John Mikulenka

John Mikulenka was 12 years old when cousin Ann Barlow gave him an antiwar poster for Christmas. His father, who worked for the U.S. Army at Fort Benjamin Harrison, immediately kicked Ann out of the house, thereby guaranteeing his son’s enduring fascination with her.

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Ann Barlow stands on the porch of her house in Needmore, an intentional community in Brown County, in May 2017. Known in the 1960s and ’70s as communes, places like May Creek and Needmore have had to “bend with the times” to survive, says writer John Mikulenka. And now, as the founding members continue to age, their biggest concern might be finding and keeping the next generation of community members. | Courtesy photo

Intentional Communities Must ‘Bend with the Times’

John Mikulenka

Southern Indiana has a long tradition of utopian communities, also known as communes. A few of the ones formed in the 1960s and ’70s — places like May Creek Farm and Needmore — have had to “bend with the times” to survive, says writer John Mikulenka in this detailed and expansive feature. But as the founding members age, he asks, who will take their place? Click here to read the full story.