Page "Amos Bronson Alcott" Paragraph 21

Their goal was to regain access to Eden by finding the correct formula for perfect living, following specific rules governing agriculture, diet, and reproduction.

In order to achieve this, they removed themselves from the economy as much as possible and lived independently ; unlike a similar project named Brook Farm, the participants at Fruitlands avoided interaction with local communities.

Calling themselves a " consociate family ", they agreed to follow a strict vegetarian diet and to till the land without the use of animal labor.

After some difficulty, they relented and allowed some cattle to be " enslaved ".

They also banned coffee, tea, alcoholic drinks, milk, and warm bathwater.

They only ate " aspiring vegetables " — those which grew upward — and refused those that grew downward like potatoes.

As Alcott had published earlier, " Our wine is water, — flesh, bread ; — drugs, fruits.

" For clothing, they prohibited leather because animals were killed for it, as well as cotton, silk, and wool, because they were products of slave labor.

Alcott had high expectations but was often away when the community most needed him as he attempted to recruit more members.