843 replies to this topic

[FREE]

anyone ever heard of the zendik farm?
ive read alot about it,the good and the bad and im interested because ill be moving somewhere else in about 4 months and i wanna try this thing out but the more info the easier it`ll go ya know?

[Duncan]

http://www.zendik.or...m/contentA.html

No, I know NOTHING about it. Looks like it started out in the high desert of Southern California in the 1970s and morphed its way to an area near Asheville, North Carolina. Seems interesting, but certainly not for me !

[jtwg50]

anyone ever heard of the zendik farm?
ive read alot about it,the good and the bad and im interested because ill be moving somewhere else in about 4 months and i wanna try this thing out but the more info the easier it`ll go ya know?

I am a journalist and writer from Miami Beach and I have been planning on moving to a successful, long-running commune for a long time. I am moving to Zendik on Saturday (May 30) and expect tp stay there a long, long time (maybe forever). It's a very cool place with a neat mix of people, mostly young, all creative.
Zendik offers a mini-utopia with a system that has worked for more than 30 years.
I hope you'll come and check it out.
You can call me at (305) 535-9606 until friday if you'd like to chat more.
Thanks, and happy adventuring.

[HappyHaHaGirl]

I've heard about it a lot. I've thought about going to visit, but I don't want to go by myself. :( It kinda scares me, too, not because I really think they're a cult or anything, but because I've never been anywhere like that before and I'm afraid I'd do everything wrong.

[luna99]

I've spoken with people from zendik at different festivals... they always say they love living there and never regret it .. (of course they are going to say that though, the whole reason for the road warriors are to go out and spread the word).... I have also read some "bad" things about zendik.. but until I saw it first hand, I woudln't believe any of it...

places like zendik get a bad rap and people who don't understand consider it a "cult"... I think you can go out and visit just for a few days if you are interested in moving there... give them a call...

I've even toyed around with the idea of possibly going out .... at least for a visit sometime... it looks like a beautiful place actually.. I've looked at pictures of the cabins and the grounds and it's just lovely....

good luck and if you go let us know how it is!
(if they let you communicate with the outside world that is)
(JUST A JOKE!)

[HappyHaHaGirl]

Yeah... I've met some of them at shows. They always get me really excited about going, but then I get home and no one will go with me, so I move on.... then I see them at another show, and the vicious cycle continues.....

[m6m]

I ran into a one of their cadre in SoCal 25 or 26 years ago.

She were pedaling a little news-letter mostly composed by their self proclaimed genius leader Wulf.
It was funny, Wulf was advocating the kidnapping of children to ecologocally reeducate them.
Wulf was also propossing blowing up the evil Nuclear Power Plants.
While I was reading this, I was thinking of those characters Wulf Larson and his brother Death Larson in Jack London's famous story about the 'SeaWitch'.

So all I know of them is what I gleaned from their little news-letter all those years ago.
Though I was gleaning the subtle clues of their collective subconscious impulses that always lie between the lines, this young cadre, on the other hand, was taking her news-letter quite literally.
That always kills me.

[mikey]

I was at Zendik farm a few years ago. It's an interesting place, but not for everybody. It's run in a very autocratic, dictatorial style by Wulf's widow, Arol, primarily for the benefit of her daughter and grandchildren. If you look at their website, you'll see a lot of pretty pictures and upbeat philosophy, but very little hard information on legal details or how the community is organized and governed. It's definitely worth a visit if you're in the area (they're harmless), but if you start asking too many probing questions rather than uncritically accepting their ideology, you may find your welcome wearing thin.
Also, the way they support themselves; high pressure street hustling of CD's and a magazine that no one would buy if it were on a newsstand; is something to think about. Their ideology is different, but their organization is a lot like the old Hare Krishnas.

[HappyHaHaGirl]

Does that mean they're a bunch of crazies? I don't really know what Hare Krishnas are, but I've heard of them. I've always wanted to take a trip out there and visit Zendik.... but I don't know what I'll be getting myself into... :(

[mikey]

No, they're not crazy, and Zendik Farm is definitely worth a visit for the educational value if nothing else. The point is that it is a very definite heirarchial group; it is definitely not an egalitarian community or a democracy.
Some direct quotes from the Arol Zendik section of the Zendik website: "Arol, 65, is the heart and soul of the Zendik movement." "Arol's overview is tremendous, and includes every aspect of our work and lives......she pushes herself and everyone around her for more." If you do go there, ask to see the quarters where Arol lives; and then ask to see where YOU would be living if you decided to move there. Be smart.

[FREE]

so being that you`ve been there i was wondering,do they drink?or smoke weed or tobacco?it seems to me like their pretty into the healthy lifestyle and vices are hard to supress sometimes,by the look of some of those cats i know at least one had to be a weed toker man...

[m6m]

Hey Mikey,

Thanks for your informative post. It's always great to hear the experiences of those who are wide awake.

The experience you had at Zendik reminds me of my experience at the Love Family Commune in Washington State. Very hierarchical; very comical. Yet definitely worth exploring.

[xmissionx]

Hey there,

I have a friend that was involved with the Zendik folks for a short while. From what I can tell you my brief trip into the Zendik territories is not much different from what previous posters have stated. Pretty much it goes like this at Zendik Land:

God to Wulf, Wulf to Arol, --> everyone else.

From what I've seen myself; they're very rigid, hierarchical, conservative and a tad homophobic. I think smoking is okay, as I saw people /w cigs all the time; but if they find contraband on you (any controlled substances that's not perscribed) they'll give you the boot out (that's the rap they laid on me when I went to visit my friend). The land and the homes however are beautiful. There's a recording studio, art space, (their visual art is really cool) etc. I'd say it's quite a place to visit, but I could say for myself that I wouldn't hang around too long. My friend got sick of it too, for what it's worth.

You may dig it, you may not. Check it out yourself and see.

Thanks,

xmissionx

[freakwentflyer]

Buy one of there CD's and give it a listen. If you really like that crap, you just might fit in.

[pragmatic idealist]

I lived at Zendik for several years. It is hard to say what is going on there now because things change there often and who can say what direction they are taking at the moment. I can say that they are NOT egalitarian or democratic, they do not allow smoking (yes even weed), drugs of any kind, eating any inorganic food, and anything else that those in charge feel are bad for you and or the community. Dont get me wrong, it is a remarkable place but it is not for everyone. You should read through all the philosophy on the site. They are very into living by the philosophy at all times. In short it is great if you agree with what they are trying to do, how they are doing it and are willing to dedicate 100% of your life to the group. I would say that more than 98% of the people who try to make it work there do not make it.


Pragmatic Idealist
idealist@earthling.net

[HappyHaHaGirl]

I just want to go somewhere where I can work in a garden! Arol has a pretty one. But that's not enough to convince me to go, because the Wulf guy looks freaky as hell. I know he's dead, but still...

[pragmatic idealist]

Actually Wulf was a really cool guy.

No they are not crazy, just really dedicated to what they are doing.

The only real problem there is the power structure, just about everything else there rocks.

[FTNW]

I lived at Zendik farm also while we were in Texas and moving to Florida. Interesting to see if we know eachother, Pragmatic....
It is true though, not to many people end up staying for a real long time which is sad, at least for me it was. I've heard soem of the people that were there the longest are now gone, which, again is sad....
Zendik Farm is trying to create their own culture which doesn't see this culture as valid and this I agree with but at the Farm if you're an artist or musician you'll find it hard to be accepted.

[Dalee]

I just sent them an e-mail, I might decide to go check it out.

Its not that far (a few hours), and it seems like an experience, if anything else.

[FTNW]

It's run in a very autocratic, dictatorial style by Wulf's widow, Arol, primarily for the benefit of her daughter and grandchildren. If you look at their website, you'll see a lot of pretty pictures and upbeat philosophy, but very little hard information on legal details or how the community is organized and governed. It's definitely worth a visit if you're in the area (they're harmless), but if you start asking too many probing questions rather than uncritically accepting their ideology, you may find your welcome wearing thin.

Having lived there myself I have to agree with what was said above with the exception of them being harmless. They can be very cold hearted and if you think you have something important to say or do and they're not into it they'll tell you straight out that you're not interesting.
To be honest and to get this off my shoulder, new people are the workers while the others act as if you don't really exist. They have no idea how to treat their most valuable resourse, people.

[pragmatic idealist]

I would say that yes all that is true. I don't think it is being run just to support Arol and Fawn (her daughter) but all of those people who are in Arol's circle. It wasn't too long after Wulf died that she started getting rid of the people who had been there a long time that didn't agree with how things were going. I know that many people who where there for like 15 years were just kicked out with nothing to show for it because of her and others in her group. You are right that the new people do most of the work and those who are a part of Arols inner circle are given time to do art or whatever. It is sad. I just keep thinking about the literally hundreds of people maybe even thousands who went there looking for a new life and were kicked out because they didn't fit in with Arol's vision of what the community should be. Worst of all, the people who are there do not even think of questioning what she says or they might be the next to go. Think about what a powerful force a thousand people could be. For a community that says they are developing a new way for all people to live they sure don't seem to have a system that most people can live in. Any way...

[thespeez]

I understand one of the restrictions on their residents is not being allowed to have/bring your car with you.

[FTNW]

Bugsy. He was there for over 20 years now he's gone.
Aera. Was there for 20 + years now she's gone.
Kord. Was there for over 12 years now he could be dead, he joined the army.
The culture at Zendik Farm is supposed to be truth but in reality it's all a lie. Just like Prag said, it's sad, it broke my heart and I'm still fucked up over it and it's been 6-7 years.
Bottom line, my advice is don't go. If you do and then leave they will give you nothing just a ride the the nearest highway.

[Micro]

What was Wulf like? I use to always watch their show on cable TV when they lived in Texas and enjoyed listening to him on the rare occasions he was on. Arol, who I saw the most of, just kinda rubbed me the wrong way. Don't know what it was, but I never visited the farm because I didn't think me and her would jive.

[FTNW]

What was Wulf like? I use to always watch their show on cable TV when they lived in Texas and enjoyed listening to him on the rare occasions he was on. Arol, who I saw the most of, just kinda rubbed me the wrong way. Don't know what it was, but I never visited the farm because I didn't think me and her would jive.

Wulf was a good old man, happy and full of life.
I'll refrain from commenting on Arol.

[LaughinWillow]

Had a friend who went to Zendik - sounded basically like the stuff people have already written... Arol runs everything, silences all dissent, makes sure her precious daughter has whatever she wants while the "worker bees" slave away. Also, apparently they even have really fucked up ways of enforcing "body image" - one male visitor was ridiculed and berated for daring to take off his shirt while he was working - not because wearing shirts is mandatory - but because the Zendik hierarchy didn't find his body fat acceptable. I've also read on another board that they ridicule people who are in monogamous relationships and harass them to have sex with other members in order to "show them" how wrong monogamy is.

Finally, I met some of these people in DC a couple years ago - some of the nastiest, most self-obsessed, arrogant ASSHOLES I've ever met. I was all excited to meet them, because I had interest in Zendik for a long time, and all but one of them just kept shooting me dirty looks and being all uppity - for nothing. Nasty nasty nasty. After that - and then hearing all this crap about them - I wouldn't set foot at that place. They talk a good talk - but it sounds like a third world dictatorship to me. No thanks.

[xscoutx]

i used to live in asheville and i've heard some bad stuff about zendik. i don't know, though, since i've never been.......

[FTNW]

Looks like they are recruiting for people now. Funny how such a great place can be in need of people so bad kind of tells you how they treat people. Another thing you may notice is the lack of a disucssion forum which at one time they did have but many people that were their showed up and spoke the truth so they shut it down.
I remember a big part of their philosphy was "Truth" one of their sayings was "a lie cannot be sustained"... Time tells all but who's "Truth" is being told? Who is the ultimate holder of "Truth"? Well, at the farm it's Arol and Arol alone.
As Prag said:

I just keep thinking about the literally hundreds of people maybe even thousands who went there looking for a new life and were kicked out because they didn't fit in with Arol's vision of what the community should be. Worst of all, the people who are there do not even think of questioning what she says or they might be the next to go. Think about what a powerful force a thousand people could be.

Zendik Farm could be a thriving city of progressive change but they shun any thoughts or talents that are not inline with what Arol thinks the truth is and this is not a good idea. Everyone has a piece of truth in them and to think one is not valid or that they "Don't get it" is just causing their movement to go down.

[Malleus]

I hadn't heard anything bad about 'em until I found this site last night. However, after reading this site, I did a little more digging and found an article that didn't cast them in the best light either. Still, that majority of what I've seen portrays the Zendiks very well.

It's said that there are, roughly, 50 members who live at the farm (which apparently is moving this month), but there are not 50 photographs of members on the site. Are most of the 50 transitory in nature?

[Jennyjenkins]

Oy....well known to the deadhead world as the double decker bus people. They go to shows in this big red double decker bus. I read a column about em a few years ago about a girl who was in the commune, she wrote a lengthy story about her life with them and none of it was good. She basically escaped in some form or manner and her life and mind haven't been right since. I can't find the story on the net anymore...like i said, it was a few years back.



Luckily i learned about em before Bonnaroo a few years back when i was totally tripped out of my freakin skull looking for a friend or at least rockmed to help me with my "brownacid" inflamed mind at the time when i was sittin next to a tree because i couldn't function....really...couldn't walk or nothin and this nice guy comes up tome and asks me if i wanna read his pamphlet.



Are you kiddin me??? Is what i wanted to tell him...instead, with my mind and body feeling way too altered to concentrate on saying anything harsh i said "I've heard of you people..." ...he obviously knew what i meant and walked away. The going conspiracy is they try to go out and find really fucked up individuals(like myself at the time being)...a "lost sailor", if you will, take them back to the bus and with your mind wide the fuck open brainwash you with some weird idiotic shit. I've always stayed clear of that bus.



And yes, of course they're nice. You can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar.

Here's a story about one person's visit

http://http://www.ge...collective.html