Back to the Land will introduce students to the back-to- the-land movement of the 1960s and 70s as well as the more recent revival in homesteading. This course will cover the history of modern homesteading ranging from the counterculture’s back-to-the-land movement to the present day and will present a critical, comparative analysis of these two periods. We will also explore the attitudes toward and reasons for homesteading and independent living as well as some homesteading skills. Specific topics will include: the varied perceptions of homesteading in the 20th and 21st century, the changing makeup of homesteaders, financial responsibility, self- sufficiency, and legal and regulatory concerns. Some semesters students will meet local homesteaders from both new and older generations who will visit class. There will also be some “life lessons” presented that should help first year students in college and beyond. Instruction will be conducted through a combination of class discussions, brief films, academic, popular, and classic readings, and a library-based research assignment.
