Ohio hosts two major homesteading summits teaching lost self-reliance skills like food preservation and animal husbandry, signaling a national resurgence of traditional American values.
At a Glance
- Ohio hosts two key events: the Heritage Skills USA and Food Independence summits
- Attendees learn hands-on skills like chicken processing and syrup tapping
- Joel Salatin warns of generational loss of self-reliance abilities
- The movement revives traditional values of independence and resilience
- National interest in homesteading continues to grow across demographics
Ohio’s Back-to-Basics Revival
In barns, fields, and make-do classrooms across Ohio, Americans are rediscovering the foundational skills that once defined everyday life. Through the Heritage Skills USA Homesteading Summit and the Food Independence Summit, the state has quietly emerged as a national nucleus for self-sufficiency training.
These summits are drawing thousands—urban professionals, rural families, retirees, and millennials—seeking hands-on training in the forgotten arts: chicken gutting, maple syrup tapping, soil regeneration, and canning. What unites them is the desire to reclaim control over daily necessities once outsourced to global supply chains.
Watch a report: Homesteading Surge Hits the Heartland.
Reclaiming Heritage in Modern Times
Joel Salatin, a national figure in regenerative farming and keynote speaker at several such events, believes this movement fills a void left by decades of generational drift. “What we’re seeing is a revival of practical knowledge that was once passed down through families,” he noted at a recent panel. Salatin’s message is resonating with a public shaken by pandemic-era shortages, economic volatility, and a growing mistrust of centralized food systems.
Participants don’t just learn survivalist tricks—they’re reintroducing themselves to a lifestyle built on empowerment. From mastering fermentation to constructing makeshift root cellars, the education is equal parts practical and philosophical. These summits are less about living off-grid and more about regaining a sense of agency.
New Tools for a New Generation
Unlike their 19th-century counterparts, today’s homesteaders are blending old-school grit with new-world tools. Solar dehydrators, aquaponic systems, and online peer networks are extending the reach of what used to be isolated farm wisdom. Even apartment dwellers are jumping in, using grow lights for microgreens and YouTube tutorials to learn water-bath canning.
What sets Ohio apart is its accessibility. The state’s geography, affordability, and central location make it ideal for gatherings that bring together thought leaders and beginners alike. Organizers emphasize that participants don’t need sprawling land or prior experience—just curiosity and a willingness to learn.
A Quiet Revolution in the Making
The boom in homesteading is more than a nostalgic throwback; it’s a cultural shift. With global instability and economic uncertainty now regular headlines, the appeal of practical, community-rooted resilience has never been stronger. These summits offer more than technical instruction—they provide a roadmap for navigating a future where traditional knowledge may once again become essential.
As the country looks for stability in uncertain times, Ohio’s homesteading summits stand as blueprints for a self-sufficient society—one backyard, one mason jar, one tapped tree at a time.
