Today, Tolstoy Farm finds itself at a pivotal point. With just 45 residents, four of whom are children, Tolstoy Farm is no longer the thriving countercultural community of the 1970s. Nor is it the peace activist training ground envisioned by its founders. However, it remains a unique place: a shared land that fosters peace, freedom, and a degree of independence. Now, as the original values of simplicity and intentional living evolve, the Farm’s future rests with its current residents.
In recent years, Tolstoy Farm Gardens has been a major force for growth and sustainability, becoming a significant supplier of organic produce in Spokane. This endeavor, however, faces challenges as labor shortages since COVID-19 have forced cutbacks in production. The residents now must grapple with difficult questions about the Farm’s direction. Will it embrace new organizational structures to secure its future, or will it remain loosely bound by individual interests? Without the ability to sell or subdivide the land, Tolstoy Farm must rely on collective decision-making—a model that, ironically, allows any single resident to block new proposals.
As Tolstoy Farm moves forward, it must consider what kind of community it hopes to be. Will it return to its roots as an intentional, unified community, or will it transition into something else entirely? This choice belongs to the residents, who hold the power to shape Tolstoy Farm’s future in line with its legacy of peace and freedom.