A friend of mine directed this episode of MTV's "True Life" titled 'I'm living off the grid'. It chronicles two 25-year olds who attempt to live off the land for a year with very few modern-day amenities. Watch the video below and think about which aspects of "living off the grid" we can apply to our society.
It seems that people who go to the camp see it more as a spiritual experience than a feasible way to live every day life. For most people even going to the camp, taking a year off and paying about $8000 for the privilege to live "off the grid" would be impossible, but I truly respect the way participants treat animals that they eat. The disconnect in the modern food system between animals and cellophane-wrapped meat makes it difficult to appreciate that an animal gave its life so you can keep on living. I try to get this connection with the animal by buying directly from the farmer who raised it. Beyond that maybe a hunting trip will be in order at some point. I'm a strong supporter of freedom for all animals. I can't imagine a freer system than living directly in the predator-prey environment that is part of the animal kingdom: a kingdom of which humans sometimes fail to admit we are members.