The trend towards desiring greater levels independence - and the autonomy, control and flexibility that comes with it - takes many forms.
Since we track the future of work, we spend most of our time researching the growth of independent work (freelancing, independent contracting, self-employment, etc.).
But there are other aspects to this trend. For example, the growing FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement is all about independence.
Another example is modern homesteading, which the Small Town Homesteading blog defines as:
Homesteading is a lifestyle of the pursuit of self-sufficiency and sustainability. It is often characterized by subsistence agriculture, livestock production, home preservation of foodstuffs, and it may or may not also involve other tasks such as; the small scale production of textiles, clothing, and craftwork for household use or sale.
Data on how many people are pursuing this lifestyle is non-existent. But according to the book The Modern Homesteader:
Dreams of self-sufficiency, independence, and tranquility continue to pull in a new generation of modern homesteaders.
We believe the movement is growing, although it continues to be small.
We also think that much like the digital nomad movement, most followers are "armchair homesteaders" who will never become real ones.
Instead, they will do things like raising chickens in their back yards or spinning yarn.
For those interested in modern homesteading, there are a number of events you can attend to learn more. We're going to try to go to the DIY Homesteader Festival, which is being held outside of Winnipeg, Canada this August.
We've never been to Winnipeg and figure if we're going to go, August is the month to do so.
Modern homesteading is an edge community that has formed, in large part, around the desire for greater independence. This makes it interesting to us.
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