Man donates all his possessions to live life of non-ownership

By Ben Barry

A man gave away his home, all his possessions and every dollar in his bank account to live a life of "non-ownership."

Robin Greenfield, 38, set out to experiment with having nothing to his name, while walking 1,600 miles along the Pacific Coast from the US/Canada border to Los Angeles, California.

He wanted to prove ownership and money is a concept he can live without - and Robin is continuing to live his life "below the federal poverty threshold" and live with what he needs to meet basic needs.

When he reached LA, Robin gave away all his possessions to strangers and friends, including the clothes off his back and every dollar he had.

He then entered into a three-month experiment of non-ownership, having absolutely nothing to his name, and he sat naked in Griffith Park for five minutes until a kind stranger gave him a blanket.

Robin spent the next three months living in Griffith Park, relying on the kindness of strangers, going on foraging walks and speaking to people about his mission.

Robin, an environmental activist from Asheville, North Carolina, said: "Living simply and non-ownership have been core aspects of my life since I awoke in 2011 to the reality that the 'American dream' is the 'world’s nightmare'.

"Through living a life of consumeristic individuality designed around the ownership of countless possessions, I was wrapped in a web of exploitation, inequity, injustice and incredible destruction.

"Nearly every possession I had and every action I was taking was harming the Earth, my global neighbors and the plants and animals we share this home with.

"I decided to unravel the web of consumerism that was my life, taking my life back and living more harmoniously with life upon Earth."

In November 2019, Robin's journey to non-ownership truly began when he gave away his 10 ft by 10 ft tiny home.

In July 2024, Robin set off on a 1,600-mile "walk of gratitude" from along the Pacific Coast from the Canada/US border to Los Angeles.

Robin said: "The last home I had was the tiny home in Orlando, Florida, when I was growing and foraging 100% of my food. I gave away that tiny home in November 2019 when I left Florida.

"On January 26th, 2025, I sat naked in Griffith Park without a single physical possession or dollar to my name.

"I have no ID - no passport, driver's license, social security card or birth certificate - no keys, no car, no phone, no computer, no clothes.

"I have no bank account, no savings, no investments, no credit card, no credit, no insurance."

After seven months on the road - sleeping in a tent and foraging for food - Robin arrived at his destination on January 26, 2025.

Before he got there, he gave away all his belongings - including his home, clothes and dollars to his name to friends and strangers - entering into an experiment of non-ownership.

Robin said: "For three months, I lived in service to the community, practiced simple living, practiced compassionate communication, deepened my connection with earth and our plant and animal relatives.

"I practiced living in the present moment with mindfulness, deepened my wholeness and completeness within and shared my messages with those who find benefit and meaning in my experience and perspective."

Robin said many people labeled him as crazy, and "assumed" he lost his mind.

But insists he "refuses to have so much, while others have so little".

Robin said: "I refuse to meet my basic needs at the expense to others. I refuse to let my life be a burden upon life on Earth.

"In 2016, I simplified my life down to 111 possessions and in 2020, to just 44 possessions.

"I have everything I need. I am a whole and complete human being, just as I am."

Robin says ownership is not required to grow as a human being, and after doing his experiment, he's realised money and ownership are "just a concept".

He said: "Some say money makes the world go around. I've been watching, and I see no evidence of this.

"Money is a recent advent of humanity. We have lived without it for thousands upon thousands of years. The world was indeed going around then, and would continue to do so if we lost interest in this concept tomorrow.

"The reason that money works is because enough people believe it and choose to act upon this belief.

"Thus, I am fully confident that I can exist without money."