“It’s time you realized that you have something in you more powerful and miraculous than the things that affect you and make you dance like a puppet.” – Marcus Aurelius
This past weekend was a fascinating experience for someone who has spent most of the last fifteen months in his basement. Over the course of three days we experienced the best of America, celebrating the birth of our nation on a picturesque farmstead that could be the backdrop for a Norman Rockwell Americana painting. The seventeen hours of maneuvering through the interstates and back roads from Pennsylvania to New Hampshire, and back, were frustrating, eye opening, depressing and sometimes inspirational.
But, the nine hours spent on the farm with like minded friends, sharing thoughts about the past, present and future, downing a few cold beverages, eating fresh farm fare, watching the youngsters playing on trampolines, teenagers playing games and setting bonfires, and mingling with baby goats made the trek worth it. What I didn’t see was anyone tapping away on an iGadget. Just real down to earth folks chatting, joking, and enjoying each other’s company. Everyone feels welcome on Hopewell Farm, as Marc has created a paradise on earth over the last fifteen years, building a thriving farm – raising cattle, hogs, chickens, turkeys, and tapping the acres of maple trees to make the best syrup on earth.
The trek to and from the farm was a tedious slog, guided by undependable phone apps, along highways past their prime, where mingling with the masses at rest stops was depressing, and the eight and a half hours did not fly by. In the ancient days, when making a long unfamiliar trip, your wife would have a map and there would be a lot of yelling as wrong turns were made and steps retraced. Then there was the era of mapquest, plotting your route beforehand and printing it out. Now you use Waze and/or Google Maps, where a female or male voice guides you based on current traffic times. Technology should make trips easier, but it doesn’t.
At the outset, both Apps said it would take us 6 hours and 15 minutes to reach Newbury, New Hampshire. These technological innovations were only wrong by 2 hours and 15 minutes. As we traveled up the NJ Turnpike toward NY, my wife was running both apps simultaneously to find the fastest route. As we were coming to a junction one lady told me to stay to the right towards the Lincoln Tunnel and the dude on Waze told me to stay left towards the George Washington Bridge. This is not what you want to hear while traveling 75 miles an hour with eighteen wheelers on all sides. I may have loudly stated we needed to pick one app and shut the other off.
Not long after, we needed to make a pit stop and ended up inside the Vince Lombardi Service area, home of Popeyes fine cuisine, disgusting restrooms, a coffee shop, and souvenir store with crap celebrating the shithole state of NJ. I think they named it after Vince Lombardi because most of the patrons look like him. I can honestly say the “beautiful people” do not congregate at the Vince Lombardi rest stop. Spending 20 minutes in a turnpike rest stop tells you everything you need to know about the real pandemic in America – obesity. I think I now understand why so many people want to keep wearing masks – there are a lot of not good looking people roaming the countryside. We departed this place as quickly as possible.
We resumed our trek, following the Waze dude, mostly because he warned us of “police ahead”. The government revenue collectors were out in force, serving and protecting the shit out of us by making sure you went 70 mph rather than 80 mph. Waze directed us onto I-84, where we crawled for a couple hours at 5 mph. Eventually we reached I-91, which took us through the Democrat run shithole states of Connecticut and Massachusetts. Connecticut is particularly unimpressive and Democrat controlled Hartford makes the 100 most dangerous cities in America list, along with the other Democrat run urban ghetto hell holes.
Once you reach Vermont and New Hampshire, the scenery becomes rural, with mountains, rivers and lakes dotting the countryside. Coming down the homestretch, you pass through the town of Claremont, founded in the early 1760s. The town has seen better days, as it is dotted with gas stations, fast food outlets, check cashing joints, strip malls with Big Lots as the draw, and a Home Depot at the edge of town.
As with most of New Hampshire it is 95% white, but the population is the same as it was in 1950 and down 11% from its peak in 1980. As with much of small town America, until 1980 manufacturing employed the majority of the residents. Those facilities shuttered in the early 1980s and those jobs were sent on a slow boat to China. Towns like Claremont continue to slowly deteriorate and lose population, which decreases the tax base, which contributes to the deterioration, and so on. It’s a sad truth for a wide swath of America and was purposefully executed by the billionaire ruling class, substituting middle class earned income with consumer debt.
After finally arriving at our destination at 6:30, we checked in and headed across the parking lot to the Salt Hill Irish Pub for a sandwich and a couple beers. It was 50 degrees and raining. It was filled with families enjoying a holiday weekend night out on the town. Of course, the night had to end at 9:00 pm, because that is when it closes. Being used to the 3:00 am closing times at bars in Wildwood, we were a little surprised. Another thing you notice in rural New Hampshire is they are not embarrassed by the American flag. It flies proudly on bars, businesses and homes. It is not considered extremist or racist. How refreshing after witnessing the communist media and race baiters demonizing and shitting on those who fought and forged this nation.
After a good night sleep, and a few cups of coffee, we decided to walk down to the Lake Sunapee beach, about a quarter mile from the lodge. It’s a beautiful picturesque lake where dozens of families were celebrating the 4th with cookouts, frisbee, horseshoes and kayaking. Here’s a useless factoid – Steven Tyler and Joe Perry met as teenagers at Lake Sunapee – initiating the later formation of Aerosmith.
Eventually we made our way to Hopewell Farms for the 4th of July shindig at about 3:00 pm after a brief Waze snafu. Wifi connection this far away from civilization is sporadic at best. We maneuvered up the long and winding driveway to Marc’s “Going Galt” paradise on earth. Marc directed us to a spot among the dozens of vehicles already there. It was a bustling farmstead with teenagers and toddlers playing games and running around. Someone was grilling burgers. A keg of beer had been tapped. And a couple dozen adults were sitting and mingling.
There were two baby goats roaming around free, having the time of their lives. This little guy, who already had a cast on his leg from a previous misadventure, immediately got entangled in the fencing protecting one of the gardens from livestock like himself. Marc extricated him quickly.
Both of these kids acted more like dogs (there were three or four of those roaming around too) than farm animals. They just wanted to be petted and held.
The little children were enthralled to be free among wildlife they never experience in urban or suburban America. The baby chicks were particularly popular among the crowd. The children were unaware of their ultimate fate – the kitchen table.
After settling in, the conversations became lively, engaging, intelligent and thoughtful. I was overwhelmed by the outpouring of thankfulness and appreciation for The Burning Platform. Some of the celebrants (SeeBee) were even reading my stuff on Seeking Alpha back in 2008. In addition to SeeBee, other TBP commenter attendees included ILuvCo2, B. Les White, Known Associate, Archaeopteryx Phoenix, Svarga Loka, RogerP, Avalon (of course), and several others who do not comment, but read every day. If I left anyone out, please let me know. It’s difficult keeping aliases and real names straight.
As you might expect the conversations about forced vaccinations, lockdowns, face masks and the general totalitarian nature of our once great country were quite vociferous. They may have even contained extremist content, in the eyes of the government. That’s because facts, truth, and critical thinking are now considered extremist by our overlords. Marc had American flags on every fence post, hanging from the barn, and displayed proudly on the day celebrating our independence from an overbearing tyrannical government. How despicable that a vocal fetid few and their loathsome fake news media cohorts would classify the honest hard working Americans at this get together as extremists, white supremacists and nazis.
It seems many readers of TBP were originally hooked by my 30 Blocks of Squalor posts during my time commuting through West Philly. Of course, they would get me cancelled today. Describing reality is no longer allowed in our dystopian woke paradise of drag queen storytime, men pretending to be women at the Olympics, teaching children to hate themselves because they are white, and unarmed selfie insurrections being worse than 9/11 or Pearl Harbor. The people on Marc’s farm were real Americans and the backbone of this country, not the freaks on social media, in Hollywood, and parading on the left wing media every day.
It seems TBP is a mutual admiration society, as I’ve created a safe space for liberty minded free thinkers, and the intelligent dialogue in the comment stream for the last twelve years has sustained me as the country has continued its downward spiral. The contributions from Marc (aka Hardscrabble Farmer) and dozens of other writers has broadened TBP’s appeal and depth of thought. Page views have risen from 12,000 per day in 2013 to 30,000 per day in 2021. As other sites have sold out or bowed down to Google, Twitter and Facebook, our site continues to fight the good fight day after day.
It was intellectually stimulating having dialogue with intelligent like-minded people who understand the difference between supporting your country versus supporting a corrupt government controlled by traitorous bastards. As the demographic of TBP skews between old and really old, we often find ourselves lamenting “kids today” and declaring all youth as hopelessly mesmerized by their gadgets and dumbed down by our public school indoctrination centers. The most inspiring part of the day was interacting with some of the young people.
I can honestly say I did not see one adult or teenager tapping away on their phones the entire day. My phone never left my pocket, because the discussions were far more interesting than anything on Twitter. The children on Marc’s farm are the hope for our future. Many of them, including Marc’s, have been home schooled, so they are avoiding the poison being injected into the brains of most children by low IQ union drone teachers. After speaking with some of these kids, you realize they are awake and aware. Marc’s youngest son asked me astute questions about the blog and was really listening to my answers. His intelligence and curiosity shone bright. All of Marc’s kids have been raised to think, challenge, work hard, and succeed.
On the previous trip to the farm we didn’t get the full perspective. Marc offered to take us on a tour in his farm utility vehicle. He took us into the lower pasture to see the bulls and cows. I asked him how many would end up on a dinner table. He said all of them. He never names the farm animals because he knows what he has to do eventually.
He drove us down to the pond, where you can fish for bass in the summer and local kids can come and ice skate in the winter. The view from the bottom of the meadow looking up toward the farm is a picture waiting to be painted.
We then ventured to the upper portion of the farmstead, where Marc showed us a large open field, surrounded by a rock wall. He explained it had been a dense forest when they moved there and they cleared it over time, building the rock wall along the way. The impressiveness of this feat cannot be overlooked. Tenacity, strength and fortitude are required to accomplish such a daunting task. Adjacent to the field are the acres of maple trees which are the source for the best damn maple syrup on earth. I asked him when he is able to tap the trees. He said they only have 2 to 4 weeks when it is below freezing at night and above freezing during the day. He learned how to do this after buying the farm. And the maple whiskey goes down real smooth.
Our last stop was to say hello to the 300 pound hog, which had escaped his pen earlier and made an appearance in the middle of the party. It seems unforeseen setbacks are a daily occurrence on a working farm. Drought and flooding rains seem to plague, and sometimes bankrupt, small family farmers, among other challenges. Recently, a fox had been able to breach some fencing in the middle of the night and slaughtered fifty of Marc’s turkeys. This is where the wisdom of the stoics has sustained Marc and his family. He has withstood the burning down of his barn/fish farm and shattering his leg after a fall from a tree. It’s not what befalls you that matters. It’s how you react to the setbacks and bad breaks that matter. Your attitude and daily actions are all you can control.
You can’t help but admire a man who walked away from what our society classifies as a “successful life” of wealth, power and prestige and took on a challenge which would humble most men. When you look around the compound you marvel at what Marc and his family have built. Every building was built and fence post driven by Marc, his children, and the help of good neighbors. He’s built relationships in the community based on mutual respect and neighborliness. When hard times befall anyone in the community, the neighbors rally around and make sure they get through to the other side. No one in this close knit community expects or wants the government to step in and save them.
We know technology and the internet have caused many social problems and allowed the government surveillance state to monitor and manipulate the masses, but without the internet, there would be no TBP, and I would have never met Marc or any of the fine people on Marc’s farm last week. I consider myself to be a lucky man for having met and befriended Marc. His life story, from the 82nd Airborne, to opening for George Carlin as a stand-up comedian, to successful businessman, to his ultimate destiny as gentleman farmer is the stuff of books.
Many times in the past, and again on the 4th, Marc made it clear that if/when the SHTF (and it will) we are welcome on his homestead. I don’t know how useful a 60 year old farmhand will be. I pull a muscle working on an excel spreadsheet or getting out of bed. We are making our first batch of salsa today, using my first dozen tomatoes and a few of our jalapenos.
Until Marc began talking about the stoics, I hadn’t thought much about that philosophy – the endurance of pain or hardship without the display of feelings and without complaint. This description embodies Marc and is something I also strive for:
As social beings, the path to happiness is found in accepting the moment as it presents itself, by not allowing oneself to be controlled by the desire for pleasure or by the fear of pain, by using one’s mind to understand the world and to do one’s part in nature’s plan, and by working together and treating others fairly and justly.
When I ponder the fourteen hour days of labor Marc puts in to keep his farm running and the setbacks he has endured, it gives me perspective when I lose enthusiasm for running this blog and realize it isn’t about me. It’s about providing a place where like minded individuals can share ideas, thoughts and frustrations during these times that are trying men’s souls. I consider the TBP community the irate minority of our time. Prevailing against an all-powerful, well funded, well armed, godless foe will not be on a battlefield, but within the minds of citizens who love their country and refuse to bend to the will of billionaire oligarchs and their apparatchiks.
“It does not take a majority to prevail … but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men.” ―
After distributing parting gifts to anyone who wanted one (Burning Platform Coffee Mugs) we left around midnight, not looking forward to the 8 hour trek home on Monday. On a positive note, Waze directed us home through a much more scenic and peaceful route through Vermont and past Albany, down I-87. We went through small idyllic Vermont villages, with old churches, antique retailers and quaint houses. You do notice once thriving restaurants closed and dilapidated along the way, as an example of the financial condition of the middle class declining. We didn’t expect to see the beauty of the Green Mountains and entrance to the Appalachian Trail.
As we skirted Albany, the state capital of NY, I couldn’t help but observe the contrast between the arrogant hubris of tyranny and the freedom loving citizens being subjugated by a narcissistic, murderous, deviant, authoritarian like Andrew Cuomo. Cuomo and his lackeys, after he murdered thousands of senior citizens and sexually assaulted numerous women, while writing a book about what a great leader he is, have the gall to buy advertising on a massive electronic sign declaring New Yorkers stand with Cuomo, except for those he murdered.
Along this same route, we noted several businesses flying enormous American flags, representing the best part of America. There are many Americans, like those who attended Marc’s 4th of July celebration, who will always support our country, but will refuse to follow and obey psychopath politicians like Cuomo.
It was an amazing and inspirational few days meeting with so many great people. It reinvigorates me and makes me want to keep this place alive for as long as humanly possible. We are facing powerful foes. If this article was posted on Facebook, anyone who read it would receive this warning from Zuckerberg and his minions.
Let that sink in for a moment. Farmers and people who just want to live their lives unimpeded by an overbearing government are classified as extremists. Facts are extremist. Truth is extremist. Not allowing an experimental concoction of chemicals to be injected into our bodies is extremist. Home schooling our children is extremist. Eating fresh, non-GMO farm food is extremist. Critical thinking and questioning the mainstream narrative is extremist. If all of these things are now classified as extremist, then count me in. I will stoically move forward doing what I can to resist the forces aligned against the good people of this country. Stay stoic my friends, as the road ahead looks bumpy.
“No person has the power to have everything they want, but it is in their power not to want what they don’t have, and to cheerfully put to good use what they do have.” – Seneca
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Thank you for this, Jim. And thank you, Marc, for sharing the why of what you do along with the how.
I was right; I take a great deal of vicarious pleasure in hearing of that splendid day.
Well met, even if in Spirit only.
Thank you Admin for keeping an open outpost on the internet for discussion and finding like minded people, even if they are a country or a continent away.
And man, how can one not want to pet a baby goat?
Guys, I’m very happy you all had the chance to enjoy each other’s company. I’d like to make a selfish request that you consider a date around the 4th instead of on it. We’ve had family parties for 2 decades on the 4th that I can’t blow off and perhaps other TBPer’s also have a similar issue.
Another consideration is to coordinate with Porkfest, a libertarian gathering also held in New Hampshire around the 4th. It’s really getting popular with 700 people attending this year and attracting luminaries like Scott Horton, Dave Smith, and Tom Woods. It would be heaven on earth to be swamped with like-minded people, especially fellow shit-flinging monkeys.
Great article Admin. I missed it again. Living in upstate NY there is no excuse not to attend this great event. Myself a long-time reader and now two of my sons love TBP. The only thing holding us back from making this trip. Is that it is on the 4th. A busy day for my large family. Perhaps God willing next year.
Not a murican by citizenship or government decree but certainly one in the heart. As all freedom loving persons would likely ascribe to. I for one abundantly appreciate TBP and those that contribute, its one of a very few sites that not only defends free speech but the intellectual caliber here is astoundingly rich.
My son works in Minneapolis, so if hes still there next year and we are ‘allowed’ to cross the line, maybe this canukistanni will wander in…
You can take the boy off the farm but you can’t take the farm out of the boy. I miss it horribly…
Thank you admin for all that you provide here… truly appreciated
A wonderful description, Admin, thank you and clearly a good life experience spent among friends. And, for me, it is the power of community that keeps it all together. I would love to have been there and experienced the love and friendship that clearly was abundant.
In some ways I can relate to your gathering as our rural English abode exudes much of what you describe. It is distressing to witness, at third hand, the decline of America in the various posts I read, when I know that deep down there pumps a heart of oak in the majority of patriots. I have great faith that America will come through this Fourth Turning stronger and more vital than ever, so long as the spirit of TBPers rides high in the ether.
The only thing that can truly save anyone from everything both in life and in afterlife is the never let go embracing and selfless living out of at any cost the God given principles of truth, justice, hard work coupled with tenacious perseverance and above all a never ending never giving up love of the God of all creation and one another as we love ourselves.
Tisha B’Av or the Ninth of Av begins this Saturday at sunset.
I’m not Jewish but this day both fascinates and terrifies me.
If nobody has noticed South Africa appears to be totally melting down.
It looks like it could be our future.
SA is our future. Mrs RM and I watched the videos out of SA and I commented that it looked just like the blm shit. It’s genetic and I don’t think we have the will to stop it.
I knew before the first party that folks coming from points south would probably travel through Claremont. It’s a blight on NH. I suspected Admin would include it in his write up of that years shindig. Sure enough. So last year, before the 4th I warned, in a comment, to seek an alternate route as Claremont is depressing. There are many cities in NH, ME, and Ma that I never thought would make it back from their sorry state, but did. Claremont isn’t one of them.
As for the flags. A few weeks ago I went to a home inspection on the farm my daughter is buying in Barnstead, NH. The town just before Barnstead is Chichester. As I turned onto Main St in that town, which isn’t really a Main St as it has no businesses or municipal buildings that I could see, every single utility pole had an American flag. For about 4-5 miles. As I entered Barnstead it too had flags just not as many.
It’s Lake Sunapee not Sunapee Lake.
Wish I could have been there as I’m only an hour and a half away. But I’ve been hosting our 4th festivities for about 40 years only recently handing over the job to my daughter. We often get 50-100 attendees, many of whom would be expecting me to be there.
I’m wondering if Winnie was there gloating over the fact that he was right since it’s now pretty obvious Stewart Rhodes is a fed.
22WinMag was there. I’m just glad he didn’t beat me up.
LOL
What’s he like in real life??
Anything?? Nice or naughty?
He’s pretty quiet. He is a frequent helping hand on Marc’s farm, along with other TBPers.
People would expect you to be outrageous and loud, but during our 1st gathering in NYC you were soft spoken and did more listening than talking. Online demeanor’s are often different than real life.
But not always.
22WinMags stories about artillary “adventures” in Germany were most excellent. As was his selection of sand pit toys. Great guy all around, as was his son – whose smile seemed to have never left his face.
Too bad he was such a pain in the ass around here. No amount of pleading with him to stop destroying threads worked. He simply had to keep doing it until he has outcast. If he were to get hold of the Admin and swear to stop the crap, I wouldn’t be surprised if something might be done.
we had an old guy, a pilot, whose behavior was virtually the same. constant disruptions in the commons context. he’s basically wheelchair bound now, and not around. i knew even then, in spite of getting into it with him about every other gathering, that his absence would leave us like bread without yeast.
a stick in the spokes occasionally is good to keep the riders sharp.
Ben,you like donuts the ones in the Chichester country store are excellent!
Thanks James. I do like donuts but I quit eating them about 50 years ago. I can get them for my 4 grandchildren who will soon be relocating to Barnstead from NC.
And I saw an interesting country store almost across from the fire station in Barnstead.
Ben,Barnstead is a nice place and also close to the lakes ect.,great area to raise kids.
The donuts are excellent but will warn ya’s,they will supercharge the grandkids to a whole new level,made right there,way too sugary for regular eating but a nice treat now and then.
Yes, Claremont is a pit, but just deal with it for 10 minutes and you have a beautiful drive through Vermont, and skip the eastern cities. Plus you get to cross the Hudson on a not so scary bridge in Troy where you don’t have to shit your pants to get to 87 south. Just did that today! Am sitting sitting in a hotel in Scranton now ready to leave early and do the next 7 hour ride to southwest Virginia.
So nice talking to everyone on the farm, it was awesome, even the young kids!! (well, young as in 20’s, which is young to me). It truly does give hope for the future. I do miss my home state of NH in the summer when I can’t get up there to enjoy the area. I’ll be up there every summer for the shin dig, help out ahead of time, fish in Maine, and enjoy my water front property up there, God willing.
Thanks so much Jim (and Avalon) for all you do, and thanks Marc for hosting!!
I wish we’d had more time to catch up but I am so glad you came all the way back home for the 4th, it was great to see your face again. Sounds like the south suits you.
See you again!
Yes sir Mr. Marc, will hopefully be up at end of month for my wife’s moms service on the seacoast, but staying at camp hopefully. (couldn’t do it last year, covidiot shit). Will try to stop by, but who knows with the schedule. Don’t be surprised if I drive up your driveway! Oh, your wife if such a sweetheart, as are your kids (as are mine), we both married up!!!
I have always preferred to take VT route 4 to NY 149 to get to the Northway in lake George, takes a little longer, but a better ride…
” Stay stoic my friends, as the road ahead looks bumpy.”,tis why we have heavy duty suspension!
I am amazed the feds did not raid this gathering of like minded folks,you all are obviously a danger to the country!
On the upside,am sure there were 1000’s of gatherings across the country of like minded people,perhaps just homes/block parties ect. but still the same spirit and this is good as we will need to help one another to get the country back o n track.
I wish it were possible to fly half way around the world to have joined you all, it would have been worth the time and effort. Sadly, with the best will in the world our lords and masters have made it impossible.
Keep up the good work. It is reassuring to know there are people who can still think for them selves.
If Jesus was here teaching today, he would be labeled an extremist.
If you can free your mind, they have no power over you. If you can free your life style from their control to any point, e.g. HSF’s farm, plant your own garden, trade/barter, fix your own stuff, hunt/fish, so much the better.
Nice piece. Thanks for all that you do every day in bringing us this great site. And thanks as well to HSF for opening his farm every year for this great gathering. Hopefully we’ll be able to attend next year.
although in the deep south, i to will find a way to get there before im too old.enjoy his stuff here immesly.please excuse the spelling but you get the point.
Reading this is an extraordinary experience (and looking at the pictures).
Good stuff Admin. I’d really like to meet some of you one day. Big regret of mine is not meeting with you when I visited my son when he lived in Harleysville a few years ago.
Thanks Administrator and Marc for adding content many miles away. I guess it is a community. Still trying to figure out what kind…
‘” A better kind, I think.”
I think so too, HR
The first picture alone. ‘ … is this Heaven? No, its a farm in New Hampshire.’
I am concerned that most people I know are not becoming extremists. That.said, thanks again Jim, and thanks again Marc.
Beautiful essay. Almost like being there.
I met Marc in person once. We met where I lived, and had a good time … for a couple of hours. I remember what I was thinking as I waved goodby, it seemed to a lifelong pal —“Dammit, I’ve never had a friend like Marc. I wish we lived closer.” I felt the same when I met Admin and Avalon. It’s so damned weird, sad actually, that I have better friends on the net than I do in real life. Oh well, such is life.
Next year, come hell or high water.
Stuck I live in the Hampster,you come up make it early and will take ya’s out for some shooting fun/a ride thru the kangamangus highway,great scenery!
The last few 4th’s have been tied up with either family/work ect.,next 4th,am @ Marks no excuses(excepting death).
Going there tomorrow. Loon, Lincoln, etc.
I love parking alone and going to swift river,have a spot in rocks in middle of river that can rest on for hours and recharge the psychic batteries as it were.
I say perhaps down the road when the family settled in and all we meet up and do a little shooting if you are into it,would also at some point take the young ones to Castle In The Clouds,fun thing for the kids along with the train ride in North Conway,hell,the list of fun things for kids and adults is limitless in the Hampster!
You and me both Stucky. I’ll bring the cigars.
Me too!
Excellent trip report! We’re thinking about coming in from the Midwest for next year’s 4th at Marc’s farm.
Stoic extremists. We’re dangerous, not because of what we do or what we think but because we choose to think at all.
Thanks Jim, for what you do. This place has been a refuge for a lot of us ‘extremists’ for many years now.
Outstanding write-up. I have sent many emails to friends with links to articles on TBP, attempting to grow this “irate, tireless minority”.
Many thanks to Jim for his creation of TBP and his continuing efforts to make it a place where liberty minded and free thinking individuals can congregate in intelligent discourse and stimulating exchange of ideas and inspiration along with some occasional shit slinging.
The spirit and fortitude of those of us who call TBP home will never be vanquished by the psychopaths and sociopaths who deem themselves our “leaders”. They are all a disgrace and an affront to humanity.
Blessings on Marc and his family for providing an oasis for TBP’ers and their families to gather and celebrate our principles and God given rights.
I’ve been buying Marc’s syrup for a few years and it IS the best damn maple syrup on earth. Living not too far from Jim (in Lancaster) I hope someday to get to Marc’s farm and get to meet and enjoy fellow TBP travellers.
I became a US citizen on April 27, 2021, after 7 years on various work visas and then another 8 years with a green card. It was the strangest day. I enjoyed the 2 hour car ride to the interview and oath ceremony, since I never get alone time. Then, I felt morally raped since I had to wear a mask for the only time in 15 months against my better judgement. And then I stood there reciting the oath, wondering what I was doing. If the USA, as one commenter wrote, is like the Titanic at the point of bobbing vertically in the water just before it is going down in one epic swoosh, why am I becoming a US citizen? Is this possibly the worst mistake of my life? What is the USA anyway? A place? An idea?
Now I know. It is what July 4th at HSF’s place was. One of the most inspirational days of my life, with people who I could instantly relate to. My only regret was that midnight came too early and there was not enough time to talk to all of you.
welcome fellow citizen! we need more like you.
i left a decade and a half ago and i’m working on getting back. gonna be a hard slog starting out all over again at middle age but isnt that exactly what HF did? i do suspect i’ll have to settle for a far more humble set-up on a shoestring budget, but, thats just how it goes. house and land over here are basically a total loss. better than standing here like an asshole while they lock the whole country in prison (in the EUSSR currently).
stay strong!
Great write-up JQ. I wish I could have been there in-person, but this is the next best thing. It’s now a goal of mine, to get up there and celebrate life and independence with others of a like mind. It’s an attainable goal, which is good. I just couldn’t make it this year. If I’m still alive and so are you all, next year for sure!
And how can you not be anything but impressed with this Moran guy? What an inspiration! I would be honored to have him as a neighbor. One of mine has a dairy farm and his place, though impressive, is nothing compared to what HSF has (not just speaking financially). Can’t wait to meet you, Marc. I’m gonna be needing some syrup soon!
For anyone else who made it, I hope to see you all at the next shindig as well. May you all have a happy, healthy year until then. Even you too, Winnie, you downvoting shitposter!
By the way, I’m sure the truth got thick once tongues got loosed on that beer and whiskey. That would be a story worth hearing.
Jim, you really captured the gestalt of the entire journey. I love your writing and have for a long time. Thank you for sharing your thoughts so explicitly, intelligently and emotionally. The only thing more rewarding than building online relationships, is meeting them in real time.
Great seeing you again SeeBee my friend. If you ever want to check out SW Virginia and escape the city, look me up, got a master bedroom and bath in the basement.
Thank you for sharing the journey, Admin. Yay maps…boo GPS.
It’s inspiring to vicariously experience the good times, good will, and good friends through this article. Thanks Marc and Jim.
Idyllic life style. Must admit I could handle the cold in that part of the country. I try to stay south of I10 as much as possible. Would be nice to meet y’all. Good article .
Edit function is messed up. could not live in the cold. We were hating it when the freeze hit Texas back in Feb
+1000… I feel better knowing that real Americans still walk amongst us.
As my old paps used to say, can’t never could and won’t never will. Keep on keepin ‘ on. We have a Republic to restore.
That was a great write up, like a photo negative of your 30 Blocks series.
Our family are so deeply grateful to all the people who made the trip to New Hampshire in the middle of their equally busy lives, the uncountable number who have ordered our syrup, come up throughout the passing seasons to lend a hand and visit, our generous benefactors who have supported the writing over the years with their encouragement and corrections, those who send cards and handwritten letters, the fine gifts of crafts, food, books and tools, and the thoughts and prayers I know that are lifted up to us for the struggles and hardships we’ve gone through over the decade or more that you’ve known about us.
Humbling is an understatement.
I understand what it is like to be outside of the mainstream, to be denigrated for doing the same kinds of things that fifty years ago would have earned you a seat in the senate but today push us to the margins of American culture. How could any of us ever imagined a day when flying the American flag would be considered an affront, or an honest opinion something that should be silenced by those in powerful positions? We opened our gates for anyone and everyone whether you agree or not, whether you believe or not, because we are first and foremost part of something much larger than ourselves. We are a community- far more inclusive and tolerant of actual differences than cosmetic ones- and people need that face to face connection to make sure that they are really heard, and to listen to what others have to say in the hopes that we can learn something from them to apply to our own lives in some meaningful way.
When Jim first started to post my scattered comments on TBP one of the most frequent responses was that something like this was improbable- it couldn’t be that beautiful, we couldn’t be this resourceful, it wasn’t possible in this day and age to live the way we were living. I offered people the chance to come up and meet us not in any kind of boastful way, but to encourage them to believe that they could do whatever it was that they wanted just as easily if only they believed in themselves enough to give it a shot. We didn’t have the experience or the background, but we had each other, we knew how we didn’t want to live, and we could clearly see how our life might turn out for us if we took that chance.
And it was worth everything. The losses and the injuries, the labor and acrimony directed at us. Say what you will about the stoics if you’re not a fan, but they understood the power of letting go of attachments to those things outside of your control. Everyone faces setbacks and challenges, loss of loved ones, ruined reputations and crushed dreams, but no one has to live in the past nor fear for a moment whatever lay ahead. We have this moment right now to stand up and begin to live our lives as if it were the last day on Earth without a care in the world if simply have confidence in our destiny. We mean something, we have a purpose, and what we do touches everyone we meet who may go on to even greater things with even wider reach.
So thank you, profoundly and sincerely, from the bottom of our hearts for being the kinds of people that you are and for having the courage to get up every day and face a society that is hostile to your character, a government that is implacable and an infinite future of possibilities…
It is a truly beautiful farm.
I think Admin should have subtitled it “30 Acres of Pasture” and shown pictures of a game of softball ongoing with cowpies (dried and sun-cured) as bases.
Marc, I’m going to pay you the ultimate hilbilly compliment and tell you I thought of you immediately when I watched this a couple days ago and think you’ll enjoy his outlook on life.
Thanks, Ghost, for sharing. I have neighbors and friends that have similar backgrounds of life in the Southern Appalachians. Good ole mountain music, courtesy, helping hands are still prevalent in our community.
Good stuff.
I would like to know more about this “stoics” you folks talk about.
Please list some good reads if you would!
Here are some online books
http://classics.mit.edu/Epictetus/epicench.html
http://classics.mit.edu/Epictetus/discourses.html
Once you on the link, click book 1 then go back book 2 etc . . .
http://classics.mit.edu/Antoninus/meditations.html
Same here with Marcus Aurelius.
R. Pies, Everything Has Two Handles: The Stoic’s Guide to the Art of Living (Lanham: Hamilton Books, 2008);
W. B. Irvine, A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy (New York: Oxford University Press, 2009).
P. Vernezze, Don’t Worry, Be Stoic: Ancient Wisdom for Troubled Times (University Press of America, 2005).
E. Buzaré, Stoic Spiritual Exercises.
Psychotherapists on Stoicism:
Thank you George!
Hello from the Philippines. Keep up the good fight. I enjoy reading all your offerings. You were in the neck of the woods where my father lives. He lives in Keene, NH.
You may consider yourself an old man at 60, but I’m impressed you stay up until 3AM at bars in NJ and midnight at 4th of July parties. We’re 57 and haven’t stayed up past 9PM since I can’t remember when (then again, we ususally get up around 4:30 AM every day). North Idaho is nice, but that little piece of NH sounds incredible. Any decent acreage for sale nearby?! Might be too close to family in PA though. 🙂
I know a couple of choice parcels.
I’m usually up at 4:30 too in Summer (I tend to sleep in during Winter) but my 3am bar days are pretty far back in the rear view.
Idaho was at the top of our list, it was just too far from family to close the deal. NH was the right choice for us, most folks seem to prefer the warmer weather. The cold seems to keep certain elements at a distance and that’s not a bad thing.
Not one to get overly emotional, except in my knee-jerk go to security blanket of anger at the shit being flung at us PRODUCTIVE, LOYAL and TRUE Americans (you can check out some of my intermittent and ‘less than stellar’ posts on TBP as proof … but hey, I have 50% Serb blood in me, and I WILL use it as an excuse ).
Anyhow, tears welled up as I read the post and comments, realizing that God truly is at work in the actions and examples lived by Marc, Admin and all TRUE TBP brethren / sistren.
May God Bless all of you, your families and America as we navigate the storm!
Agreed. The post and comments are inspirational in ways not expected. Thank you
Thanks again Jim and HSF for the wonderful rays of hope expressed in word and pictures. I actually contemplated for a moment that we mostly like minded folk are going to win this fight. I think we all know that God wins in the end… Chip
Thank you for your laid back comfortable description of your adventure to Marcs farm. I was unable to travel, but will re read this several times to get some sense of how special that day was.
Thai you
One trillion upvotes to you Patriots in the NE and all over this great land. You are the backbone of this country!
Thank you Admin for the beautiful pictures and the travelogue/commentary on a way of life that is, tragically, no longer possible for most. Thank you Marc for your generosity of wisdom on TBP and of your time and property shared with others. Getting to your July 4 shindig is on my bucket list but it’s a bit of a production to travel from SoCal.
The 4th felt contradictory this year: joyful because of freedom from COVID tyranny and melancholy because of the doom lurking just over the horizon. The Age of Suspense.
Real men never get lost. We just make spur of the moment, unplanned side trips.
Amin: My only complaint with this post; it wasn’t long enough.
Unable to attend ,I can only vicariously live the experience.
I did get a little misty reading it though.
Thanks to all attendees, poster’s and jokers at TBP!
Thank you Jim for keeping open this outpost of sanity. As for the party every that passes makes me wan to attend moar. Hopefully next year I can attend in person.
Agree with you RiNS . I want to be there next year (If there Is a next year) AND the borders open .I miss the human contact (interaction) .You are my soul family. HOPE and PERSEVERANCE.
j p labrie.
Wow! HSF your farm is beautiful and, as usual, Admin paints a picture of it with his words. It is an honor to read the articles and posts both of you make. That you invite all TPBers to your farm for the fourth is both humbling and inspiring. This site is truly unique and I am better for having found it. Keep up the great work! It is appreciated.
Thank you.
And thank you HSF and all of the regulars, part timers, and watchers.
And especially, TMWNN, certainly the challenges of keeping TBP up will intensify in the coming storm.
https://givesendgo.com/Freekyle
Hey Jim – beautifully written. And hey Marc – beautifully lived. Gonna buy some of your maple syrup soon. More likely to add a bit to my rum than to my pancakes. And Jim, rum with a touch of maple syrup in a TBP mug would be very sweet – hint hint.
Here’s to all the TBP irate extremists. I’m proud to be with you even though I’m a newbie.
One if by land and two if by sea!
Sorry I couldn’t make it from out West, but thanks to Marc & family for throwing this shindig every year & I hope to be among you at some point. Thanks as always to you Jim….your blog and writing make it bearable to endure this shit.
Excellent. That is why I stop by here every day and why I got my maple syrup from Marc with a few hiccups courtesy of the USPS.
I should have gone to the TBP July 4th get together, I went on a trip and came home with a nasty stomach bug. I would really love to meet all of the TBP family one day. Nice digs HSF, nothing better than a well run farm operation. 🙂
I read about the Hardscrabble homestead from my own redoubt in eastern Kansas where the rest stops consist of two toilets and a historical marker. The wheat was average this year, and, as my neighbor put it, “you are never more than two weeks away from a flood or a drought”. Upon learning of the great stoicism of Hardscrabble, and the lesser stoicism of admin looking forward to the return trip, the only emotion that comes to mind as the sun sets and the purple martins swirl above the garden, is gratitude.
Great essay, wish I could have been there. My town too has U.S. flags flying from all the street lamps and most houses do too. The others have the virtue signaling signs in their front yard. I stopped flying my flag in November in protest and flew the Colorado flag instead. This spring I started flying the national flag again. I thought the heck with them, I don’t care if you took over the government, this is still our country. So as one turns off the state highway on the road leading to my development the first house on sees dead ahead is mine flying old glory.
Seeing HSF in his aloha shirt reminded me I need to lose weight (working on it by insulating and hanging drywall in my garage as our first winter resulted in water lines freezing and rupturing ) so that I can wear my Kahala aloha shirts, all with fish or creatures of the ocean on them. I got a little OCD on ebay years ago and collected over 100 of them.
Great writing, many thanks for that.
I’m a 99% daily read-only member of TBP for quite a while (6 yearish roundabout). But such writing from admin, HS and the other big ones give me a glimmer of hope that old fashioned down to earth living with a heartfelt community and a super sharp mind will keep the right people on track.
Hat tip to all folks of TBP.
Thank you Admin for the review, maybe next year I will make the trek north. Thank you for TBT as well as its a place for me to learn daily!
My wife and I are coincidentally traveling in New England from Wisconsin. We were battling over using my old Garmin and her Iphone google maps. It got contentious. We settled on her google maps because the woman’s voice was nicer. Whatever !! We also found a lot of errors in all this new technology. You are spot on about obesity. It didn’t take this trip to make me aware. A recent sojourn to a fireman’s picnic was enough. How do those people use the toilet? My wife and I are fit because we choose to watch our diet and exercise daily. I also share a word with you, use it often – “shithole”. Safe travels.
Gary