Ida, a queer commune in rural Tennessee

[nibot]

Bree on the tire swing.

Last night, following up on open-ended invitations to visit garnered at the co-op conference in Ann Arbor, we stayed at a queer commune in rural Tennessee (map) called Ida, which sits in a wooded valley and has a couple wood-stove heated buildings, a barn, chickens, some friendly dogs, and hosts an annual music event called the "Idapalooza Fruit Jam" every September. We arrived to find friendly residents who showed us around, a yummy dinner awaiting us, and a cozy loft to sleep in. This seems to be a bit of a hot spot for intentional communities. Within thirty minutes driving ("10 country miles") are Small Mountain and Pumpkin Hollow, and Tennessee is also home to The Farm, a famous and longstanding commune. The author of Wild Fermentation, a reference familiar to any good hippie, lives at Small Mountain.

Heading towards Memphis tonight, then down the Mississippi river towards Baton Rouge tomorrow. Was hoping to pick up a copy of Lonely Planet's "Louisiana and the Deep South," but unfortunately it seems to be out of print. Hostels and couchsurfing opportunities seem a bit sparser down here.

Comments

[zdover.livejournal.com]

Well, Memphis is really probably the best thing in that region of the south. If you guys are staying near the interstate, you'll probably be passing through Jackson on 55. My sister used to live there before she was stationed in Baghdad, so I've written to ask her where to go in Jackson.

Listen closely. There is nothing in northern Louisiana. There's a casino in Shreveport, but if you've seen one casino, you've seen them all.

Eat as much Southern barbeque as you possibly can while you're there.

More soon.