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Melvyn Stiriss
Storyteller, humorist, artist, musician, naturalist, back porch philosopher—Melvyn Stiriss was born in New York City in 1942, raised in Edgewater, New Jersey and attended the Unive...view moreStoryteller, humorist, artist, musician, naturalist, back porch philosopher—Melvyn Stiriss was born in New York City in 1942, raised in Edgewater, New Jersey and attended the University of Richmond. Melvyn worked as a newspaper reporter in New Jersey and as a reporter, editor, and announcer for United Press International wire service in New York and Chicago.Melvyn worked a stint as a Madison Avenue publicist, a “Mad Man,” went to Woodstock, “dropped out” and followed “the powerful mysterious energy of the time”—over the edge, out of the box and into the heart of the cultural revolution—San Francisco,” where the young seeker found a weed-smoking “psychedelic Zen guru,” Stephen Gaskin. Melvyn joined Gaskin’s cannabis peace and truth church and became a founder and long-term resident member of Gaskin’s collective community in Summertown, Tennessee—The Farm.Living at The Farm, Melvyn worked as a farmer, carpenter, mason, vegan chef, miller, head baker, gatekeeper, newspaper editor and worked thirteen months in Guatemala doing volunteer earthquake reconstruction work with a team from the community and Mayans, building rural schools, clinics, houses and a health center for Mother Teresa.After leaving the community in 1984, Melvyn moved to Austin, Texas where he worked as a carpenter, co-director of Casa Marianela refuge, taught vegan cooking and worked in a dozen movies in various capacities—carpenter, set dresser, prop maker, locations, craft service and as an extra. Melvyn now lives in upstate New York, writes, hikes, plays keyboard and speaks around the country.view less
Books by Melvyn Stiriss
Voluntary Peasants/Life Inside the Ultimate American Commune: THE FARM, Part 1: San Francisco Genesis and Great Hippie Bus Caravan Voluntary Peasants Prologue: Enlightenment What's It Good For Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsVoluntary Peasants/Life Inside the Ultimate American Commune: THE FARM, Part 2: The Commune/Year One: 1971-'72 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsVoluntary Peasants/Life Inside the Ultimate American Commune:THE FARM, Part 5: Utopia Myopia Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsVoluntary Peasants/Life Inside the Ultimate American Commune: THE FARM Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsVoluntary Peasants/Life Inside the Ultimate American Commune: THE FARM, Part 3: Manifesting a Shared Vision: 1972-'76 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsVoluntary Peasants/Life Inside the Ultimate American Commune:THE FARM, Part 4: Hippie Peace Corps Goes to Guatemala Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings