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====== Off-Grid Lifestyles ======

This page describes a variety of [[off-grid_lifestyles|off-grid lifestyles]]. Each description aims to help you consider the different ways people choose to live away from conventional systems. While the bulk of the course focuses on [[homesteading]], here you’ll find a wide array of alternative lifestyles.

===== Learning Objectives =====

Identify and describe 15 distinct lifestyles often perceived as off-grid.

Understand the skills and resources required for each lifestyle.

Recognize how some lifestyles are perceived by society.

===== Course Content =====

=== [[self-sufficient_homesteading|Self-Sufficient Homesteading]] ===
Living on land and producing most of what you need. Homesteaders focus on growing food, raising livestock, and using sustainable practices to be as independent as possible from external resources. Skills include [[gardening]], [[animal_husbandry]], food preservation, and renewable energy use.

=== [[commercial_farming|Commercial Farming]] ===
Large-scale production of crops and livestock for sale and profit. Involves modern technology, machinery, and scientific methods to maximize yield. Characterized by extensive use of fertilizers, pesticides, and significant capital investment.

=== [[urban_homelessness|Urban Homelessness]] ===
Living without permanent housing in urban areas, including on the streets or in shelters. Contributing factors include economic hardship, lack of affordable housing, mental health issues, and substance abuse.

=== [[wilderness_survival|Wilderness Survival]] ===
Living in and navigating natural environments with minimal resources. Requires shelter-building, water purification, foraging, and safety skills. Practiced as a hobby or in emergencies.

=== [[wilderness_nomadic|Wilderness or Rural Nomadic]] ===
Frequent movement across rural or wilderness areas, often living off the land and working temporary jobs. Involves traditional survival skills and a deep connection to nature.

=== [[vanlife|Vanlife]] ===
Living and traveling in a converted van or vehicle. Focuses on mobility, minimalism, and community. Vanlifers often have jobs, buy resources locally, and maintain their vehicles legally.

=== [[travellers|New Age, Romany, Irish & Other Travellers]] ===
Nomadic groups with cultural or spiritual motivations. Includes [[new_age_travellers]], [[romany_travellers]], and [[irish_travellers]]. Common jobs: traveling circuses, mediumship, scrap metal collection.

=== [[digital_nomad|Digital Nomad]] ===
Working remotely while traveling, often in IT, writing, design, or marketing. Digital nomads live internationally, moving between hotels or paid accommodations.

=== [[overland_backpacking|Overland Backpacking]] ===
Traveling long distances overland, usually on foot or public transport, carrying all gear. Emphasizes low-cost, immersive experiences and cultural exchange.

=== [[army_logistics|Army Logistics]] ===
Planning and executing the movement and maintenance of military forces. Involves procurement, storage, transportation, and adaptability to changing battlefield conditions.

=== [[prepping|Prepping]] ===
Preparing for emergencies or disasters by stockpiling essentials and developing survival skills. Preppers aim for self-reliance and readiness for various scenarios, sometimes practicing caching while living a normal life until disaster strikes.

=== [[wwoofing|WWOOFing]] ===
Volunteering on organic farms in exchange for food, accommodation, and agricultural education. WWOOFers gain hands-on experience and contribute to the global organic movement. See WWOOF International.

=== [[intentional_communities|Intentional Communities]] ===
Planned residential communities with shared values and cooperative living. Includes [[ecovillages]], [[co-housing]], and spiritual communities, focusing on sustainability and collective decision-making.

=== [[yachting|Yachting]] ===
Living and traveling by yacht, often internationally. Requires navigation, boat maintenance, and supply management skills. Appeals to those seeking adventure and a nomadic existence at sea.

=== [[narrowboating|Narrowboating]] ===
Living on and traveling through UK canals and rivers in a narrowboat. Offers a slow-paced, community-oriented, and eco-friendly lifestyle. Skills needed: navigation, boat maintenance, and understanding canal systems.

===== Conclusion =====

This page covered 15 different [[off-grid_lifestyles|off-grid lifestyles]], introducing the skills and types of work each requires. If you are considering an off-grid lifestyle, this overview provides insight into the variety available, including those sometimes perceived negatively, such as [[urban_homelessness]].

===== Sources and Further Reading =====

WWOOF International

Homesteading Wiki

Digital Nomad Guide

[[off-grid_lifestyles|See all off-grid lifestyles]]

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