Video Announcement – Far Out: Life On & After the Commune
May 8, 2026
Details
Jeff Dexter announces a showing of Far Out: Life On & After the Commune. This 85-minute documentary tells the story of two rural New England communal farms. It traces fifty years in the lives of a group of writers, activists, and artists and conveys not only how these “hippies” transformed Vermont and western Massachusetts, but also how rural life and the people they met changed them. The program will include a discussion and Q&A with filmmaker Charles Light and poet and commune resident, Verandah Porche.
Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker 1: Here in Southern Vermont, we've always had our unique way [00:00:03] of doing things. [00:00:04] In the late 60s and 70s, this corner of the state became home [00:00:08] to one of the most fascinating [00:00:09] chapters in Vermont history, the commune. [00:00:14] An interesting fact is Vermont had roughly 60 communes, which [00:00:18] was the highest per capita [00:00:20] concentration of communes in the U .S. [00:00:24] Now for the first time, that story is being told on the big [00:00:27] screen in the award -winning [00:00:29] Vermont -made documentary, Far Out, life on and after the [00:00:34] commune. [00:00:35] It'll be shown for one night only Thursday, May 14th, at 6pm [00:00:40] at the Arlington Common [00:00:42] Performance Hall on Route 7a. [00:00:45] It's a funny, honest reminder that our little corner of the [00:00:48] world has always been a bit different. [00:00:51] It's filled with rare footage, firsthand stories, and the [00:00:55] voices of people who live through [00:00:56] this time that shaped Vermont's culture, [00:01:00] towns, and our identity. [00:01:02] So if you love Vermont history, if you remember that era, [00:01:05] or if you're just interested [00:01:06] about the stories behind this place we call home, this is a [00:01:10] film you won't want to miss. [00:01:13] In following the film, there'll be a Q&A session with the [00:01:15] film's director Charles Light [00:01:17] and poet and commune resident, Veranda Porch. [00:01:21] Again, it's Far Out, life on and after the commune, and it's [00:01:25] being shown Thursday, May 14th, [00:01:28] 6 pm at the Arlington Common. [00:01:31] For more info and to buy your tickets, go to [00:01:33] arlingtoncommon.org/events [00:01:38] Tickets will also be sold at the door. [00:01:41] So for anyone interested in local history, counter culture, [00:01:44] or the evolution of rural life [00:01:46] in Vermont, this is the film for you.
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