Tolstoy Farm’s story took a dramatic turn in the late 1960s, as the counterculture movement drew a wave of new residents—mainly young, anti-establishment “baby boomers.” With them came a sense of rebellion, accompanied by a new, and less legal, crop: marijuana. This development would bring significant changes to Tolstoy Farm, leading to two dramatic police raids that would test the community’s resilience.
The first raid in 1966 saw multiple arrests and charges against Farm residents. Many of the original founders left, fearing the implications of the bust. However, the 1972 raid was even more intense. It was one of the first battles in President Nixon’s “War on Drugs” and resulted in the involvement of over 50 police officers storming the Farm, arresting and charging several residents. At trial, Tolstoy Farmers demonstrated their defiance, causing a courtroom uproar that eventually led to minimal sentences for most and even prompted the local sheriff’s resignation. This resilience solidified Tolstoy Farm’s identity as a haven for countercultural resistance.
The Farm may have drifted from its original vision during these years, but its enduring resilience left a lasting impact. Today, Tolstoy Farm stands as a reminder of the grit required to maintain a community rooted in freedom and defiance.