Homesteading Symposium 2025

Discuss everything from practical off-grid living to the broader ways we can detach ourselves from the mainstream and build parallel systems that are local, resilient, and wholesome.

Together, we’ll explore how to get out of the mainstream webs, rethinking economics, rebuilding culture, and reclaiming education, entertainment, and industry from the global forces that want to control our attention and resources.

In some ways, “Homesteading” is a mindset, one that is the cornerstone of American freedom. Let’s build networks of independent and interdependent households and communities.

You may be interested in this symposium if you:

• Value resilience, simplicity, growing your own food, off-grid life, preparedness.
• Don’t fully trust giant pharmaceutical and agricultural companies to keep you healthy.
• Desire to build durable friendships with people who share your values.
• Desire to understand the forces that control your basic daily activities.

Speakers will include farmers/homesteaders, off-grid practitioners, homeschoolers, and other folks who are developing legal and wholesome ways to build a more local and resilient culture.

What to Expect

• Hear and share what works for all types of Cultural Visionaries as they pursue a new path for their families and communities.
• Ways to go Off-grid. Stories from folks who have “unplugged”
• Build self-sufficiency and community.
• Mistakes to avoid for the new homesteader.
• The Homestead Heritage of American Liberty.
• Experienced Homesteaders leading lectures and workshops.
• Connections and Networking with New friends and battle-scarred veterans
• Family Dance

Schedule

Full Schedule TBA

Thursday, January — Arrival (Overnight Guests)

• Evening: Meet & Greet, Supper, Share Stories

Friday, January  — Conference

• 8:00 – 9:00 AM Restaurant open for breakfast
• 9:00 – 9:30 AM Pioneers and Parallel Projects with Paul McNiel
• 9:45 – 10:45 PM Layering businesses (AirBnB, etc) with Michael Manley, 
• 10:55 AM – 12:00 PM Homesteading Realities and Strategies in Mountain West Joel Boniek
• 12:00 – 1:00 Restaurant open for lunch 
• 1:30-2:00 Growing up on the Homestead, Lotte Manley
• 2:00 – 3:30 Jonathan Heslep (Trauma 1st Aid, Certificate)
• 3:45-5:00 Homestead/Off-Grid Transportation with Michael Wixom 
• 5:15-5:45 Micro Debates
• 6:00 PM Restaurant open for supper
• Evening: Jam, Board Games, Chats at the Restaurant, Library, and around the campfire

Saturday, April 13 — Conference

• 8:00 – 9:00 AM Restaurant open for breakfast
• 9:15 – 10:15 AM Old Ideas, New Horizons & the Question of Technology: Discussion/Debate
• 10:30 – 11:15 AM Jonathan Heslep Fire Prevention
• 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM Self-Sufficiency in the Wilderness with Joel Boniek
• 12:00 – 1:00 PM Restaurant open for lunch
• 1:15 – 2:30 PM Homesteading Systems: Efficiency (Realities and Hacks of Solar, 
• 2:45-3:30 Prepping Basics: What is best to Stockpile
• 3:45-4:30 Blackout Preparing for grid failure, EMP, etc.
• 4:45-5:45 Community Networking: Communication, Gathering, Interdependence
• 6:00 PM Restaurant open for supper
• Evening: Contra Dance at the Restaurant (2nd Floor)

Sunday, April 14 — (For those still around)

• 8:00 – 9:30 AM Restaurant open for breakfast
• 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM Music, Scripture & Prayer in Restaurant and Lodge
• 12:15-1:30 PM Restaurant open for lunch buffet
• 1:30-5:00 PM Connect, share info, jam