Truth seeker, activist, social reformer and servant
to Earth, humanity and our plant and animal relatives.
to Earth, humanity and our plant and animal relatives.
Robin lives simply and sustainably as a means of active resistance to oppressive, exploitative systems. His life is an experiment with truth and integrity – dedicated to liberation and equal rights for all – Earth, humans and the plants and animals we share this home with.
"The Robin Hood of Modern Times"
"The Forrest Gump of Ecology"
"The best kind of crazy"
"Different"
"The Trash Man Who Protects the Planet"
"World’s Foremost Dumpster Diver"
"A Modern Day Adventurer"
"The English language may need a new noun to define Robin Greenfield"
"Greener than Green"
"The Man Who Defies Supermarkets"
Living Simply and Sustainably
At the heart of Robin’s action-based philosophy is his dedication to living simply and sustainably as a means of resistance to systems of oppression and exploitation. Through living closely connected to and in harmony with Earth, he is on a path of personal liberation. Through living simply, he rejects the societal standards of consumerism that contribute to great inequity and injustice. Through years of self-work to overcome materialism, he downsized to owning just 111 possessions in 2016 and then simplified further to 44 possessions in 2020. Here, Robin sits in front of the tiny house he built from secondhand materials where he grew and foraged 100% of his food for a year.
An Experiment with Truth and Integrity
First and foremost, Robin’s life is an experiment with truth and integrity. In 2011, he realized the “American Dream” he was pursuing is the world’s nightmare. He let go of his dream of being a millionaire and immediately began his transformation to live in harmony with Earth, humanity and our plant and animal relatives. At the age of 25, he got a vasectomy as a commitment to embracing humanity as his family and Earth as the shared family home. He has no bank account, credit card, life savings, car, cellphone or insurance and, since 2022, has had no form of government ID. He has been living this experiment for over a decade.
Activist and Social Reformer
Robin’s public activism involves dramatic gestures designed to reach the mainstream and to provoke critical thought, self-reflection and positive change. His activism creates nuanced conversations on the critical issues of our time, with a focus on solutions for living in harmony. Thousands have made positive changes in their lives influenced by Robin’s activism. His work has been covered by media worldwide and he has been dubbed “The Robin Hood of Modern Times” by France 2 TV. Robin’s life is his message. Through his daily choices, he strives to influence his fellow humanity to be the change they wish to see in the world.
Servant to Earth, Humanity, Plants and Animals
Robin has committed to a set of lifetime vows – to earn below the federal poverty threshold, to resist federal taxes and to keep his net worth and possessions to a minimum. He donates 100% of his media earnings to grassroots nonprofits, with a focus on supporting Black and Indigenous women-led organizations that contribute to healing Earth and humanity, while serving the communities most affected by the dominator society. Through Community Fruit Trees, Free Seed Project and Gardens for the People, he has planted 2,000 fruit trees and provided seeds to over 40,000 citizens with low access to healthful foods.
Liberation from the Dominator Culture
Robin recognizes that being born into this world as a US American, a white man and with many other privileges, he is also the oppressor and the exploiter. His first act as a servant is to liberate himself as the dominator. He has done extensive work in this manner through deep listening, self-reflection, Compassionate Communication, Vipassana meditation and the practice of mindfulness and presence. From a place of love and compassion, Robin’s daily focus is on the liberation of Earth, humanity and our plant and animal relatives, especially those most oppressed by the dominator culture.
Community and Diversity at the Center
What Robin is dedicated to is simple – liberation and basic rights for all – Earth, humanity and our plant and animal relatives. He believes that community, diversity and biodiversity are central to all true solutions for a harmonious existence as humanity and he keeps these at the center of his service to humanity and his life choices. In a time when many feel disempowered, Robin chooses to live in gratitude and celebration of life. What keeps him going is his belief that our actions do matter and that as individuals and communities we have the power to liberate ourselves and contribute to the well-being of our communities.
Non-attachment and Impermanence
In a time when inequality and destruction is at an all-time high, Robin has committed to living simply so that others may simply live. Although he has dedicated his life to being in service, he has equally embraced a path of non-attachment and impermanence. His belief is that it is humanity’s attachments, as well as the delusions of permanence and separation, that are driving us toward potential extinction. Robin has designed his existence around impermanence – while living a deeply purposeful and joyful life – and hopes to return to the soil when he eventually dies, completing the cycle of life with integrity.