Stephen Gaskin, founder of The Farm, dies at 79

[G_j]

http://www.tennessean.com/story/life/2014/07/01/stephen-gaskin-founder-farm-dies/11934969/

Stephen Gaskin and his wife, Ina May, are founding members of The Farm, an intentional community in Summertown, Tenn. The couple are founding members of The Farm, one of the oldest intentional communities founded out of the counterculture movement of the 60's. (Photo: Dipti Vaidya / The Tennessean)

July 2, 2014

Stephen Gaskin — an often tie-dye-clad hippie philosopher, a proud "freethinker" and iconic founder of The Farm — died Tuesday morning at his home. He was 79.

More than four decades ago, Mr. Gaskin — an ex-combat marine with crystalline blue eyes — led a caravan of nonconformists across the country, taking his band of beatnik brethren deep into the Tennessee woods and establishing what would become The Farm, one of the country's oldest surviving communes.

It was the vision of a man who spoke with pride about the lineage of freethinkers from which he came.

...snip...

"I think the importance of the United States lies in the sincere attempt to live without royalty and with respect for other people's religions. When I hear someone say that the separation of church and state is a myth, or that the Constitution is only man's law, it makes my blood run cold.

"I consider any attempt to take this country over in the name of any religion to be as repugnant and unconstitutional as a takeover by international communism or fascism."

By 1980, The Farm's population swelled to more than 1,200. But a financial crisis led to a reorganization. The group made some bad investments. Members did not have insurance and faced large medical bills. With The Farm more than $400,000 in debt, a large corporate hospital placed a lien against the land.

In 1983, they took a vote and the communal life lost. In the once-cashless society, members started to pay monthly dues and only The Farm's 1,750 acres were held in common. The debt was paid off in about four years, and the society survived in a new way of life. Mr. Gaskin transitioned from a spiritual leader to another resident of the cooperative. He remained on The Farm until his death.

"I'm just grateful the people around here had a big enough heart to take us in," he said.

...more...

[Voice for Peace]

1. "Spiritual Midwifery" by Ina May was a big influence on our childbirthing

And one of the former midwives from the Farm helped
birth one of our babes.

[G_j]

4. I know many who have had that book

and love it.

[panader0]

2. 'Monday Night Class' had a good influence on me all those years ago.

RIP Mr Gaskin--a great soul.

[aikoaiko]

3. In honor of Stephen

http://m.

St. Stephen/ Not Fade Away / St Stephen / Eyes of the World