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In Focus: Ina May Gaskin at The Farm

by Sara Lamm and Mary Wigmore
Ina May with the filmmakers and their families.

Here's a behind-the-scenes look at the birthplace of the documentary Birth Story: Ina May Gaskin and The Farm Midwives with filmmakers Sara Lamm and Mary Wigmore. 

<p>SUMMERTOWN, Tennessee – The Farm sits on 1,750 acres of Tennessee heartland. Formed in 1971, the community hosts environmental workshops, agro-tourism experiences, and spiritual retreats all year long, but its official population registers under 200. Its most famous resident is Ina May Gaskin, the mother of modern midwifery. The new feature-length documentary:Birth Story: Ina May Gaskin and The Farm Midwives traces her journey from idealistic hippie youth to champion of women all around the world. And what better setting for watching nature at work than the wild Tennessee landscape? LA-based filmmakers Sara Lamm and Mary Wigmore give us a glimpse of what life is like on The Farm today.


A dwelling from the '70s on The Farm in Summertown, Tennessee.
A dwelling from the '70s on The Farm in Summertown, Tennessee.

Ina May and Stephen Gaskin.
Ina May and Stephen Gaskin.

Mary shooting Ina May planting broccoli in her garden.
Mary shooting Ina May planting broccoli in her garden.

During the height of The Farm, 72 people lived here. The home was known as Long House.
During the height of The Farm, 72 people lived here. The home was known as Long House.

Inside the Long House kitchen.
Inside the Long House kitchen.

Filming a water birth.
Filming a water birth.

Ina May teaching midwifery students.
Ina May teaching midwifery students.

Mary's son in the window of the trailer where the filmmakers stayed.
Mary's son in the window of the trailer where the filmmakers stayed.

Mary shooting an old bus in the woods.
Mary shooting an old bus in the woods.

Most people grow their own food (and make their own scarecrows).
Most people grow their own food (and make their own scarecrows).

Sara shooting in the apple orchard.
Sara shooting in the apple orchard.

Fall on The Farm.
Fall on The Farm.

The road to The Farm.
The road to The Farm.

The creek that leads to the swimming hole.
The creek that leads to the swimming hole.

Tennessee sky.
Tennessee sky.

Ina May with the filmmakers and their families.
Ina May with the filmmakers and their families.

SEE IT

Birth Story premieres June 16th at the Los Angeles Film Festival. For showtimes and tickets, go to lafilmfest.com.

FIND IT

You're Inn at The Farm 184 Schoolhouse Road Summertown, TN +1-931-964-4474

Filed under:   Agritourism,   As Seen in the Movies,   In Focus,   Tennessee

Sara Lamm and Mary Wigmore

Sara is a writer, director (Dr. Bronner's Magic Soapbox), and performer whose work has appeared on NPR, at MASS MoCA, and the American Visionary Art Museum. She travels for the fresh perspective, and to get out of her own head. Mary directed the documentary Ashtanga, NY, the short film Dealbreaker, as well as films for Google, MSN, Goop, Ogilvy and Mather, and Amnesty International. She travels for the new smells, tastes, and tag sales.

We make every effort to ensure the information in our articles is accurate at the time of publication. But the world moves fast, and even we double-check important details before hitting the road.

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