The Garden: Commune or Cult

I thought that I was watching a docuseries, what I got was a bunch of petty drama typical of a reality show. It's like The Real World, only off the grid. These people are insufferably disagreeable and sanctimonious. They're basically the kids that hated taking baths as children, only a few decades later. Now they live in the woods and mock the rest of us as "conformists. " I get the impression that the whole cult question is nothing more than marketing to hook people into check out this series. That Carrot Top looking mofo with "Tree Forrester" (so much cringe) as a sobriquet is also the last person that I would nominate as a spokesperson for any organization.

This show is a ride from the very first episode. While many "cult" docs as of late have been focused on the manipulation of the members by some evil leader, this one really gives you insight to their everyday lives and the natural struggles that come living in an ungoverned society.

If it is a cult... sign me up!!! There are clearly a lot of pros and cons to living off the land and even more barriers when it comes to living with each other peacefully but the community and bond that is formed as a result looks so fulfilling.

There's some level of leadership, sure. But this isn't how I think of cults. There's no one major leader at the top trying to profit or be a master manipulator. Patrick owns the land and has some level of authority but these people crying that it's some horrible cult need to go study/watch the NXIVM cult and some of the other crazy ones where a ton of crimes and financial/emotional manipulation is taking place.

I just have to provide a retort to Tyler, from my neck of the woods here in (rural) Colorado, not too far from Colorado Springs: You are an ex-military person, a self-proclaimed end-of-days "prepper" who claims that when "the time comes," we'll all be begging for you to help us. And you'll just tell all of us, "F-- you!" So my response to that egotistical load of your b.s. Is this: I, for one, will never, ever ask for any sort of assistance from you. Sure, I might perish in this so-called "end-of-days," as many, many other people might, as well. So, no Tyler, F-- you man! Those sharing your fear, have said and will continue to say our prayers.

The editors of the show should be ashamed. This is in no way a documentation of what happened. It turns out half the drama contained in the show was completely fabricated by the editing team The cast (and I used the term cast because the people in the show were in no way represented accurately so this is more like acting than anything else) have come out and pointed out how horribly this was done in other to make them look like nut jobs. If you want to watch a silly drama filled show, this might be for you. But if you actually want to learn about intentional communities, there are far better resources on the internet than this show.

Wtf did I just watch? Why can't I stop watching? Oh bc it's junk food and junk food is addicting. I don't, for a second, believe a single solitary event or person in this FICTIONALIZED series is legit. This goes double for the girl with the lashes. Hon, we ALL know you took the first callback that came your way to get on TV and try to quit your day job to be a full time influencer.

This series makes me disgusted to be a millennial and have to be grouped in with these complete and utter morons. If you hate people who coin themselves "Tree," or - wait for it - "VIBE," this will be utter rage fuel. Idk what made me laugh harder - the girl who uses moon water to try and cure someone's severe back injury, or the Tree guy throwing a child-level temper tantrum over BeING aBLE tO PaRtY. This isn't a cult. This a group of privileged morons who think they are CHANGInG thE WoRLd by not taking a shower.

And don't even get me started on Narayah.