The mission of the BTL project is to document the memories and experiences of young entrepreneurs, who came to the Appalachian states (notably West Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Tennessee) from urban areas around the United States, to “re-create” themselves as rural people.

During the late 1960s and early 1970s, hundreds of young people -- often disillusioned with some aspect of their urban or suburban lives -- tried to rediscover themselves by going as far into the mountains of Appalachia as they were able. Hundreds of these young people came to our neck of the woods, paid a relatively small amount of cash for land that was far from any paved road, and worked to set themselves up with a more harmonious life in a state of nature.

Today, many of these young people are in their 50s and 60s. Their stories are many and varied – with varying degrees of success. Hundreds of these young people returned to the cities. Others stayed and continue to live productive lives in their new rural communities, with successful enterprises and strong relationships among their rural neighbors.

THE PROJECT

In an attempt to learn something from the “social experiment,” conducted by the young pioneers of the ’60s and ’70s, we are collecting videotaped testimony from them — as well as from their Appalachian neighbors. We’re working to put together a historical video archive and documentary (and, quite possibly, a book) about this rare group of Americans and the uncommon times in which they lived. We are collecting people’s home movies and family photos. We invite them toward introspection, examining the “pluses and minuses” of their lives and changing times.

If you have something to contribute toward this worthwhile project, we ask that you contact us. We would love to hear from you. View our trailer, made from our initial interviews in West Virginia. If you like what you see, and if you are able, we hope you will contribute and/or share something of your own story and resources. We’re looking for film, stories and (of course) “green energy.” ($$)