Dan Seiffert SVP, Accounting | realtors.com
The phenomenon of “trad men” on social media platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram is drawing significant attention. These individuals embrace traditional masculine stereotypes by living off the land and promoting a self-sufficient lifestyle.
Motivated by a desire to escape societal norms, grow their own food, and live without modern conveniences, these homesteaders often share libertarian ideals of freedom and deregulation. This movement appeals to many men seeking to reconnect with their masculinity.
Sociologist Jordan Travis Radke commented to the New York Times: “The modern homesteading movement’s big idea is that, rather than trying to change the world collectively and publicly, people are trying to reshape their private sphere—their worlds, their homes, their own tiny network.” He added that these individuals want others to see their lifestyle changes in hopes of inspiring them.
Several top off-grid accounts have amassed millions of followers. Ironically, some “trad men” fund their lifestyles through social media sponsorships.
Here are six notable accounts within this community:
1. **Nate Petroski**
Petroski lives in rural West Virginia with his wife Jen. He runs a coffee company and a beard oil company while also working as a beard model. Petroski expressed interest in eventually running a homesteading school.
2. **The Infinite Cup**
Robert Breton transitioned from being a supermarket cashier to living in a tree house in a Hawaiian rainforest. He sustains himself with filtered rainwater and home-grown food. Breton aims to help people “escape the matrix” by reconnecting with nature.
3. **Off Grid Sean**
Sean Rogers began his homesteading journey in 2021 with then-girlfriend Jes. His geodesic dome home lacks climate control, posing challenges during summer heatwaves. Recently, he has been documenting the search for his missing dog.
4. **7 Kin Homestead**
Jason Rutland and his wife Cari raise five children off the grid in rural Canada. They have authored a book on homesteading and frequently share insights through TikTok videos.
5. **Justin Rhodes**
Rhodes offers guides on starting an off-grid lifestyle and demonstrates using animals for farming tasks such as soil tilling and crop fertilization through mobile pens for pigs and chickens.
6. **Will Survives**
Will Uhlhorn built a cabin on federal land in Oregon but relocated to New Mexico after facing legal challenges. He continues pushing boundaries by planning to live off the land despite lacking gardening or hunting experience.
These accounts provide diverse perspectives on living sustainably while showcasing different aspects of off-the-grid life.
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