What do you think?
Rate this book
Gridlessness: Finding Freedom Off-Grid
The target was simple.
Leave the city. Move up north. Buy land for cash. Build without debt. And raise a family in the wild -- hunting, fishing and raising crops and animals without the tethers of societal norms.
Jeff, Rose and their five girls did exactly that. Almost.
From the frigid grasp of a winter night's death trap, past the untamed majesty of unpredictable mountain plateaus, and into the squalor of an infested hovel, the path proved to be winding, punishing, and more magical than they imagined.
Join their journey into the Canadian forest where they carve out a wildly abundant life of self-sufficiency and freedom.
A cross between Dick Proenneke's 'One Man's Wilderness' and Thoreau's 'Walden' with a side of 'Beverly Hillbillies'. If you love outdoor adventure, want to take back control of your life, and don't mind a good laugh, this book is for you!
Leave the city. Move up north. Buy land for cash. Build without debt. And raise a family in the wild -- hunting, fishing and raising crops and animals without the tethers of societal norms.
Jeff, Rose and their five girls did exactly that. Almost.
From the frigid grasp of a winter night's death trap, past the untamed majesty of unpredictable mountain plateaus, and into the squalor of an infested hovel, the path proved to be winding, punishing, and more magical than they imagined.
Join their journey into the Canadian forest where they carve out a wildly abundant life of self-sufficiency and freedom.
A cross between Dick Proenneke's 'One Man's Wilderness' and Thoreau's 'Walden' with a side of 'Beverly Hillbillies'. If you love outdoor adventure, want to take back control of your life, and don't mind a good laugh, this book is for you!
365 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 9, 2025
5 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 3, 2026
Gridlessness by Jeff Burkinshaw completely rearranged my daydreams. Halfway through, I was ready to sell everything I own, move somewhere wildly remote, and learn how to split firewood like my life depended on it.
This memoir follows Jeff and his family over many years as they attempt to live off-grid in Northern Canada and it’s not a romanticized version of homesteading. It’s raw, exhausting, beautiful, and deeply honest. Between failed attempts, harsh winters, land that doesn’t cooperate, and the constant recalibration of what “enough” really means, Burkinshaw shows just how much grit, patience, and humility it takes to live close to the land.
What I loved most was the balance: the ruggedness alongside the tenderness. The awe of wild places paired with the reality of raising five daughters in environments that don’t care about your plans. It made me think hard about modern convenience, resilience, and what we give up and gain when we choose a simpler, more intentional life.
This book didn’t just make me want to live off-grid… it made me want to live more deliberately.
This memoir follows Jeff and his family over many years as they attempt to live off-grid in Northern Canada and it’s not a romanticized version of homesteading. It’s raw, exhausting, beautiful, and deeply honest. Between failed attempts, harsh winters, land that doesn’t cooperate, and the constant recalibration of what “enough” really means, Burkinshaw shows just how much grit, patience, and humility it takes to live close to the land.
What I loved most was the balance: the ruggedness alongside the tenderness. The awe of wild places paired with the reality of raising five daughters in environments that don’t care about your plans. It made me think hard about modern convenience, resilience, and what we give up and gain when we choose a simpler, more intentional life.
This book didn’t just make me want to live off-grid… it made me want to live more deliberately.
November 13, 2025
Have followed Jeff, Rose and their amazing daughters for many years. This book is a memory book. It tells some of their stories of carving out homesteads and being self sufficient. It has everything I like in books. A quick 5 star read!
November 10, 2025
Awesomness
This is so entertaining and richly written! A book for anyone with family!😍💕💕💕 Amazing adventure and great fun! Hope to see.more from the author!💕
This is so entertaining and richly written! A book for anyone with family!😍💕💕💕 Amazing adventure and great fun! Hope to see.more from the author!💕
Read
November 21, 2025This was a wonderful life story (to date). Laughed, teared up and really enjoyed the book
March 13, 2026
Fun read! Love the adventures.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews