🍓 An Idaho town owned entirely by Off-Gridders?! 🍎

IDAHO— A group of dedicated off-grid advocates is working to establish Idaho’s first entirely off-grid, resident-owned, self-reliant town. Unlike conventional land development projects, this initiative is not driven by corporate interests but by three men who have personally invested their time, energy, and financial resources into making self-reliant communities a reality.

Philip Gleason, Larry Jones, and Jesse Fisher have spent the past five years developing Operation Self-Reliance (OSR)—a mission to create five self-sufficient, off-grid communities spanning from Arizona to Canada. Their first town, Riverbed Ranch in Utah, is already home to more than 140 full-time residents who are working toward producing their own food, water, and power. Their second project, Coslor Cove in Arizona, is accepting members but is still in discussions with county officials regarding zoning.

Now, these off-grid pioneers are turning their attention to Idaho. However, as they approach their mid-60s and 70s, they are looking for younger individuals and families to help carry the initiative forward. The goal is to establish the Idaho OSR Land Co-op, which will move forward once a dozen committed members sign on. Once that milestone is reached, organizers will secure land, work with zoning officials, and begin building.

"We frequently hear from solo homesteaders who wish they had a like-minded community around them," said Jesse Fisher, Staff Writer for the Academy of Self-Reliance. "Many off-grid families struggle with isolation, especially wives and daughters who feel cut off from social connections. OSR merges the best of both worlds—independent homesteads within a supportive, tight-knit community."

To help educate prospective members, OSR also offers a homestead design training course through its affiliated educational non-profit, equipping future residents with the knowledge to thrive off the grid.

Join the Movement – Zoom Info Session

Those interested in learning more about this pioneering effort are invited to join an upcoming "Thinking of Homesteading?" Zoom call on Tuesday night, February 4th. The call will provide an overview of the initiative, current progress, and how interested individuals can get involved.

About Operation Self-Reliance

Operation Self-Reliance (OSR) is a cooperative initiative dedicated to establishing sustainable, off-grid communities where residents produce their own life-sustaining food, water and power. OSR combines modern technology with the spirit of 1800s farm towns to create a new model of self-reliant living.