Today only three people remain at Breitenbush from the time of the schism, including Phil and Rebecca. Alex and Peter left in the early 1990s. Peter says he wanted to avoid 'founder's syndrome,' where those who start an organization wind up with too dominant a role. I think it's important for people to move on and do things in this great wide world. The community's experience has some resonance with the ancient forests surrounding Breitenbush, where downed old growth trees become 'nurse logs' for the next generation.
New trees growing out of the vital humus of old ones are a common sight in ancient forests.
And the work of the many people who participated in Breitenbush through its history has built the soil in which the community now grows. Some people had really hard feelings, feeling they deserved more. We have it a lot easier now. We actually can make money and pay our car insurance. The newer people came into this great equity situation that we created.