Jefferson's Dream

In the 1930s, a former science fiction writer named Peter van Dresser presented an elaborate vision of a decentralized "garden civilization," complete with biodynamic agriculture, renewable energy, biobased plastics, and homes that were functioning organisms "rooted in a particular portion of the earth."

Although his civilization had striking similarities to present-day visions of a sustainable future, Van Dresser was describing a place he considered suitable for "modern Jeffersonians." It was a term that reflected a feeling that something important had been lost that needed to be restored.

What had been lost? Thomas Jefferson's dream of self-reliant farm families, rooted in rural communities, serving as good stewards of their land, and remaining a major force in the life of the nation.

The dream faded as America grew more urbanized and industrialized. But during the first 80 years of the 20th century, Peter van Dresser and fellow "Pioneers of Permanence" pushed back with ideas and projects that placed agrarian ideals in a more ecologically sound, technologically advanced context. As Jefferson's Dream makes clear, their work made them fascinating forerunners of today's sustainability advocates.