Early Arrivals: Interviews by Paul Modic About the Back-to-the-Land Movement–Bubba, Part One (Frank Kanig)

Jan Wolf is peeking in through the curtains, Sandy is holding the baby, and Jim Lynn, Doug Green, and others are present.

“Jan Wolf is peeking in through the curtains, Sandy is holding the baby, and Jim Lynn, Doug Green, and others are present.”

When the Back-to-the-Landers showed up in Southern Humboldt over fifty years ago, they were met with suspicion and hostility.  Today, many are pillars of the community–starting health clinics (Redwoods Rural), gathering places (Mateel Community Center), and businesses. But then…well, they were young and the following are stories about these much wilder times…

Paul Modic has been interviewing some of the folks from 50 or so years ago and he will be sharing the stories he gathers with us.

Below, Frank Kanig, “Bubba” reminisces. Please remember that his experiences and memories are his and may not necessarily coincide with memories and experiences of others at that time.

Frank "Bubba' Kanig

Frank “Bubba’ Kanig

I was recently looking at the photograph where Jan Wolf is peeking in through the curtains, Sandy is holding the baby, and Jim Lynn, Doug Green, and others are present. When I was staring at that picture I had an epiphany.

I thought about being in Whitethorn in 1970 and that what would be considered anti-establishment, hip and cutting edge, and free of the constraints of normal society was a big thing. Like Timothy Leary had said, “Tune In, Turn On and Drop Out”

Also getting back to the land was a big thing too and as I looked at that picture I realized that these people at that time were about as hip and cutting edge as you could get. They were not talking about living on the land, they were doing it. They were taking drugs and living an alternative lifestyle. So in my opinion, when you think about being in that setting, it was very interesting and very unique.

With all the LSD that was available through Crazy Richard money was not much of a problem and so we were free. At least at that point until the hard drugs took their toll on everyone and left us not free due to addiction. Also there was some adventure and humor as well and unless you were there at the time, you would not believe what was happening. It was that far out.

When I first got there I thought we were going to do everything properly which meant recycling and not using paper plates, rather we would be washing the dishes with organic soap and not polluting, not using the car as much, would be planting gardens and be involved in organic farming, water procurement and storage, and solar power.

But I soon found out it was more likely that one would pull off a food stamp scam, sell acid, and live the lifestyle of a fraud-committing, drug dealing Hustler. I didn’t think I needed to work, was learning things from people who had been in prison, and it was not until about three years later that I got desperate enough to admit I might have to work to support myself.

* * *

I came to Humboldt because Maggie Carey was going to start the school. John & Maggie had met the McKee kids when they picked them up hitchhiking. The Careys came back to Utah then quickly moved out to Whitethorn. Then Tello came & another friend named Steve Grossman who eventually moved to Oregon. I went up to Whitethorn to check it out in about March or April of 1970 then moved there in June of 70. I had a very sweet 55 Plymouth Coupe at the time.

I was raised in a Hunting Family and also on a Sheep Ranch so I brought my guns with me. I remember thinking how strange it was that people made a big deal out of my guns. Like we were now Armed Revolutionaries. From living in a Sheep Camp, I also was familiar with the outdoors and knew how to do things that I was amazed other people didn’t know, such as start a fire, or maybe more importantly, how to put it out.

Soon after I arrived Tello & others told me how to get Food Stamps from the County Government. I met Rory, the Sister of Mad Mountain Micheal, and she consented to pose as my Wife Vicky so we could collect more Food Stamps. Tello showed me how to get a fake Social Security Number. There was a woman named Mrs Hunter who ran the County Food Stamp Office. We also claimed a child and so I ended up with Food Stamps for three people. I think I gave Rory a few Stamps but she didn’t care and I was a tight ass with them. Eventually, without taking my “Wife” or kids in because we would have to Hitchhike up to Eureka, I claimed another child so I got more Stamps. I think they came to my Post Office Box or maybe I used Maggie’s.

At the Briceland Store, Larry Bliss would let you run a tab and then pay it off with Food Stamps. If you were going to the City Larry would often trade Food Stamps for Cash so you could buy gas. If you wanted to Larry would have you take a shopping list for the Food Co-ops in the Bay Area and we would bring the supplies back to him.

Larry had wonderful connections for food and there were some great Food Coops in the Bay Area to choose from. So food and gas was taken care of if you were upstanding and didn’t rip people like Larry and others off.

I remember having a bottle of Orange Juice, fresh bread, or maybe crackers, some of the wonderful cheese Larry would procure, and these canned Mackerel Fillets for a nice lunch on the steps of the Store.

Bookstore Steve had his Bookstore along the one side of The Briceland Store building. I was amazed that he could make a go of it because I don’t remember buying any books but I suppose others did. I believe it was at the Bookstore where Tello & I met Simon. He was a crazy genius type who had something to do with the Bookstore, at least at first. Later the Truck Stop Crowd fucked all that up.

There was a woman named Big Sue who I think may still live there. She had a daughter Denise and another younger girl too. She made these outrageous Cookies which Larry sold at the Store. You would go in there with the munchies and go nuts on those cookies!

Later I remember Stuart, an older gay dude, started another Bakery across the road and down a bit. He made Croissants that were outrageous. I had never before experienced a croissant and I remember being bummed out when Stuart would run out. The name of his place was “The Ram’s Head Inn” possibly a little double entendre?

At the beginning the Briceland School turned out to be more Tello and me taking the older kids around with us while supposedly learning Spanish, at least that’s what I can remember. I think there were some things organized for the younger kids.

I remember one time in the Fall of 1970 there was one of those Conservation Crews working alongside the road from Briceland towards Ettersburg Junction. The men on those crews were Convicts who were mostly on good behavior but they were still Convicts. One day the Spanish Class devolved from lessons to a discussion about how cool it would be to turn those hard working convicts onto some weed. So after a while a scene occurred where a 55 Plymouth Coupe driven by longhairs with teenage girls riding outside on the fenders could have been seen driving slowly through the area of road where these Convicts were toiling. The girls were throwing joints off to the side into the waiting arms of these Convicts.

After that we drove down to this little flat outside of Briceland and laughed and laughed about our exploits. I never did see a Guard with those Convicts but there must have been some sort of supervision. After laughing we got ourselves all worked up about what was going to happen if the Guard found out about the weed. As far as I know nothing ever did occur.

There were so many things like this that happened in those early days that just seemed magic. I had all the maturity of a 23 year old at the time.

When Tello and I were bumming around the area we were kind of like these two single dudes who were into having a good time more than doing anything too serious. I remember Tello saying that “people were too serious, that you needed to loosen up a little.” Tello would have a steady stream of drugs or alcohol around him at all times if he could. So I guess whenever we came around some other Hippies that were busy building their house or garden we were sort of “ne’er-do-wells” but people usually did end up smoking a joint or having a drink with us.

So we got to be known as partiers . We weren’t the first ones though. A few years earlier there were these other two guys Jefferson & Bingo. They were a trip and Tello and I eventually met them down in Berkeley when we started Wintering down there. They were a pair for sure.

(Frank “Bubba” Kanig is a Native Californian, Baby Boomer & Old Hippie. He was fortunate enough to have been present during the earlier days of the Hippie, Back to the Land Movement in Southern Humboldt County. He currently resides in Spanish Fork, Utah, and Travels & works periodically in the Motion Picture Business.)

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William Staples
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William Staples
2 years ago

1970 I was a sophomore @ south fork high school go cubs..

Jeffersonian
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Jeffersonian
2 years ago

That was the beginning of the trashing of southern humboldt

Splashy ninja
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2 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

I still do the same to this day

Realwood
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Realwood
2 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

I grew up with these people. Mostly wholesome folks who created beautiful paradises in these hills. The old drunk stump days in Thorn were pretty debaucherous & alot of people lost their shit. I remember little gun battles every once in a while. Crazy times. I was just a kid.
Greed definitely took over too…mainly in the children of this generation. It was also nice growing up with the old time loggers from back in the day. We had the best of both worlds..great people. Does anyone know if that’s Hoy in that pic?

Last edited 2 years ago
yerba santa
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yerba santa
2 years ago
Reply to  Realwood

if that is HOY i will faint🙃
someone please put everyone’s name up!
the baby sandy is holding is DEVA.

Paul Modic
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Paul Modic
2 years ago
Reply to  yerba santa

It’s not Hoy…

Renai
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Renai
1 year ago
Reply to  Realwood

Are you speaking of the ring of stumps outside Kit’s General store? My father and his cronies used to hold court while passing the jug. His name was Ron Ray, but everyone called him “River Shannon” because of the flow of bull$hit that emanated from him…

hmm
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hmm
2 years ago
Reply to  Jeffersonian

Ecologically that start long before with logging.

Jorge Cervantes
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Jorge Cervantes
2 years ago

Folks like Dave Katz who brought the first solar panels ever in his VW van to Humboldt County. Need to Be honored. Nighttime lights and radio may have cut down on how many babies were being made during the long winter nights. His land partner Mark Bartholomy and his wife Karen at the time were also Briceland legends. Richard Hempsch also by the whitethorn store. West side had more hippy types. East side attracted more of the redneck hippy’s. Books like Ray Raphael’s “Everday history of somewhere “ give us insight to these magical formative years. As well as cash crop. There isn’t no other place similar in The world to SoHum. Without Bob McKee’s foresight and generosity this Alternative counter culture Social experiment would have never been possible.

Last edited 2 years ago
in the background
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in the background
2 years ago

Bob McKee…”Friend of the Hippies” thats a fact about Bob giving many west sider’s the unique financing terms to let rhem get started….

Jim Dogger
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Jim Dogger
2 years ago

If this is the real Jorge, thank you for teaching me and others what you know.

Liz
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Liz
2 years ago

Before Dave Katz & his solar workshop in downtown Briceland was Steve Squires bookstore. Steve shared a small spot in the back with Josuha & Filly who sold coffee and sweets.

Geez Really?
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Geez Really?
2 years ago

I know the basic understanding is that the back-to-the-landers were good, and then their greedy kids messed it all up. Both Dave Katz and Bob McKee made possible an unusual and beautiful lifestyle, but it was also entrapping, especially for the youth. It wouldn’t have been as magical, perhaps, sticking closer to the electrical grid, but it would have been a lot more sustainable. The off-grid settlements that Bob McKee drummed up became dependent on more sophisticated electrical systems, which made off-grid homesteads an ecological disaster. It’s nothing you can see up close, but the embodied energy in an off-grid system takes the back-to-the-land settlements away from a measurable ecological footprint. I know some of my demographic got greedy, but they were also inheriting what turned out to be high-maintenance, input-consumptive, off-grid homesteads, that when modernized, became very expensive to maintain. Also, when children grow up in a community that has a “drugs and freedom are good” consensus, a lot gets lost in translation. Ultimately, it is unfortunate that most single family homes have their own private electrical grid, and that homesteads were established far and wide in the rugged southern Humboldt terrain. I don’t blame Katz or McKee, but I do consider the-back-to-land migration movement a disaster.

Paul Modic
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Paul Modic
2 years ago
Reply to  Geez Really?

You make some interesting points but regarding the alternative energy I don’t get it: the solar panels sat on the house maintenance-free for decades doing their thing, the micro hydro power system hummed away down the hill, connected at the house to an inverter for 110, and it all worked well and didn’t seem all that sophisticated.
There was a small backup generator for the tweener times. Granted when the hydro needed to be repaired or rebuilt it was a long trip hauling it up the hill and a pile of bucks for Derek to work on it in Briceland.
I did notice that in dryer times the hydro intake sucked all the water out of the spring leaving it dry all the way down to the pelton wheel—I suppose that might have been a minor ecological disaster for some bugs, birds, and other animals.
I dunno, you just can’t beat being out there off the grid unaffected by any power outage in town, the way many still live—I miss having that sanctuary to escape to when storms and other outages shut things down in town.

Geez Really?
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Geez Really?
2 years ago
Reply to  Paul Modic

At first glance, an off-grid system does seem benign, and even preferable, however embodied energy describes the manufacturing and distribution of inverters, battery packs, solar panels, generators and fuel, which have a geo-political and resource intensive background that is very difficult to perceive.

namer
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namer
2 years ago
Reply to  Geez Really?

Whereas the GRID is typically constructed of, and powered by, faerie farts (and not dams, nukes, and hydrocarbons—and other miscellaneous mined materials.)

Last edited 2 years ago
Paul Modic
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Paul Modic
2 years ago
Reply to  Geez Really?

Oh that, fair enough, but the SoHum experiment was very small on the scale of worldwide consumption so I give it a pass.
What just happened? Lots of good weed was produced for many over the last fifty years, that seems like a good thing…or was it?
Maybe we should have a Truth and Reconciliation Tribunal (like they do in countries like South Africa after wars and rebellions settle down) to examine these things, reflect on what happened, and figure out if the totality of events in these hills was positive or not.
Or more likely just roll another one, open a bottle of wine, and live our little lives…

Geez Really?
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Geez Really?
2 years ago
Reply to  Paul Modic

I love that. Truth and Reconciliation Tribunal. There has been so much pain and isolation and addiction in addition to the good stuff. I think to open the narrative around the back to the land movement would be healing. And also reconfigure and reassess what it was my parents were really trying to get back to. It wasn’t getting high, even though that’s what it turned into. Another thing is that unless you are out at sea or in the air, the land is truly underfoot everywhere. And when the land has been paved and exploited and is unrecognizable I think that’s the place to gather and remember, and enhance and invoke nature. I think we need a go back to nature movement that can take place anywhere on land. With that said I miss the land I grew up on immensely. I live in a duplex now and my heart hurts.

Paul Modic
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Paul Modic
2 years ago
Reply to  Geez Really?

Oh that, fair enough, but the SoHum experiment was very small on the scale of worldwide consumption so I give it a pass.
What just happened? Lots of good weed was produced for many over the last fifty years, that seems like a good thing…or was it?
Maybe we should have a Truth and Reconciliation Tribunal (like they do in countries like South Africa after wars and rebellions settle down) to examine these things, reflect on what happened, and figure out if the totality of events in these hills was positive or not.
Or more likely just roll another one, open a bottle of wine, and live our little lives…

Keahi
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Keahi
2 years ago

Very cool! I hope you’re going to do an article on None Of The Above, Barbara Dean, and the beginnings of Island Press.

Last edited 2 years ago
commenter
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commenter
2 years ago
Reply to  Keahi

do you have more info about those things?

Keahi
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Keahi
2 years ago
Reply to  commenter

If you can find a copy of Barbara Dean’s autobiographical book “Wellspring” (now OOP, try the library) there is a great deal of information as well as wonderful storytelling to be found there. NOTA still exists, it is a few hundred feet beyond the Mendocino county line, in Trinity County. There are many people here who are still involved with None Of The Above. I have included a link about Ashley Carrithers and his son T.A. at their sustainable cattle and guest ranch in Patagonia, Estancia Ranquilco. Ashley and his then-wife Susie Carrithers, along with Barbara Dean and others, were part of the original group who bought land in the deep country, along the Eel River, and T.A. was raised there. All people of the highest ideals, who were and still are deeply committed to making positive changes on the planet. They started a small “vanity press”, named Island Press (after Island Mountain). From a small and humble trickle, a mighty river can flow. Today Island Press is an internationally acclaimed nonprofit known as “the environmental publisher”. Their main office is in Washington D.C., but their roots go back to a handful of people who were pioneers in the back-to-the-land era in our area, and a series on this era really needs to include them, in my view. https://islandpress.org/
https://www.ranquilco.com/about-us/our-people

TD
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TD
2 years ago

I remember when Sinkyone was Bear Harbor Ranch. I was probably last there around 1970 or so. Have to go again. I believe the ranch house that was at Bear Harbor is now gone, but I’m not sure. I do remember riding horses on the beach passed the skinny dippers. Funny times.

The Real Brian
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The Real Brian
2 years ago

Somewhere an old corrections officer tells his story of monitoring convicts in Humboldt in the early 70’s.

“One day, these kids, high off their asses on acid, thought they were in a 55 coupe driving down the road throwing things from the windows to the inmates.

But these kids, they were trying to swim on pavement, grabbing chewing gum out of their pockets and tossing it at each other.

They were talking and yelling and laughing, I don’t know what language though, and I don’t think they knew either.

After 25 minutes, I loaded the convicts back up and left the kids some water for when they snapped back into it.”

Yeah,sure
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Yeah,sure
2 years ago
Reply to  The Real Brian

Lol

Barn Owl
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Barn Owl
2 years ago
Reply to  Yeah,sure

Actually, a bunch of us were rounded up and hauled into court for throwing those joints to the Cons, but when the correction officer was asked to identify which of us were the perps, he said he couldn’t, because we all looked alike to him. End of story.

The Real Brian
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The Real Brian
2 years ago
Reply to  Barn Owl

I hope you saw I was just having fun, didn’t mean to imply anything whatsoever….🤙

Trashman
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Trashman
2 years ago
Reply to  Barn Owl

Damn hippies, they’re the oldtimers now

Paul Modic
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Paul Modic
2 years ago
Reply to  The Real Brian

that is hilarious!

Ben
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Ben
2 years ago

I have some stories from Astrinsky’s tavern in 71 and 72.. We moved up from LA and i was a bartender there.. Before the Country Tavern appeared, Truckloads of the Whitethorn/Briceland crew would arrive on weekends.. I had a hifi with huge Altec speakers an the Rollng Stones were the order of the evenings.. We moved the pool table to the wall and everyone threw their coats under it and put the little ones on top of the coats..That was 50 years ago..!!

BonnieBlue
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BonnieBlue
2 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Ben definitely has a lot of old-time stories to tell! 🙂

Last edited 2 years ago
Melissa Carrau
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Melissa Carrau
2 years ago
Reply to  Ben

I played in a band at Astrinsky’s a few times. Wild times, wilder crowd! Fun memories.

Last edited 2 years ago
laura cooskey
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laura cooskey
2 years ago

Hi Kym and Paul, Glad you got this series off the ground! Absorbing tales.
I look forward to more such memories! (And hats off to Bubba.)

Hillkid
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Hillkid
2 years ago

Stuart made the best chocolate chip cookies. Used to get dropped off at Briceland bus stop so I could buy them before heading off to school.

Dot
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Dot
2 years ago

I used to bake bagels for Astrinsky’s, in around 1970 and we did groundskeeping for The Chimney Tree… took our goat with us in the VW van and tethered her while we worked. If we left her home she would bawl ‘Help!’ And we would come home to find people at the house wondering who was yelling for aid!
Good times. Left SoHum for a back country gold claim out past Old Denny in ‘72, then to WC and then Dinsmore, where we are still Back-to-the-Land homesteaders. We never quit.

Seldom Seen
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Seldom Seen
2 years ago

Thank you Kim, love the local history. David Katz first came to mind as I began reading the article. Though I did not arrive here till ’84 from near Berkeley, Im intrigued by the early pioneers. Mike Lorenz aka SS

elvis costanza
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elvis costanza
2 years ago

Anyone remember a guy named ‘Barry’ or ‘Berry’? Lived in a big house right in Briceland, long black hair and bushy beard. Usually rode a small motorcycle…?

Seldom Seen
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Seldom Seen
2 years ago
Reply to  elvis costanza

He may have been a friend of “The Devil”, who was a black guy that lived in Canyon, Ca. He had a big afro that he shaved to form horns on his head and drove a VW continental kit.

Mike
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Mike
2 years ago
Reply to  elvis costanza

Berry. Good Friend. Shared goats together. He owned and lived in the old Briceland school building. It was a cavern for just one person to inhabit. He kinda looked a bit like Ian Iris who many people probably remember. He had plans for a better life for everyone. Berry, Dolores, Irv, Betty, me and the Johnsons used to talk to the spirits by Oeegee Board. Serious sessions with spirits going into past lives and guardian angels and lots of history. The rednecks burned Berry out – burned their old schoolhouse! and he left.

grey wolf
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grey wolf
2 years ago

Moved here in 1978. We lived in a old log cabin in the redwoods on 40 acres.2 of my children were home birthed in that log cabin. We had chickens, goats for milk, a garden. I worked in a mill for awhile and of course we supplemented our income growing a little weed. The so called “red necks” around here were a pretty enlightened bunch even back then.

Perspective
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Perspective
2 years ago

More of this please.

Lady Blue
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Lady Blue
2 years ago

What a wonderful idea! I’ve thrown my hat in the ring!. So many sweet children out there whose family cannot afford to celebrate Christmas. I applaud this group and hope that they accept my request to join!

grey wolf
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grey wolf
2 years ago
Reply to  Lady Blue

Think you might mean a different article

Last edited 2 years ago
Ernie Branscomb
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2 years ago
Reply to  grey wolf

No… she fits right in here.

Thirdeye
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Thirdeye
2 years ago

Looking forward to part two. My main impression of early back-to-the-land-ers was that they were looking for an escape from the traumas of the late 1960s – the descent of idealistic social movements into dead-end negativity, the descent of urban counterculture scenes into hustles and hard drugs, a menacing rise in urban violence, and a general sense that things were going nuts. Idealism was a lot easier to maintain in isolation.

dawni
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dawni
2 years ago
Reply to  Thirdeye

after living here – on the edge of the west coast, for 20 years I realized all the social trauma of the 1960’s was a big reason I was inspired to move to the country in 1969. Viet Nam war/protests, Civil Rights, schools like war zones the first few years of bussing and ‘integration’, Cesar Chevez. J.I. Rodale and his teaching of Organic Farming and Gardening. We created awesome neighborhoods all over the hills.

Steve Koch
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Steve Koch
2 years ago

Unusually honest guy:

“…we were free. At least at that point until the hard drugs took their toll on everyone and left us not free due to addiction”

“When I first got there I thought we were going to do everything properly which meant recycling and not using paper plates, rather we would be washing the dishes with organic soap and not polluting, not using the car as much, would be planting gardens and be involved in organic farming, water procurement and storage, and solar power.

But I soon found out it was more likely that one would pull off a food stamp scam, sell acid, and live the lifestyle of a fraud-committing, drug dealing Hustler. I didn’t think I needed to work, was learning things from people who had been in prison, and it was not until about three years later that I got desperate enough to admit I might have to work to support myself.”

justanotherperson
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justanotherperson
2 years ago

the importance of community. it’s hard to go at it alone. thanks for getting this story out here. look forward to reading more

MargCoast
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MargCoast
2 years ago

But we’re not alone. We’re still in this together. That’s what I’ve been learning through this time.

Entering a world of pain
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Entering a world of pain
2 years ago

Sounds like an edition of the Fabulous Furry Freak Bros.

Hugh Manatee (banned by LoCO)
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Hugh Manatee (banned by LoCO)
2 years ago

LOL! Still have that full set of comics ‘stashed’ away somewhere!

Entering a world of pain
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Entering a world of pain
2 years ago

There’s an omnibus out now that chronicles every comic. Really cool. Good condition originals might be worth something

lanny harper
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lanny harper
2 years ago

Having lived and worked with all kinds of back to the landers in both Humboldt and Trinity, it was the cattlemen who were the most interesting. I wish I had gotten to know the gold miners a little better. But they scared the crap out of me

Seldom Seen
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Seldom Seen
2 years ago
Reply to  lanny harper

One of my first jobs here was to perform glass service for the wonderful Edsels in Iquai just east of Kneeland. I got the referral through Mark Lindley of Myrtletown. This couple single handedly ran cattle and sustained a lifestyle at Im guessing at early 80 years old. This was in 1989.I was fairly new to humboldt at that time and realized this was home. Wonderful folks

Babette
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Babette
2 years ago

Thank you and bless you Kym and Paul! You have put my fears at ease…. That no one would document these priceless stories about this particular portion of (Southern) Humboldt’s history! That first wave of Back to the Landers are leaving us at an alarming rate and it would be a shame if their stories went with them! Jackie Pantaleo had many tales about running the Honeydew Cafe in the 70’s how the ranchers and the hippies would beat cabin fever in the winter and play board games together! And there were stories about working at Evergreen ( I think that was the name) in the Deli along with Carol Bruno and Carol Kudo…now all 3 are gone!!
Is there contact info for Paul so we all can inundate him with stories??!! 😂 🙏

I’ve been wanting to create An Historical Committee at the Mateel to dig up some stories, photos, videos and memorabilia from those who were there at ground – breaking and on… create a legacy for future generations of Mateelies! Anyone want to help???!!!

Paul Modic
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Paul Modic
2 years ago
Reply to  Babette

In the last year there has been interest and projects launched to record memories and reflections about the last fifty years around here: Michelle Markham videos oral histories of longtime locals and puts them on facebook, Kmud has a feature interviewing notable outlaws I’m told, there’s an HSU professor interviewing old time (and new) weed farmers, Ray Raphael has started a new book project centered around Bob McKee and his place in local history, Josh Sweet may be starting a Marijuana Museum in downtown Garberville, I put many back-to-the-lander stories on the SoHum history fb page last year, and interviewed seven early arrivers from my area, Whitethorn/Whale Gulch, last winter with Bubba’s being the first to go public.
Maybe other villages, dirt road communities, have someone or someones who are interested in identifying and interviewing the surviving old-timers from their areas. (Lorraine in Briceland comes to mind.)
Yes, it’s an area rich in stories beyond the first wave, first decade and on for fifty years.
This project is scheduled to appear once a month. If anyone else has arrival stories or any stories which would be of interest to everyone maybe Kym would like to expand the feature to include more submissions, ideally written up and ready to go, maybe needing just some light editing.
I like your ideas and you inspire others to look back, record some of their memories, and tell more stories.

Paul Modic
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Paul Modic
2 years ago
Reply to  Babette

Great idea Babette!
Everyone send your stories to
[email protected]

VMG
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VMG
2 years ago

In those days, there was a great comedy group called the “Congress of Wonders”, who did a piece about old hippies sitting around on park benches, talking about the old days…

This item reminds me of them, and here it is:

“Pigeon Park”, Congress of Wonders, 1970

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-BhZsczD_4

David Heller
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David Heller
2 years ago

Mary Anderson compiled some similarly great stories in her “Whatever Happened to the Hippies”, that she published in the late 1980’s-1990.

Mary Ella Anderson
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Mary Ella Anderson
2 years ago
Reply to  David Heller

Thanks for remembering me. Whatever Happened to the Hippies is out of print but still available at the library. There are also lots of newspaper articles of those times stored in the Humboldt Room of the library, and HSU has all the old copies of Star Root. I also gave a great deal of material to the Historical Society in Eureka.

Carol C.
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Carol C.
2 years ago

I love that book and still have it!

This is a great thread to read.

John
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John
2 years ago

To my understanding, from reading stuff about what was going on back then (and I was still in elementary school when it was), the back-to-the-land movement grew out of the whole hippie business. No surprise there. But the thing is, they had started out as a largely urban phenomenon, the Haight-Ashbury, Greenwich Village, that sort of thing. When the Manson case and Altamont sent a lot of that stuff into a downward spiral, a lot of it went to the rural areas, especially to Northern California, in an effort to preserve the spirit. And the rest is history. Somebody please correct me if I’m wrong. But I think I’m pretty much on the right track here.

Dave Kahan
Guest
Dave Kahan
2 years ago
Reply to  John

I didn’t get to Humboldt until 1985, but half the reason I moved here was what I experienced at the Hideaway bar in Petrolia. The Mattole Salmon Group was having a fundraiser boogie. They raffled off a baseball cap with a pot leaf where each frond was a salmon; below it said Plant Salmon. One of the crustiest old ranchers in the lower valley paid $60 for it! Folks of all stripes got along. The little kids were tucked into sleeping bags on the shuffleboard table while the parents boogied. The following New Year’s Eve, my dog lost his virginity under that shuffleboard table. Dogs were allowed inside as long as they didn’t go behind the bar. Everyone had a good time. The food was good, the coffee was Gold Rush, and the ice cream was Haagen Daz.

road weary
Guest
road weary
2 years ago
Reply to  John

I bought my land up Elk Ridge from a woman mentioned in the book, Helter Skelter. She moved from the town of Mendocino and went back there. Some Charles Manson history buffs found a news clip of her running a road Kiosk. When I bought the land the Barely Hill folks help me clean up the place. We had a burn pile in the yard when ammunition started exploding out of the fire!

Beni
Guest
Beni
2 years ago
Reply to  road weary

I believe my brothers and sister were riding around on that coup and attended Maggie’s school for a while. I read the article to my mom and she had some great stories about Tello and all those interesting people that were attracted to that magical place. I grew up on that stump in Whitethorn and fireman’s hall was also so much fun. Dancing hippies on one side and sleeping kids on the other. I feel super fortunate to have southern Humboldt as my hometown.
Get to these original inhabitants while they are still around and get them to share their stories. Thanks for documenting these memories.

Sandy Tilles
Guest
Sandy Tilles
2 years ago
Reply to  Beni

Beni, so glad you remember those times so fondly. At times it seemed we lived in Camelot. And at other times , of course, we wondered what the hell we were getting into. One thing that is clear in hindsight – we most certainly did have someone or something watching over us – as we bumbled and stumbled along this dirt road less traveled.

In October of 2018, celebrating 50 years of living on the land in Whale Gulch, I held a story telling gathering in the Meadow. The focus was the telling of the tale “how you got here to the Gulch. We told our stories in chronological order of arrival. Many themes were noted – fleeing from the violence of the times in the city, evading the Vietnam War, recovering from the war, broken down vehicles, hitchhiking and the kindness of strangers, and all with the hope and the innocent idealism of creating a better world. Thankfully, the stories were recorded. Some of those that spoke are no longer with us. To me these stories are treasures beyond words. Someday with permission from those still with us, I hope to make them available for others to hear or read.

dawni
Guest
dawni
2 years ago
Reply to  Sandy Tilles

well put Sandy about someone or something watching over us. Oh my, how any times over the yers have we said to ourselves, “I can’t believe I/we are still stabding,” and someof those early cabins too!. I feel blessed I got to be part of the first “how we got to WG,” event and hope we get to do a follow up for the wave that came after us, the original new comers.

Grr
Guest
Grr
2 years ago
Reply to  John

You totally are. But remember, we’re only allowed to celebrate. So, yay back to the land movement. Yay.

Camp Counselor
Guest
Camp Counselor
2 years ago

Gun fights? How quaint and delightfully humorous to reminisce about. Food stamp fraud? Ruggedly independent. That’s so “back-to-the-land.”

Baby boomers will never cease to amaze me with their entitlement and lack of self-awareness. It’s like a whole generation of ignorant sociopaths.

Farce
Guest
Farce
2 years ago

Nice nostalgia. But it is this quote from the article I will repeat because I think it best represents what became the dominant social force in Humboldt County. The greedrusher ethos which found fertile soil amongst the greed growers of Humboldt who had transformed mom- and- pop back-to-the-earth ethos into the get-money-for-us-to-do-expensive-heady-things that confused and trapped many who came later…What a slippery slope into a shit show the selfish “hippies” of SoHum provided! Big appreciation to all those who kept close to the land and sidestepped the poop and propaganda!….Here is the quote direct from the article…”But I soon found out it was more likely that one would pull off a food stamp scam, sell acid, and live the lifestyle of a fraud-committing, drug dealing Hustler.” Boom.

dawni
Guest
dawni
2 years ago
Reply to  Farce

Least you think the majority of the new comers were in the same mind frame as the quote you commented on that was not the norm. I never did the food stamp thing or sold drugs. We traveled to the Bay Area on a regular basis to earn enough $$ in a few weeks to tide us over for many months by buying in bulk and building our cabin on the cheap, with a little help from Mom and Dad once in awhile. A lot of us were able to maintain the vision of Back to The Land that drew us here in the first place. Growing weed was for personal use and to give away. The business part of weed growing it just happened unexpectedly.

Mee
Guest
Mee
2 years ago

Ahh what a quaint story.

Glad he was honest at least

Let me get this straight. People came out to get away and made a living by selling illegal drugs and defrauding welfare of food stamps. Money paid for by hard working people that pay taxes. Yes how wonderful to reminse about how people git by thanks to the hard work of others. No wonder Humboldt is.like it is these days with the back to.land leeches that moved in.

Liz
Guest
Liz
2 years ago

Does anyone know what happened to the folks who had the 80 acre commune at Gopherville? They built 11 structures and 2 footbridges over the Mattole. Does their fence still stand?

Eel Paradise
Guest
Eel Paradise
2 years ago
Reply to  Liz

A little bit of the fence may still be there.
Bill Jackson was there for a while.
Then Living Waters, the Jesus freaks in ’73.
Jess Kinser bought it in the ’70’s and
then Riverhouse Bill bought it later.
Bill J is still around…

Reeds section
Guest
Reeds section
2 years ago

Yes, that is Hoy Kirsch. She had a print of that photo at her house and confirmed to me that it was her.

Eel Paradise
Guest
Eel Paradise
2 years ago
Reply to  Reeds section

Her name was Maggie and she was from Kenya.