“Womyn’s lands, established in the 1960s as lesbian utopias, have failed to attract a new generation of members. Should they be saved?”
Huntington Open Women's Land, an intentional living community birthed in the late 1980s, once bustled with women living on its land and visiting on activity weekends. Today, its future, and that of womyn’s lands across the country, is uncertain. The surviving members of HOWL are determined to draw in young blood and revitalize the grounds and community.
for The New York Times, August 2019
Cindy Feltch. 64, of Jericho, Vt., dives into the river at Huntington Gorge about 20 minutes' drive from HOWL in Huntington, Vt., Friday, August 16, 2019. HOWL is an acronym for Huntington Open Women's Land, an intentional living community birthed in the late 1980s. Feltch has been involved with HOWL for over ten years and serves on the collective that guides it.
Meg Mass, 47, is one of the two caretakers at HOWL in Huntington, Vt., standing for a portrait on Thursday, August 15, 2019. Mass moved to Vermont from Chicago, where she taught horticulture and worked in food justice, helping feed under-served communities through urban farming.
Lani Ravin, 60, of Burlington, Vt., stands for a portrait at HOWL. Ravin has been part of the HOWL collective since 2010 and currently serves as its treasurer. She regularly visits HOWL, spending time on the land about twice a month.
Caretaker Robin Baldwin, 63, stands for a portrait at HOWL. Baldwin has been a resident at HOWL for six months, but also previously lived on the land between 2014 and 2016.
Cindy Feltch, 64, at HOWL.
Photo albums recall busier times at HOWL, photographed at the HOWL farmhouse in Huntington, Vt., Saturday, August 17, 2019.
A structure fallen into disuse at HOWL.
Caretakers Robin Baldwin, 63, center, and Meg Mass, 47, laugh as Cindy Feltch, 64, of Jericho, Vt., raises her arms in victory after stacking much of the firewood at HOWL in Huntington, Vt., Friday, August 16, 2019.
Campers set up for the night at HOWL in Huntington, Vt., Thursday, August 15, 2019. HOWL has recently seen an upsurge of camper visits through the use of Hipcamp, a website akin to AirBnB for campsites.
HOWL caretaker Robin Baldwin, 63, stacks firewood at HOWL in Huntington, Vt., Friday, August 16, 2019.
Middlebury Pratt, 59, of Williston, Vt., chews a piece of grass, touring HOWL land in Huntington, Vt., Friday, August 16, 2019.
Women swim at Huntington Gorge about 20 minutes' drive from HOWL in Huntington, Vt., Friday, August 16, 2019.
Women hang out enjoying the view at HOWL. Cyndi Feltch, a HOWL board member, extols Mercedes Mack, a visitor to the the HOWL lands, to join the ranks of HOWL.