Here are some interesting links to Frontier House articles:

http://www.edheritage.org/heritagecommission/Frontier%20House/Frontier%20House.htm

http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/entertainment/columnists/ellen_gray/3159280.htm

http://annewilson.blogspot.com/?/2002_05_01_annewilson_archive.html

scroll down to may first here: http://goliard.blogspot.com/

I found this show very interesting, and like all of those who have commented on this forum, there were things I thought were down right ridiculous. However, to me the most fascinating information came from the last five minutes of the show. I was amazed at the reactions of all these people upon leaving the frontier. It really got me to thinking about the society we live in and the falseness of the reality we have created. These people were totally changed by having actually experienced REAL LIFE for the first time. Not only did they experience it but the former lives they were leading were no longer the same. They all went home and tried to figure out why in the world they did go home.

Mr. Clune goes home and the only thing he can think of to do is mow his own lawn, hoping to get some of the same satisfaction he had living on the frontier. Even to his own ears that must have sounded hollow. Honestly I feel sorry for these people. PBS turned their lives upside down, and I don't think even PBS understood the implications of what they were doing. How does a person go back to their pretend little world and leave behind REAL LIFE?

Now I know many of you are thinking that the frontier was the fake and the home in Malibu was real. Unfortunately I think the reaction of all the participants reveals the truth of this. I really think that the experience turned all their lives upside down. I also think that in the face of the real struggle of life and living next to the earth everyone of those people found out what a lie our present day society has become. As homesteaders most of us have found that truth ourselves. However this show took people who may have had thoughts of living how their ancestors did, but had never had the courage to try and ripped them out of their modern life, and took away all the excuses that an executive in southern California uses to justify his lifestyle in his own mind. This show was a sociological experiment that has the values of homesteading at it's very core. Even so, I don't believe it was the experiment PBS was hoping for. I think it turned out to be an even greater insight into modern humanity than anybody who planned the show understands.

For this show was modern society unmasked. It was those people finally revealing and to some extent eventually partially shedding the shallow, selfish, consuming, cheating, behavior that exemplifies our world today. Even so, I doubt that any of the people involved will not eventually slowly convince themselves that it was an abberation, and that REAL LIFE is in Malibu mansions, yuppie lifestyles, and empty souls are the way to happiness. However I would be willing to bet that when these people wake up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat, they will be remembering the fresh Montana air and the silence of a Montana midnight reminding the of what their life could be and what it is in that moment. Sadly they will chalk it up to just a ridiculous fantasy and go back to sleep.

Little Bit Farm

-- Little bit Farm (bittlelit@aol.com), May 03, 2002

Answers

Yes, I agree the present society can be false, just as some folks wanting to "move back in time" could be false. The key is for everyone to create their own self sufficient reality customized to their particular lifestyles.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), May 03, 2002.

Bravo! Great post Little Bit!

I couldn't agree more. The realness of homesteading is one of its greatest appeals to me.

I have a blue collar background but have worked in white collar types of jobs. While I knew that what I was doing for a living was honorable and honest, it never seemed real to me. I could work my butt off all day and yet feel like I accomplished nothing of genuine significance. It was living and working in manmade contrivances that didn't seem connected to the greater reality.

-- john (natlivent@pcpros.net), May 03, 2002.

My thoughts: I think If asked "would you rather stay on or go back to your former lifestyle?" the three families might have said stay on. I think I would have!! The "family" that I thought would do worst did best. Call it racial profiling, whatever, but I really had my doubt to begin with about the man that proved to be the most solid, uncomplaining individual there. Right on! I think that if the Clunes had had the insirition that they had towards the end of the show at a point closer to the beginning, they would have easily done better than any of the others. They had the most stacked against them, in my opinion because they had the greatest jet lag or culture lag of any of the groups there. They, in certain depatments, did better than the others, because they had further to go. I could just see the hurt in Mr Clunes eyes when the "you would't have made it" ultimetum came home, but all things considered, he did indeed suceed. I think there might be three new countryside subscribitions in order, from the three parties that were on the show.

-- Kevin in NC (Vantravlrs@aol.com), May 03, 2002.

I can't get PBS where I live and wish I had seen it. Does anyone know if there are tapes of the show that are available?

-- Karen (mountains_mama2@hotmail.com), May 04, 2002.

I have not seen the show, but hope to catch it next time. I was raised in a homesteading atmosphere. I moved away from home at 20. I lived the yuppie lifestyle for 20 years. Never could figure out why I wasn't happy. I had beautiful homes, new cars, lots of clothes, but always looked back at the wonders of my childhood and went back to my parents farm often to get a "fix". I now have a new life with a wonderful man and am living the way I should have been all along. I imagine those people would feel empty and want to go back to the homesteading life. I really want to see the show. The peace and contentment in my life now makes me feel so sorry for anyone who has to live what most consider "the good life". There truly is nothing better than being on a first name basis with nature and caring for all she has to offer us.

I just don't know when it's on!!! I don't even know if I can get PBS!! I don't watch TV much, don't have one out in the barn, LOL.

Little Bit, Great post! Brought tears to my eyes. :)

-- Cindy (ilovecajun@aol.com), May 04, 2002.

I realy enjoyed the show, but it makes you wonder about the Clunes and how they came by their riches. The way they cheated on the show knowing they were being filmed. What would they do when they are not on camera. I think the Glens were aready having mairtial problems before they came to the show, but they could have pulled together more. Also the Clunes never made the girls help with the cooking and washing, in the 1800"s the girl children could cook and keep house just like the mother, that's why she was so tired all time is because she had no help.

-- ruby (rubyfmc@cs.com), May 04, 2002.

Karen, the tapes are available on the PBS Frontier site at Frontier House

-- cowgirlone in ok (cowgirlone47@hotmail.com), May 04, 2002.

I loved it!! And yes I had the same feelings as everyone else as far as what the family did. I knew they could not decide to stay because it was done on a Indain Res. with the permission of the Indains. I think the most important thing I saw is how the kids missed the structer of the frontier life on the homestead. Kids don't have many chorse to speak of these days. You would have thought they would have been so happy to get out of there but they were so board with the mall, tv, they really missed having certain things that was required for them every day. I think the kids missed the feeling of acomleshment on a everyday scale to. That really surprized me as far as the teenaged kids to. And there last interview in the pool No Makup as far as I saw. Before this started they would have been horafided to be on camra without it!

-- Teresa (c3ranch@socket.net), May 04, 2002.

I agree Teresa, I thought that it was interesting that the structure and responsibility of the frontier did indeed mature even the teens. Parents of 2002 take note. Children need to be needed. They need something other than the opposite sex and peers to become successful adults. Dr. Spock attitudes have damaged America's youth. The girls talked about missing cute guys, but they sure seemed happier on the frontier without them. It must have been nice to have been accepted for just being themselves, instead of always having to put on a front of worldliness. One of the daughters even said that she found out she could just be herself, and that was what she was taking home with her.

I also think that it was amazing the effect of the children being with their parents all that time had on both the kids and the adults. How far we have come in 2002 from parents being with and supporting their children 24-7. We make all kinds of excuses for our modern outlook, but what our children grow up into really tells the tale. We have morality and basic values continually devolving and yet we shout education to the roof tops, saying, "Well at least they got their degree!". Never mind that little Suzy is a first class witch, and little Harry is a selfish jerk. We proudly display our children's educational accomplishments, and yet ignore completely their lousy character, all the while congratulating ourselves on a job well done!

Little bit farm

-- Little bit Farm (littlebit@farm.com), May 04, 2002.

You said it was done on an Indian reservation; the next show should involve taking some modern day Indians and having them live like THEIR ancestors did!

-- Walt K. in SW PA (kraterkrew@lcsys.net), May 04, 2002.

I like what Kevin said about the Clunes. Tho I admit he (Mr Clune) seemed to have some character defficiencies when viewed from one perspective from another they could be considered strengths.

Personally I thot the still was a good idea, if for no other reason than it showed some creative thinking, that in fact turned out to be a good business decision.

His story about the bed springs didn't hold water IMO but the story about selling goodies to the tourists seemed legit to me. After all, they were supposed to be replicating the 19th century and if you couldn't sell your goods locally for a good price what was there to stop them from expanding their marketing range to bring a better price?

I also thot his irrigation system was clever and a really good idea that would'a saved them ALOT of labor.

-- john (natlivent@pcpros.net), May 04, 2002.

Better Homes and Gardens magazine has been doing a story on this show for the last 3 months. This month (June 2002 issue) talks about the families' reentry into civilization. I won't tell you what's in the articles, but you might want to check 'em out. Some of the folks might seem a little different to you after you read about them again!

-- sheepish (WA) (the_original_sheepish@hotmail.com), May 05, 2002.

Ruby, the Clunes' daughter cooked the rattlesnake, but, other than that, i think you're right. I didn't realize that the girls weren't helping with the cooking & washing. Maybe if they had, they would've been too tired to be "wild"!

-- jollyapple (candiedastoria@aol.com), May 06, 2002.

Did it bother any of you as much as it did me, the parents sending the girls out in the snow in their underware and blankets to go and milk and bring the cow home? Why didn't the father (who did very little besides make moonshine :) even then he was laying down!) or the mom go and do this? The girls didn't cook because the mom had a degree in food science, and if she said that again I was going to scream, though the peach pie was to die for! Once again just like our Y2K drills the day to day work is womens work, unless perhaps like the young couple you had to build a cabin etc. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), May 06, 2002.

You are right Vicki! That whole situation stuck in my craw too. Why didn't the mother taker her own little feet a mile through the snow to milk in her underwear!!! I certainly would before I sent my kids out that way! And then I have to ask why in the world didn't the Glenn father show even a little compassion to those girls?

Little Bit Farm

-- Little bit Farm (littlebit@farm.com), May 06, 2002.

I wondered why the girls didn't bring the cow home, THEN milk it. They wouldn't have had to carry buckets of milk and lead the cow.

-- cowgirlone in ok (cowgirlone47@hotmail.com), May 06, 2002.

I just ordered the tapes, can't wait so see what you guys are talking about! :)

-- Najia (najia274@yahoo.com), May 06, 2002.

I'm agreeing with ya Vicki! The Clune woman was so tired b/c her kids were out making FORTS in the bear infested forest instead of helping her out!

I was also dismayed that he didn't invite them in to at least get warm before leading their cow home. Sheesh... I guess that's city folk for ya... Milk her THEN have to lug buckets AND a cow home. I shouldn't say that... they honestly probably didn't know any better.

One of the things that also bothered me was the non-adherance to the dress code rules. At the picnic those teenage girls wore their underclothes! Cmon! They were "made" to stick to everything else... why not the dress of the day as well?

-- ~Misha (Longing4theCntry@aol.com), May 06, 2002.

Wearing chemises to the picnic would have branded those young women as, um, well...fallen, if nothing else. I wonder why they got to do that?

-- sheepish (WA) (the_original_sheepish@Hotmail.com), May 06, 2002.

I was so lucky that someone wonderful sent me a copy of the last day! My husband and I rewound and looked very carefully, anyone else notice that one of the toys, albeit wooden that the youngster got from visiting granny was a carved toy semi tractor/trailer :) Now that is period! My husband figured it out and they would have needed about 12 cords of wood, it would have taken one person the whole 5 months splitting about 2 feet of the cord every day to have enough. From snow flight to snow flight in Montana that is about all someone would do every day! Was not that mansion in Malibu the ugliest house you ever saw? And the decorator should be shot! We were hysterical about the 3 lowley rabbits frozen in ziplock in the freezer as the "game" that would have gotten them through the winter. The show surely makes me appreciate just how easy we have it, even though parts of my family still think we are very backwoods. A good reminder for us of just how far we have come from pre-electricity days just 15 years ago. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), May 07, 2002.

It just looked like a typical california mansion to me, Cold, calculated, and the least homey place in the world. I would rather have the cabin. What a sad place to have to go back to after Montana.

Little Bit Farm

-- Little bit Farm (littlebit@farm.com), May 07, 2002.