"If you don't know what to do with your life, you can't go wrong with buying your own little piece of land, building your own little house, and no one can kick you off. So that became my plan, that was 1973, and here I am nearly 50 years later."
Bob Snider - singer songwriter, Bear River NS
The "Sixties" was a period of dramatic and
turbulent social and cultural change. Some
disillusioned young people rejected their
parents’ values and institutions, creating
their own youth-oriented counterculture.
They thought they could change the world
with peace, love, protest and pot. But the
initial idealism and optimism soon gave way
to the harsh realities of the Vietnam war,
political demonstrations and social protests.
Some decided to "drop out" and go
"back to the land" to pursue a romantic dream
of living an independent, self-sufficient rural
lifestyle, one in harmony with their
neighbors and Mother Earth.
By the 1970s, Nova Scotia had become the
favorite destination for many young
Canadian and American "back to the
landers", attracted by its "far-out" location,
unspoiled countryside, friendly people and
ready supply of cheap land. For brothers
Peter and Chris Murphy, the unexpected
arrival of these "come from away" hippie
homesteaders in their community suggested
they could also be part of this youthful
movement. While most of the inexperienced newcomers eventually
left, others stayed and created interesting and productive lives which have had a real impact on Nova Scotia society.
Fifty years later, we thought it was time to document the lives of these interesting people – to explore their reasons for taking part in the continent-wide migration that led them to Nova Scotia and explore their unusual migration story. Based on interviews with more than 50 remaining "back to the landers", author Chris Murphy has produced an illustrated oral history and memoir entitled Far Out - The Untold Story of the 60s-Inspired Back to the Land Migration that Changed Nova Scotia. His filmmaker brother Peter Murphy has created companion videos which introduce us to people in the book, and Peter’s wife, artist Anna Syperek, has contributed period sketches, drawings, and the cover art.
Far Out!
The Untold Story of the 60s-Inspired "Back-to-the-Land" Migration that Changed Nova Scotia
FarOut! The Promo Video
A glimpse into the people and the story of their spontaneous
Back to the Land migration movement in Nova Scotia