Bureau of Lost Culture On the Farm with Allen Ginsberg
May 23, 2022
Barry Miles, an acclaimed biographer and chronicler of the 1960s counterculture, shares fascinating stories about his time on Allen Ginsberg's farm, a retreat for artists and misfits after the chaotic 60s. He details the farm's self-sufficient life, quirky residents, and Ginsberg's relentless creativity and activism. Miles also reminisces about the vibrant Chelsea Hotel, filled with icons like Janis Joplin and Leonard Cohen, and Ginsberg's deep embrace of Tibetan Buddhism. This conversation highlights the chaotic charm of an era where art thrived amidst turmoil.
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First Impressions Of The Chelsea Hotel
- Barry Miles describes moving into the Chelsea Hotel and meeting residents like Arthur Miller on his first visit.
- He recounts Stanley Bard negotiating his rent and the hotel's lively, artistic community atmosphere.
Poetry Farm As A Rehab Refuge
- Allen Ginsberg created the Poetry Farm as a sober refuge for poets to dry out.
- Miles was invited to catalog Ginsberg's hundreds of reel-to-reel tapes while staying with his wife Sue.
Building Power With A Windmill
- The farm lacked electricity so they built a windmill and buried car batteries to power tape machines intermittently.
- Miles edited tapes with only about three hours of power a day while managing communal tensions over usage.
