of The Farm's origins, inception, growth, and evolution. By turns inspiring, cautionary, triumphant, and wistful, it's a captivating narrative from start to finish.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

160 pages, Paperback

First published February 15, 2014

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been fascinated by The Farm since reading Hey Beatnik! In the late 70s. I enjoyed learning much more about the beginnings and the changes as The Farm developed from a " hippie commune" to a thriving intentional community. Stevenson packs a lot of history and change into this well written little book.

[Dewi Rhys-jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the blurb on Amazon: 'In 1971, more than three hundred hippie idealists-in a caravan of sixty brightly painted school buses and assorted other vehicles-landed on an abandoned farm in central Tennessee. They had a mission: to be a part of something bigger than themselves, to follow a peaceful and spiritual path, and to make a difference in the world. OUT TO CHANGE THE WORLD tells the story of how those hippies established The Farm, one of the largest and longest-lasting intentional communities in the United States. Starting with the 1960s' Haight-Ashbury scene where it all began, continuing through the changeover from commune to collective, and culminating with the present, this is the first complete account of The Farm's origins, inception, growth, and evolution. By turns inspiring, cautionary, triumphant, and wistful, it's a captivating narrative from start to finish.'
And the community still exists. Changed but still there. For me, an interesting read as I read 'This Season's People', 'Volume 1, Sunday Morning Services on The farm' and 'Spiritual Midwifery' decades ago. I was pleased to learn that the community has evolved and is still going.

[Ellen Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

a fun look back at the history of the 1970s and a bunch of hippies who set out to live on the land but who didn't know what they were doing, in an age without DIY videos on youtube. sweet and hopeful.