Yes, that's what the Nearings (Helen and Scott) did first in Vermont staring in the early 1930's at Forest Farm (for 20 years) in the Green Mountains and then on coastal Maine which occurred after the book was published.

Nate, also know that Scott Nearing wrote about war and oil way back when WWI and WWII were closely linked to petroleum, even though folks did not like to talk about it then.

Nearing also wrote too frankly about child labor abuse. One of the key donors to Penn State at the time happened to abuse children -- use them as de facto slaves -- and had Nearing fired and blackballed from academia.

Rather than slink away whimpering, the Nearings simply lived the good life and taught many young people who heard about their "good Life" through reading or else word of mouth. These (primarily) young people would travel to the nearings farms -- first in Vermont, as I recall, then later in Maine -- to learn by working on the farm and then joining in discussions led mostly by Scott Nearing.

Nearing taught at the farm and also accepted some speaking engagements until he was quite aged and no longer able to do so.

Helen's book "Loving and Leaving the Good Life" is a superb overview, and the photos of their farms and projects ar wonderful.

Some good things really renew the soul. I find that "Loving and Leaving the Good Life" is a reflection of an elderly person remembering her lifelong companion and lover and a wonderful uncompromising teacher who mostly taught by walking the walk. Their lives effectively repudiate much of our current culture and give an example of a better way.

Incidentally, Penn State retracted its ban of Nearing after he was quite old, and admitted their wrong-doing and apologized. Of course this was long after the damage was done to his academic career, for however that matters.

The Fed and all would not seem to have any common ground with such people as the Nearings.

I seem to be living the barbell life now, though with the winter setting in a bit too much computer time ;)

I am going to read a book about the European plague. Apparently some good insights on how populations deal with mass death and social chaos.