Brianne and Julius Bailey standing outside their custom-built off-grid homestead with their young son.
Most three-year-olds spend their afternoons bouncing between plastic toys and glowing screens. For Brianne and Julius Bailey’s son, a typical Tuesday involves foraging for wild plants and wandering barefoot through the woods.
The Bailey family exploring the wooded property around their off-grid homestead.
The couple recently captivated TikTok viewers by sharing glimpses of their son’s childhood unfolding outside the home they built with their own hands. However, they insist their remote lifestyle is not an attempt to escape modern society.
A closer look at the family enjoying an afternoon walk through the trees.
Instead, Brianne and Julius are deliberately designing a highly intentional environment for their family. They prioritize nature, hands-on experiences, and deep family connections over conventional convenience.
Nature as the Ultimate Classroom
A typical morning starts with family bonding and daily devotionals before shifting entirely outdoors. The woods surrounding their home serve as a massive, interactive classroom.
“A typical day for our toddler involves a lot of hands-on learning and freedom to explore the world and grow personally,” the couple shared.
The Bailey’s young son engaging with the natural environment just outside their door.
Spontaneous outdoor games seamlessly transition into practical lessons in biology, botany, and zoology. The Baileys believe this nature-based curriculum provides an education that vastly outpaces standard schooling.
“It will allow him to reach his potential in a more self-directed way,” they explained. “We believe this will lay the foundation for his independence in adulthood.”
Technology on Their Own Terms
A major misconception about off-grid living is that it requires total isolation and a complete rejection of modern comforts. The Baileys quickly point out that they are not anti-technology.
Instead, they simply dictate when and how tech enters their home. Rather than being chained to an iPad or a smartphone screen, their son spends the vast majority of his day outside.
“Our lifestyle doesn’t bother us,” they said, noting that managing a homestead requires intensive physical labor, but the payoff is absolute freedom.
Faith, Family, and Independence
The couple balances parenting with running a business, maintaining their property, and creating digital content. Yet, they enforce strict boundaries to protect their family time.
Every Saturday is reserved as a day of strict Sabbath rest, devoid of any business obligations or farm work. Faith heavily dictates their routine, from celebrating biblical holidays to prioritizing time with grandparents and cousins.
“Yahuah (God) is the guiding light of our lives and central to everything we do,” they noted, adding that while off-grid living isn’t a requirement for faith, they feel a distinct calling to this path.
As their son grows, Brianne and Julius hope he maintains his fierce curiosity. While they acknowledge his eventual path in life will be his own choice, the couple has no plans to ever return to the mainstream grid.
“We own our home, land, and a well,” they stated. “Why would we give all that up to become more dependent on someone else again? We are off the grid forever.”
