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]

If you're in Alabama after next Tuesday night, I'll put you up for a couple of nights. I have a great house on a lake, and I know a bunch of cool people who for some reason or another are stuck down there. I'm in Berlin, Germany right now, but I'll be back soon.

[cassiusdio.livejournal.com]

Cool, I didn't know Wild Fermentation was that well known. I'd love to visit those communities someday soon.

[erinmack.livejournal.com]

My LJ friend stickemup has been posting lots of photos from visits to her sister at Twin Oaks near Charlottesville! I admit I'm somewhat intrigued by intentional communities, but I think I'm way too anal-retentive to think I could ever thrive at one.

Wild Fermentation totally rang a bell for me, so I guess this officially makes me a hippie.