The concept of homesteading has evolved significantly in recent years, particularly as our world becomes increasingly digitized and interconnected. While seeking a simpler and more self-sufficient lifestyle, modern homesteaders have developed sophisticated information-seeking behaviors that blend traditional knowledge with contemporary digital resources.
Defining the Modern Homesteader
Today’s homesteader defies simple categorization. While traditionally associated with living off the land and striving for some degree of home production, particularly in food, the modern homesteader exists on a spectrum of involvement and commitment. Some fully embrace off-grid living, while others selectively incorporate self-sufficiency practices into their urban or suburban lives. What unites them is a common goal: achieving greater independence and sustainability in their daily lives.
The Digital Homesteader Community
Despite pursuing a simpler lifestyle, homesteaders have formed a vibrant information community in the digital space. The Internet has become their primary “information grounds,” where knowledge is sought, shared, debated, and refined. This online presence has transformed how homesteaders access and exchange information, creating a dynamic ecosystem of learning and collaboration.
Social media platforms play a crucial role in this information exchange. Facebook groups like “Homesteading and Survivalism,” with over 1.4 million members, serve as global forums for sharing experiences and knowledge. YouTube channels, such as Fouch Family Off-Grid, with their 161,000 followers and 23 million views, provide visual demonstrations of everything from building off-grid homes to creating bicycle-powered washing machines.
Information Seeking in the Digital Age
Research shows that most homesteaders turn to the Internet as their first resource for information. They utilize a variety of platforms, including social media, blogs, forums, and specialized websites. This online-first approach represents a significant shift from traditional information-seeking methods and reflects broader societal trends in how people access and share knowledge.
The homesteader community’s information behavior tends to be both need-driven and experimental. They often engage in active and passive information-seeking, testing new knowledge before fully adopting it. The credibility of information sources plays a crucial role in this process, with homesteaders carefully evaluating the reliability of their digital resources.
Libraries and Information Centers: Evolving to Meet New Needs
Traditional information centers are adapting to serve this changing landscape. Some public libraries have developed innovative programs that bridge the digital and physical worlds. For example, the High Point Public Library in North Carolina maintains a teaching garden, demonstrating various vegetable-growing techniques to their community. Other libraries have established seed libraries, allowing patrons to “check out” seeds and contribute to the collection after harvest.
The Pandemic Effect
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated interest in homesteading and self-sufficient living. Many urban dwellers, newly able to work remotely, have reconsidered their lifestyle choices. This shift represents an unprecedented reverse migration from cities to rural areas in American history, driven by a desire for simplicity, sustainability, and greater control over essential resources.
Looking Forward
The homesteading movement continues to grow, supported by increased access to information and strengthened by global events that highlight the value of self-sufficiency. As this community evolves, so too must the ways we understand and support their information needs. Information professionals and institutions must be prepared to meet homesteaders where they are—increasingly, in digital spaces—while maintaining valuable in-person resources and programs.
The future of homesteading will likely continue to blend traditional practices with modern technology, creating a unique synthesis of old and new knowledge. Understanding how this community seeks and uses information remains crucial for supporting their goals and facilitating their continued growth and success.
Bibliography
D’Arpa, Christine, Noah Lenstra, and Ellen Rubenstein. “Growing Food at and Through the Local Library: An Exploratory Study of an Emerging Role.” In Roles and Responsibilities of Libraries in Increasing Consumer Health Literacy and Reducing Health Disparities, edited by Beth St. Jean, Gagan Jindal, Yuting Liao, and Paul T. Jaeger, 41-59. Bingley: Emerald Publishing Limited, 2020.
Fisher, Karen E., Joan C. Durrance, and Marian B. Hinton. “Information Grounds and the Use of Need-Based Services by Immigrants in Queens, New York: A Context-Based, Outcome Evaluation Approach.” Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology 55, no. 8 (2004): 754-766.
Ford, Allison. “The Self-Sufficient Citizen: Ecological Habitus and Changing Environmental Practices.” Sociological Perspectives 62, no. 5 (2019): 627-645.
Fouch Family Off-Grid. “Home.” YouTube video channel. Published July 27, 2014. https://www.youtube.com/c/FouchomaticOffGrid/featured.
Heinz Housel, Teresa. “Solar Panels, Shovels and the Net: Selective Uses of Technology in the Homesteading Movement.” Information, Communication & Society 9, no. 2 (2006): 182-201.
High Point Public Library. “High Point Public Library Teaching Garden.” Published April 25, 2021. https://www.highpointnc.gov/2398/High-Point-Public-Library-Teaching-Garden.
“Homesteading / Survivalism.” Facebook Group. Accessed April 25, 2021. https://www.facebook.com/homesteading.
Kelly, Heather, and Rachel Lerman. “The Pandemic Is Making People Reconsider City Living, Trading Traffic for Chickens.” Washington Post, June 1, 2020.
Kopiyawattage, K.P.P., Laura A. Warner, and T. Grady Roberts. “Information Needs and Information-Seeking Behaviors of Urban Food Producers: Implications for Urban Extension Programs.” Journal of Agricultural Education 59, no. 3 (2018): 229-242.
Merrick, Helen. “Promoting Sustainability and Simple Living Online and Off-line: An Australian Case Study.” First Monday 17, no. 12 (2012). https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v17i12.4234.
Peekhaus, Wilhelm. “Seed Libraries: Sowing the Seeds for Community and Public Library Resilience.” The Library Quarterly 88, no. 3 (2018): 271-285.
This blog post summarizes a much more detailed research project I completed in Spring of 2021: “Homesteader’s Information Needs and Behaviors” during my graduate studies at San Jose State University. I used the LLM Claude 3.5 Sonnet to prepare this post based on my former research, adding my final edits before publishing.
The featured image for this post was generated by the WordPress AI Assistant from the key phrase “Modern homesteaders information needs in a digital age.”
Aaron Tassin, MLIS 