Native Voices
The Farm is an intentional community in Lewis County, Tennessee, near the community of Summertown, Tennessee, based on principles of nonviolence, respect for the Earth, and veganism. It was founded in 1971 by Stephen Gaskin and 300 spiritual seekers from Haight-Ashbury, San Francisco. The Farm served as the birthplace of the midwifery revival in the United States and played a central role in launching the contemporary home birth movement. Its members have founded a number of nonprofit organizations, including Plenty International, a relief and development organization, and Swan Conservation Trust, who established the 1,358 acres (550 ha) Big Swan Headwaters Preserve. The Farm has approximately 200 members and residents. The Farm played a role in popularizing soy foods, such as tofu, tempeh, and soymilk, in America.
The Farm experienced rapid early growth that strained its infrastructure and finances, leading to a major restructuring in 1983 known as “the Changeover,” after which it stabilized as a smaller, self-sustaining intentional community focused on education, entrepreneurship, and social change.
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