2007年VOA标准英语-Collectively Working For Change

By Yi Suli
Washington
30 May 2007
 

Nestled in the mountains of the eastern state of West Virginia is an unusual farm. Here, two-dozen people live together at the Zendik Farm, a commune where everything is shared, from work to property. To make ends meet, the group sells merchandise emblazoned with a catchy¹ slogan that inspires individuals to take action for change. It's not an easy life, but as VOA's Yi Suli recently discovered they seem to love their work. Jim Bertel narrates².

"My name is Kaila,” begins a telephone call. ”I'm calling from Zendik Arts, where some 20 artists live and work together in West Virginia. We have an organic farm and dance company and we want to take over the world."

Zendik Farm, a commune in West Virginia, is home to Kaila and others who have taken fanciful names and changed their way of life.  They have given up most of their personal property to pursue their love of arts and collectively run the farm.

"This is the kitchen, the main kitchen,” explains another commune member, Arol. “And it was a garage. We redid it. About 24 or 25 can eat at these tables."

Arol, 68, became the leader of the farm after her partner Wulf, the founder³ of the farm, died.  They started the farm at the height of the Hippie culture in 1969.

"We wanted to survive without government help, without getting regular jobs. We wanted to see,” says Arol.

Since then, Zendik Farm has moved from California to Texas, Florida, and North Carolina.  Today, it occupies 80 hectares in Marlington, West Virginia.

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Rev

Rev has his studio on the farm and has lived there for 8 years, interpreting isolation⁵ and loneliness with his artwork. "I would be pleased if there was another place as excited about helping⁶ people grow as artists as Zendik Farm is. But I don't know where it is."

"We have kept with the idea of creative survival through art,” explains Arol, “and through the art, reflecting what we believe in."

Shio is from Florida. She chose to live on the farm over a full scholarship for college. "I enjoy all those things very much. Learning is fun to me. But I can learn all of that here, from people that live here. From books and the Internet. But as far as going to school, that was torture."

Erim, son of an economic professor, grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia.  "I was very unhappy,” he says. “The people I was hanging out with were going (in) the wrong direction. And my life was headed that way too."

Fawn⁷ is the daughter of Arol and Wulf.   Even though Fawn had the opportunity to compete for a scholarship with the New York City Ballet, she stayed on the farm where she feels she belongs, dancing, taking care of the horses, cows and goats, a life that can be hard at times.

"We live a pretty vigorous life. Our survival is…Physically we work very hard, very long hours," she says.

The commune members pay the bills by selling merchandise adorned⁸ with a catchy slogan calling on people to take personal responsibility to bring about change.

"It just means that we need to stop complaining,” says Fawn. “Stop saying the same thing over and over again. And we have to start to take action."

Between selling merchandise and doing chores, life on the Zendik Farm can be hard. But as one member says, life is hard. "It is whether you enjoy it or not that makes the difference.”

1 catchy   

adj.易记住的，诡诈的，易使人上当的

参考例句：

• We need a new slogan.The old one's not catchy enough.我们需要新的口号，旧的不够吸引人。
• The chorus is very catchy to say the least.副歌部分很容易上口。

2 narrates   

v.故事( narrate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• It narrates the unconstitutional acts of James II. 它历数了詹姆斯二世的违法行为。 来自辞典例句
• Chapter three narrates the economy activity which Jew return the Occident. 第三章讲述了犹太人重返西欧后的经济活动。 来自互联网

3 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

4 rev   

v.发动机旋转，加快速度

参考例句：

• It's his job to rev up the audience before the show starts.他要负责在表演开始前鼓动观众的热情。
• Don't rev the engine so hard.别让发动机转得太快。

5 isolation   

n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离

参考例句：

• The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。
• He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后，生活比较孤寂。

6 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

7 fawn   

n.未满周岁的小鹿；v.巴结，奉承

参考例句：

• A fawn behind the tree looked at us curiously.树后面一只小鹿好奇地看着我们。
• He said you fawn on the manager in order to get a promotion.他说你为了获得提拔，拍经理的马屁。

8 adorned   

[计]被修饰的

参考例句：

• The walls were adorned with paintings. 墙上装饰了绘画。
• And his coat was adorned with a flamboyant bunch of flowers. 他的外套上面装饰着一束艳丽刺目的鲜花。