Thanks for a very honest and comprehensive discussion about offgrid life. We were always drawn to the idea, but living in South Africa, our career choices, and 3 children meant we never made the move. Watching from the outside, we can see how hard it can be, but I still believe that the freedom you have to choose when and how to do that work is immeasurably better than being imprisoned in the hamster wheel existence that is the lot of the majority of the world's population. You have thrown off the yoke of bosses, social demands, and the burden of debt. Your life is hard, but it is your own.👍👍❤️
It is a really interesting debate and we have asked people that have been here for over a decade and they tend to give the 3 most important reasons people leave are 1) Relationship breakdown 2) Cripling their bodies on their construction and 3) running out of money. We love our off grid life but we are pretty lucky in terms of not only where we chose but also the community but we have spent an awful lot more money than most could probably not afford. Another great video
Thanks and isn't just.... And yes on the 3 points those definitely and also weather and infrastructure both affecting each other. I mean who really wants to live in a bell tent, it's hard.... And your place is stunning, oh for a house!
We agree. Many want to move to live the off- grid dream here and why not, it's beautiful!! Unfortunately some loose out by not being prepared enough; with finances, for the weather variations, the importance of ready access to water, amongst all the other things you talked about. And all this can put disastrous stress on relationships too... Good to have straight up advice. :)
Absolutely, thankfully we're pretty chill relationship wise, but definitely seen others under duress... And it's hard to prepare for things you've never done before but equally all part of the journey and for many us included the journey or as, some have called it the rights of passage make the, successes all the more sweeter 🌞
@@TheWildlandersOffGrid We have our fingers crossed for our own water issues too over the coming summer months... You've done some amazing things there with your land, in a relatively short time frame... Hope the next few months brings you all good things, best wishes.
Watercis, always sonething that can be solved so fingers crossed for you.... We just got a 50,000 liter water bladder which should totally sort ours, next year
Been watching you guys since yellow sub days i think you’re still full of energy.. Off grid is very rewarding but difficult as you have said . Best of luck.
I reconize a lot in your story, we also live off grid , close to Viseu. It is not always easy. But we learned that is is important to have a comftable place to retreat to when you dont feel like building or the wether is bad. so that was our first priority. Hop e you keep it up. like watching your chanel
Hi! I’ve lived off grid but you have to think of those later years and health. I live on 6 acres in the UK but built a bungalow on it. I’ve planted many fruit trees in clouding citrus tress that are doin well. Get buckets of strawberries, red gooseberries and apples. Just planted many other fruit trees. Built a lake just applied for a FHI number to then apply for a fishery. I worked not stop for 7 seven years here. Had to fight my local council in court. She’d much blood have many scars to prove it. I’m 71 had a heart attack last year recon it was the covid jabs. Got married in January this year. Fit and still kicking with a young wife. Hard work keeps you going and the fresh air is great. Make you home to live in important as you will break in the end mist do. But it’s great getting there! Have fun I am 😂😜
Thanks for sharing 💚🙏 Couldn't agree more, today I'm 57 and I've jokingly stated 60 is my goal for completing any bigger building jobs so after then I can focus on the garden... So I e 3 years to get the toilet bathroom and rosies cabin finished as well as my own cabin! Haha no rest eh 🌱💚🌱
Love your attitude. Taking a step back and understanding the challenges you face each day. Your challenges are better than waking up each morning to go to a job you hate or tolerate to pay the bills you need for the very things on hand you are talking about.
Absolutely true... Sometimes I do need to remind myself just how lucky we are. And despite challenges that's really part of the journey, it'sike a right of passage 🙏💚🌱💚
I know what challenges I prefer to wake up to and with whom I discuss and face them with. So much more joy in solving them than within a workplace where the boss gets the benefits and to whom I am answerable to. Off grid is ideal for those who dont wish to work or be a slave to another. @@TheWildlandersOffGrid
@@TheWildlandersOffGrid it is, we liked the fact that you kept the arguments balanced and not just in favour or just against off-grid life. Usually these sort of videos tend to focus on just for or just against, it's fairly rare to see one where both are combined and arguments are balanced 👍
You nailed it all! We are only 6 mos in and we are still shell shocked and wanna quit honestly. We live on our sons land and he bought a yurt specifically for us with the thought that if we didn’t like it, he could take it over and enjoy it himself on his land. And we are so tempted to leave because it is just so difficult. The location itself is very challenging as well- down the side of a mountain near a creek. Bugs are next level. Heat is outrageous and the rainy season is brutal. The thought of going back to a house with all the comfort we had for 30 years before this, is so inviting to me after living like this, it’s all I think about. My husband is even further into the house thought than I am. He is exhausted and has no interest in creating all these systems. we talked extensively for a year before we started this journey. Sold our house, retired and moved across country to live in the woods off grid. Sounded amazing! Then it all changed when we started doing it. Not sure my marriage will withstand this lifestyle much longer. Thanks for video! Seriously! Your candidness is refreshing and much appreciated.
I'm Sorry you're not enjoying the move to off grid. Ultimately it's not for everyone and nothing wrong with changing your minds. Least you gave it a go. And it's, certainly not easy and it's also a, fair bit of work especially early on to get the infrastructure in. Have you broken it down to the most irritating or challenging parts for you and your husband and looked at what 'fixes' there maybe for the things that frustrate you the most.... As, once thise start getting fixed the next challenge becomes, easier..
Very interesting thoughts and advice and i wish you all the best for the future. Two things you didn't mention are the ever present risks of fire in Portugal and I have known people living off grid in Monchique who have lost everything through fire, Also paying tax by green receipts when self employed, also I have known people in the south selling produce at markets who have been landed with large fines because they haven't registered with the IRS.
Good points. Fire and its risks are part of our life and the lives of all those living here. We have the apps, we're vigilant and last year, we did have to evacuate with all our animals. Thankfully the wind changed direction. We're also registered at the junta et Al and the gnr and fire brigade know we are here 🙏 On markets were readying for having a small nursery, we're going to test the water really. Ultimately if it looks, like a goer we'd be registered as farmers 🌱💚🌱
I think we have been taught to expect things to be delivered to us without thinking where they come from & the hard work that has been put in by others to produce what we then acquire easily. I see a lot of people on youtube bemoaning the 'disaster' of a messy house while they are demolishing it in order to rebuild the house of their dreams. People see actions in isolation rather than seeing everything as a process toward a vision they held that led them to attempting to build that vision. Being true to a vision can be tough but the rewards can be extraordinary. And when you hold the end vision to the fore front in difficult times, it helps to put you back on track. Living outside of the box of others expectations is challenging especially when it brings you face to face with your own in the box thinking
Indeed and agreed. We often remind ourselves just how lucky we are and despite the aforementioned challenges it's wondrous here. The nature the birds, our gardens... Living basically in nature in sync with it, love it really 💚🌱💚
Good to hear ur story. Appriciate the hounesty. I would love to live off grid somewere warmer, but i gues times has changed and i have to realise that i dont have the money for it now. Great vlog guys!! 🌱
@moparmanuk We are doing a bit of baby steps towards the possibility of off grid. Water supply is almost set up. Then it's rebuild half the house. Then maybe...maybe..look at solar. But ok either way if it doesn't happen. Hats off to you for being fully off grid that's for sure
Spot on. In the Algarve, everyone seems to be doing something linked to 'wellness'. I edit articles about it every month and I do find myself groaning at times.
I hear where you guys are coming from. Living off grid is not for the faint hearted but just because you live off grid doesn’t mean you have to live like you are camping all the time. We have been living off grid in Italy for the last 7 years. Admittedly we did have a grid connection until October 2022 when we cancelled our energy contract. We live in normal houses with running hot and cold water, flushing toilets, washing machines, central heating etc. the only utility bill we have is our internet connection. We generate our own electricity, have a deep borehole that provides all the water we need and a septic tank. We are now trying to become self sufficient in the food department which is not as easy as I thought. 😂 it’s a lot of hard work but I would never go back to a normal way of living.
Sounds lovely and agreed too on the food front not as, easy as, we thought and a lot of work, but each year, we learn a bit more and we always planned 5 years for food growth to be closer to self suffient
I like my comfort too much to live as you do. I like the idea in theory, especially the environmental benefits. I would probably have to win the lottery to even attempt living off grid. All the amenities would have to be on the land before I’d even attempt to live on it. No I couldn’t go without a flushing toilet and a hot shower. Good on you three for taking on the hardship of true off grid life.😊❤
I do entirely understand your viewpoint, equally it is rewarding to build it yourself kind of a right of passage too. Does make the victories sweeter. But yes to have it already in place would be nice! ☺️
I absolutely admire both of you, living your best life, with lots of plans, off grid, I live in a house, when we go camping, it's a spacial feeling being next to nature, & I think I could live off grid, my family before me come from Romany Gypsies, so living next to nature is the best thing, you are right, if people are not close to nature, then they won't make it, you don't have to have all mod cons to get by, it's more fun going back to basics, sending love all so much love ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
@@TheWildlandersOffGrid I would love to be free from all the binding things, I feel suffercated living where I am, I'm a free spirit & need space 🌿💚🌿💚🌿
Well balanced vlog. Personally living totally off grid doesn’t suit us but one thing that is important is health. We moved to rural France for a more relaxed life. We bought a renovation and to survive my husband ended up working 7 days a week, often too tired to get on with the work and the hectare of land. He was an electrician and his back began to get problems. Over a couple of years it ended up with him finally being unable to work. That was the end of the dream. Sufficient money to back you up is very important. We had to return to UK because we would have ended up homeless and penniless as obtaining disability in France takes at least a year (our French friend went through it). So think very carefully before making the move.
Health is most definitely important, we both have bad backs but so far we can still get on with things but we have to be careful. We plan or the goal is loosely to have the infrastructure all done by my 60th. We don't do much planning tbh, we worry as things happen and live for the now. Not for everyone but the freedoms outway the rest.... Can't imagine ever wanting to live in the UK again. But if health came along and hit one of us that would definitely have implications. For now really loving it and just a bit overwhelmed at times with the volume of jobs
When you bring all of the off grid life and jobs together, then it's apparent just how hard it is to sustain your lifestyle. 3 years have passed and you have achieved so much more, than anyone could have imagined. Life in bricks and mortar here in the uk, has really reached a crisis for the majority with the ever increasing costs and rules thats taken the joy out of living. So many folk wish they had a better alternative but that's not possible unless you are rich. I doubt that you would get back what you have, if you were to give it up. There could be an alternative for you further down the line, that may be not require so much time and effort but maybe not now and certainly not the uk. I see you as the lucky ones to have chosen the right time to do this lifestyle and with so many folk wanting to pack it up and do something similar, then it wont be too long before the doors start closing, so to speak.
I think you're right everytime I visit the uk it really does depress me. I can't ever imagine going back or even being able to afford to. Our hardships if that's, the right word are different and relatively easy to solve with time and sone money. I'm really looking forward to finishing Rosies cabin but equally can't wait for my own! That will be a game changer.... living in a van is getting a bit tiring now!
I think you are doing a beautiful job. living off grid is not easy. but still you do it. freedom of off doing the things you love is importend. living more self sufficient is healtier. compliments for what you are doing. and i love to see your videos. you tell and let see how your live realy is. i am a Duth woman who lives alone in France, not off the grid. but i try to be self sufficient with gardening and chickens. and i love to do it. so i know how much work it takes to do your things. again compements
Thank you so much! And we do love our gardens more than any other parts I think... And chickens and building too! 💚🙏 But yes important to remind ourselves and remember why we're doing it and the freedom and the outdoors is definitely key 💚🌱💚
Living off grid is not for the faint of heart. I don’t have any wish to do so. I moved with my son and DIL to the mountains of Montana in the US. We wanted a more rural lifestyle. But I have no wish to do without comforts😆. I think you are doing quite well with the situations you’ve faced.
I hear you rural us great. I guess once we build our own cabin and fi ish things, we mentioned we'll be much the same. I guess there is, satisfaction in building it yourself but it can be hard getting to and past those steps! But yes generally we do love it despite it's challenges
Love you Guy's honesty as always. After my first winter in Portugal in my nice warm house, and with all the rain, I literally do not think I could cope without my house and utilities.. I often think of the select 'off gridders' I follow and how they manage. Looking forward to seeing your adventures this year.
A good question 2 reasons, we like or hope to inspire others and we also benefit via sponsorship. Plus it grows so we hope eventually we'll get bigger! 🙏🤲
A great video with very pertinent points. You are so right, it is not for the fault-hearted and however much you think it will cost, you can probably quadruple that!
I appreciate your suggestion and concerns regarding the access to the well. It's important to find a solution that ensures the well-being of both you and your neighbors. Building a circular reservoir on the land to collect water from the well during winter and summer rains sounds like a practical idea. It could help manage water resources effectively and minimize any potential conflicts. As for the Portuguese saying, it emphasizes the importance of fair and equitable sharing.
Absolutely wise words 💧💦 We've also just got a 50,000 liter water bladder and next autumn winter in the rainy season we'll fill that up to just to be sure!
Life costs whichever way you approch it. Either you work for money and pay to live, or you work to live. We don't live off grid, but have very cheaply brought and renovated our house (in2015 when everything was cheaper)to keep overheads to the absolute minimum. We produce as much as possible, about 80% self sufficient in food and 100% heating fuel. We Trade what we produce for what we cannot. Have varios small income streams. At the end of the day its a compromise, but a decent one from my point of view. Good luck guys.
Thanks Mark and wise words. That's our goal to get the land sustaining itself, what we can't grow we'd aim to trade for etc.. All takes it's, time to set up and or plant 🌱🌱🌱
Very informative vlog if I was a young person again off grid would be for me .house bills taxes no thanks. I'm 59+ years and don't have alot of white goods my friends laugh saying I was born in the wrong time ,remember the good times ,like the day your visa was granted smile your doing great .
Ive worked with volunteers here,boy that was a learning curve..an exoensive one,both financially ( things get broken,lost or stolen,or botch jobs wnd up costing more to put right)and emotionally( people can be hard work!),we struggle on alone,at least for now 😅
Yes feel that pain... Not really fancied the woof route ourselves but did used to regularly have campers over and was quite hard work and lots of socialising. Tbh prefer to do as much as possible ourselves much like you
@TheWildlandersOffGrid literally everything to do..but next to no funds..almost got it fully fenced though which will make an enormous difference,then we need a nice secure gate! 3 story unfinished dubious legality extension to house,which may stay as it is for years to come the bats and birds enjoy it! Concentrating on food for this year. Slowly but surely beating the snails! Maybe!
@@TheWildlandersOffGrid what the snails haven't consumed is doing well..my fault,didn't clean the mini greenhouse out thoroughly so far too many hiding spots,at one point I considered giving up and farming snails instead 😆..winning now though I think! Next year greenhouse will be gutted and will put a thick layer of ashes on the floor,plus thinking of edging shelves with copper wire/tape.
Great video. Thank you for your honest feedback! The little I know about this homesteading/off-grid/small-scale farming life is that small farmers are some of the hardest working people in the world. There is a reason why there was a huge wave of urbanization once there was work to be found in cities. The young generation didn't want to work that hard anymore... You have to have a reason to want to do this that's NOT "romantic"... not saying there are no romantic aspects to this life but you need to have a reason beyond that.
I think you're right but if you want to do it it doesnt feel like work. For example if you're employed on a horticulture nursery and you spent all day sowing seeds that's, work but for me it feels like a gift doing what you want be it a labour of love or not doesn't feel like work. If I'm a builder building a house for money it's work, build it for myself however hard it may be it doesn't feel like work.... But I entirely agree in what your saying
Hi guys, I was wondering if you have considered doing straw build or make your own plaster to substitute for any other materials. Or , have you considered building a stone structure. It seems that there is plenty of material on the land to build the way it ws done there 100 years ago. Whatever avenue you take I hope that you hang in. Love your site!!!
Hi Karen we have indeed considered strawbale build although bales are super exoensive at the moment. Our friends have some fabby bale builds.... However im a, wood guy... And for our cabin and our viking area we'll be using as much wood from the land or friends lands as possible. And mostvlikelycall natural, so insulated with straw. Rosies cabin is, to her spec, she wanted more modern houselike vibes so we respected that 🙏 Stone wise weve only granite it's buried deep etc.... Weve yet to find clay wheras, our friends have and are platering with this, and using it on their floors Definitely hanging in and many olans, afoot 👌🙏☺️
A hot shower is the best thing to have. We are renovating an old village stone house in Central Portugal and I was also no worries...we will get by the place going we can manage :-) during the coldest days I prayed for a shower never realised what a privilege it was until I did not have it.....good luck guys
You certainly haven't opted for an easy life have you, and I really admire your approach to off grid living. If it's any consolation, your'e on my list if I win the lottery 😏. Go well Wildlanders x
I do like your 2 storage rooms. Lot of potential. The one with the large rock in the corner could perhaps be turned into a bathroom. The other room into cosy lounge with spiral staircase going up to two bedrooms. The top floor built with pillars and large windows. Can buy those secondhand. Maybe outside verandah from bedroom.
I don't know if this would be a possibility for you, but have you considered introducing beavers to your land. They can really assist with water management. If that is of interest, you might contact your local eco folks about it. I haven't watched your vids yet so forgive my ignorance, but were you able to set up a rainwater catchment system? The more I look into off-grid life, the more I think getting a place that is set up with mains and gradually converting it to function off-grid is something I might be able to do...That or setting up a community situation rather than individual families trying to do everything themselves...Looking forward to binge watching your vids!
Hi Susan, don't think we could introduce beavers here. We could potentially damn the stream but with the water being so far probably not overly beneficial. We do now have a 50,000 liter water bladder. Just need to install it on fiat ground so a digger is required.... We do have some rain catchment into IBC. And we have built a reservoir so some improvements to water security. Our friends help as we do them but not really a commune living type of peeps. Great you found us and enjoy the binge watches! ☺️
Thanks for your vid 😇💟💟💟 Love and bless you guys, I still think living in nature is a good idea being with the birds 🐦 and the bees having your animals is the best life there is and a veggie garden of course. Maybe make a solar boiler with a black plastic water pipe coiled up and a water tank 2 meter high watch out can be very hot if the sun shine's and you can pomp the hot water in to a electric boiler to keep it for longer and you don't have to plug 🔌 the electric part then you have hot water in the kitchen also 😁😜
Thanks and agree totally, the birds, are fabulous here, and the sound of the frogs in the river, the stars, at night and sitting round the fire... It is, wondrous despite some challenges 💚🌱💚 And yes good idea on the solar heated pipes have considered this and definitely get plenty of hot water here! 🔥
Absolutely you do the same with bottled gas in uk..its just not every petrol station,or supermarket that stocks gas..bottles are heavy to transport though,and really for sense you need to have 3 bottles,one on ,one for when it runs out,and a back up. Propane/butane in uk is these days prohibitively expensive,but ofcourse is what offgridders,whether van lifing,canal boat living or caravan dwellers,along with folk way out in the wilds use.
We are currently semi offgrid, ive lived totally off for many years,working on the infrastructure to cut off once more, its not as simple as it may seem though. Daughter with 3 children now live with me,and she has a little one on the way. Our house is in a terrible state and funds are scarily low,especially as she will soon have to stop working fulltime,which is our current main income. I work part time online and do most of the childcare.
You're entirely right and I feel for you us and others. I guess, we all really Want this, way of living as we all continue to strive for it and move slowly forward.... And despite your hardships wonderful to be with your daughter and grandchildren 👌💚 that's, worth so much
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences with us about your off grid journey. At various times in the video you speak about the costs, the need for an amount of money to accomplish your plans and the fact that your "pot" of money ran out while your plans were still to be accomplished. Also the fact that certain acquaintances may have found the same issue and so gave up the dream and returned to whence they came. Can you share for us the amount of money you estimate that it would take to comfortably accomplish the move, I am hoping to be free to start my journey in the next few months and would really like to hear your thoughts on just how much I should plan on spending to purchase or develop a small holding to be relatively self sufficient in providing for myself. I will have a steady retirement income as well as investment income with a healthy but certainly not large/unlimited capital pot available as I attempt to relocate from Canada, I am hoping to do it for somewhere in the neighbourhood of $300,000.00 Euros, do you think that will be enough for a humble farm/quinta? Warmest regards and be well.../Bob
Hi Bob, I think you can definitely find a nice Quinta and live well for that amount. With some planning. We really did it on a much smaller budget. One of our friends had 100k but spent 65 of it on their land without a house. It's the that it's tough but you could buy a beautiful farm for well under that and live comfortably off the rest for quite some time. We will do a what does it cost off grid vid soon 💚🌱💚
We have a place in Portugal ,not off grid thank goodness. Mains water ,electricity , we have bottle gas for heating water and a gas hob. The land has just over 5,000 square meters, of good boulder free agricultural land. There are two wells on the land, one does dry to mud, but the second has always maintained water. We are of an older generation that suffered outside toilets and bathing once a week in a tin bath. By the time you reach into your 70’s, perhaps with grandchildren living off grid may not be all you wish for. It may only be a short period of the adventures life holds in store to be remembered at will.
Don't think having an outside toilet and bathroom would particularly bother us per say. It's more the volume of infrastructure needing building to time to budget ratios.... That Said can't say how I'd feel in say 10 years. Although I'd certainly hope to have all the infrastructure completed long before then. We've always pretty much lived for today so we shall see
hi guys; having lived on a narrow boat the last 15 years it can be a hard slog.seen freinds come and go,they call it the 5 year itch,sold the boat last year and bought our land in portugal,,not to live there just 6 months a year,3 x 3,chinese heaters are brill, houses to me are just a cave,good luck.
Cheers Shane and always fancied boat life myself. Are you housebound now or Van lifers. Chinese heaters are indeed brill, one in the van is awesome and have installed one in the cabin now too
Definitely on the dowsing but not a fan of bore holes unless, we get really desperate in the future. For now also have a new 50,000 liter water bladder 💦💧
It sounds to me that you have to be rich to go live "off-grid" or have some passive income from renting a house or having a store with your parents' help or something something... unless you don't mind to live in utter poverty in exchange for the outdoor/agricultural lifestyle
We still work and you definitely cannot survive without some income. The trick is to find income from being off grid. We're working towards this but again it's down partly to infrastructure. Ie, we need proper toilets, so we can host garden open days....
Thanks for this very informative video on the reality of things. Did you say you get 20 to 30 quid a month from youtube? and that it takes 2 and half days editing a video? How much is that in euros? Is it worth doing it? I love to watch people's video, don't take me wrong. Cheers.
Yes I did, does, go up at other times, of the year and we do do well on sponsorships, so it's not all bad but it is, as they say a lot of work that does, at times, eat into time that could be spent building...
Watched u for ages and love it but I think Rosie’s cabin should come first she will be grown before u know it and be off in the world making her own adventures xx
Apreciate the open flow way you talk (and do) things. You actually surprise me how good you do. Belive the "problem" is not if you go off grid or on grid for power and water. Thats just a choice. Options. If you have enough money off grid can be quite luxurious, prepper style kind of thing. The "problem" its money and work (that includes a lifestyle). Money and time (work). If one have enough money anything its possible, and even easy and fast. In all of this things, land management, building, etc, one trades money x time. More money, faster. Less money slower (and more work). So, if one is a young couple, full of energy and reasonably good at dyi skill, and are willing to live a frugal simple life, its possible to live and built a homestead living on the cheap (still, money is needed, maybe 1000 euros monthly, minimum, plus building money). If you are not full of energy and time, not good diy, have kids or elderlies, you better have a good chunk of money! Other thing is...ilusions! Delusions. A marketgarden (or and orchard business, or a nursery...) is a full time job in its self. And not all lands are suitables. Not every type of land, not every size. This are very tuff competitive business. Not a lazy side kick... Other ilusion is "self suficience", wich is simply not possible at all. Not even desirable. Its anti social. Even to rise to somekind of 50% selfsuficience in food one will need to invest a lot of time and work before that. Years.. 5 to 10 years. Just managing a 3 acre property, even in a loose, no pressure kind of way, takes time and money. And no money comes out of it. Its a expensive time consumming job in its self, homesteading. And even with big money a homestead is a forever job. Never ends. Its a marriage, and romance its not enough and ever present. You really need to like it and want it, to endure through times... Another thing is loneliness. Its not all comunity, party and fun. Most of it is : take care of yourself and dont mess with me...even neighbors can be big problems. When i saw dozens of youtubers comming to Portugal doing this i was in desbelive. Seemed unreal. Lots of people doing ilegal stuff, and showing off on the internet! But was inspiring too. Some people do great. You guys do fairly well. Because of youtube (revenue) some of the most incompetent ones on the land are even the most sucefull ones! But for many its just an allucination, dreams of lazy gardenning, "freedom" and selfsuficience destiny to fail fairly kick. Hope you guys make it. Good luck.
Morning not really sure what you're saying. Your observations of off grid or are you off grid? Some of your opinion seems generalised to off grid and I don't disagree others seem more directed to us. We do know a lot of people off grid and the majority have little to no money but make do. I think being out of the ratcrace is part of the journey so by default once their pot of savings is gone then it's down to surviving. Some had already diversified like us from traditional living to vanlife so we already had a remote job. But off grid or on grid self employed work can or maybe always has it's ups and downs. And you're right homesteading is full time but it's not a Job it's a labour of love, it's a lifestyle choice. But I don't agree you can't aim for a form of self sufficiency, there's many or certainly some leading the way. You could in theory grow enough food to feed your family and have spare to trade in less than an acre. But it does as you say take time and money to set up. It's a journey or part of the journey. I didn't really know of anyone that's completed that journey in Portugal wheras in America the traditional place of homesteaders many are sufficient. Or self sufficient in a modern way. For us it's about the land providing so whatever we cannot grow comes from selling or trading what we cannot grow in very simple terms. We did a test on our nursery idea at the weekend to see demand and what it theoretically proved is we can increase our income even replace it in the longterm with our nursery idea. So watch this place as we've been living alternatively for 20 years and we are tenacious and positive and we don't give up easily. Thanks for a good comment adding and inspiring the debate What's your situation? Observing or doing?
@@TheWildlandersOffGrid Basicaly what im saying is on grid x off grid dosent matter much. The issue is "homesteading". And its all about money. Money x time (work). If you have a lot of money everything is easier and faster. If not, slower and more dificult. Off grid just is more cost up front, and a bit more maintainance. Generaly off grid costs more. Its the price of individuality and independence. The ilusions are about homesteading. Small homesteads dont make money. Never did, not even in the old days of extreme poverty and big families (cheap work). Nowdays only makes money with "rural tourism", workshops (agro, wellness...), or youtube. Food prodution (veggies, fruit, meat, nursery, firewood) dosent makes money in this context, at best gives one a bit of self prodution (usually at more expensive costs then supermaket). Homesteads costs money. So, if one comes into small homesteading with ilusions of going "out of the rat race", lazy gardenning, "freedom", etc, very fast discover it was a mistake. Going out of rat race means you still have to work, but your work is to manage others people s work, or your are managing money, so other people or money is making money for you. So you are not dependent on your limited 40 hours a week of work/prodution time. You manage time, not give your time... I live in a 3 acre homestead, do permaculture, and have visited hundrees of other small homesteads because i do landscape as a job, and have many relatives/friends/clients that live of landscaping, constrution, nursery, fruit and veggie prodution. Im also a client, and have been in several off grid places, including comunity style places. Most of the best places were less then 2 acres - usually under 1 acre - managed by old couples (generaly expats). Those were the most produtive, more beautiful and safer places i saw. And as soon as one gets too old or dies and goes out the place is sold...hopefully, if it was well manage, values more then before. So, for a older couple comming from northen europe, spending a couple of years here is a good investment, not only because life is cheaper, and better weather, but because becomes a good real state investment. Well...at least before this last 5 year madness in prices. Lets see how it goes... Anyway, like you said, there are people outhere doing incredible stuff that seems almost impossible in preview. There are always exceptions. Good ones. Inspiring ones. And for what i see in your videos you might just be one of then. Hope you do.
I agree on size were basically only u sing an acre. We've started building up our stocks for our small plant nursery but an acre is fine. Amazing how many pots fit into a small area.... We're very fortunate as, we have our own business and it doesn't take all our time, so aort from that and youtube we can spend most of our time gardening and or building things 😊 Thankfully a wonderful community around us so many friends. So social but also helping each other and barter too 🙏👌 But I think whilst at times, you come across as a bit negative I do T disagree in the main Where is your off grid or homestead?
@@TheWildlandersOffGrid as i told you before im not off grid, and very glad im not, specially on water. On power im in process of becomming, partly off grid. And, as told you before, im central litoral, near nazare. Understand it may feel a bit negative, but actually i love homesteading, love permaculture, and love seeing people doing it and showing it on youtube. Sometimes its inspiring and educative. But feel its harmfull to be unrealistic, and see lots of people giving up (like you mention in your video) because they started on idealistic bases, have no idea what they are doing, do ilegal stuff (specially on building), make very bad choices...many off them influenced by youtubers. But, its only opinions, i may be wrong, every case is unique... This is the first year i didnt expand my nursery (non comercial, just for self consume), just repotted left ones from last year, still have hundreeds. Its beautifull. But harder work then it seems, and very hard business. The professionals i know and work with have to sell many thousands, many on cents of profit. Lots of reselling too. And lots and lots of regulations. Complucated accounting. Big infrastucture. Tons of soil, compost, petmoss, trucks, and, most of all, plastic! Good luck for yours.
whinging? To "whinge" means to complain or grumble persistently and in a peevish or irritating way. When someone "whinges" about being off the grid, they are likely expressing frustration or dissatisfaction about being disconnected from modern conveniences such as electricity, internet access, or other utilities. Being off the grid often means living in a remote location or intentionally disconnecting from mainstream infrastructure. While some may find this lifestyle liberating or fulfilling, others may find it challenging due to the lack of amenities or conveniences they're accustomed to. Whinging about being off the grid could involve complaints about issues such as limited access to power, difficulties with communication or internet access, reliance on alternative sources of energy or water, or the inconvenience of being physically isolated from urban centers or services. sound familiar?;)
Us having a whinge? Surely not 😂🤣 But yes, nothing wrong with a good whinge, especially sitting round a fire with others, off gridders, on the same journeys. It's full of joys but can be frustrating and having a healthy whinge is part of the brainstorming process or finding solutions. Mainly everyone whinges, about the things you mention but mainly it's infrastructure. With each part completed life becomes, a little bit easier.... Equally whinging or not it's, all part of a journey and personally I love it. Best life ever ❤️
@@TheWildlandersOffGrid Sorry if I seem negative but really if I'm honest I'm just jealous, you have been able to chase your dreams and create some wonderful gardens and I'm stuck in my life doing my job and have to watch channels such as yours they're actually living my dream. I wish you all the best I look forward to seeing you guys have all the infrastructure you need to make your dreams come true maybe someday I can woof on your farm and help you achieve your goals 😊
Totally get you, is there a way you can achieve those dreams? Catio is next... Then probably the toilet, once that's in we're better able to receiving people, however it's been on the list for years....
Had and have many plans then there's freak weather, unpredicted income changes etc. Living in nature is different and things you've never done before are difficult to plan
@@TheWildlandersOffGrid why does it go up Christmas haha? We lived in our van for 2 years and had/have a channel but all the filming was interfering with just simply enjoying ourselves and with only a few hundred subscribers couldn't really see the point in carrying on!! I truly thought with 14000 subscribers you'd earn more than that because I know how much work is involved!!
At Crimbo advertisers bid more to advertise therefore the revenue is higher. Have to be honest and while youtube it's self is pretty pants if you combine sponsorships, Patreon and buy me a coffee it all helps. But it is as you found a lot of work and arguably one might achieve more certainly time wise with doing other things. I guess for me it's also the want and hope to inspire others that is the most positive thing about clogging....
I enjoyed watching your video, for your plan to propagate plants for sale I would like to recommend a UA-camr from America, maybe you already know his contributions...it is / edibleacres / especially his airprunboxes for plant propagation in small spaces with high Number may also be something for your project.
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Thanks for a very honest and comprehensive discussion about offgrid life. We were always drawn to the idea, but living in South Africa, our career choices, and 3 children meant we never made the move. Watching from the outside, we can see how hard it can be, but I still believe that the freedom you have to choose when and how to do that work is immeasurably better than being imprisoned in the hamster wheel existence that is the lot of the majority of the world's population. You have thrown off the yoke of bosses, social demands, and the burden of debt. Your life is hard, but it is your own.👍👍❤️
That's very true and that's the carrot... The dream, the freedom etc.
Can or could you go off grid now? Or in the future? Or your own version of it?
It is a really interesting debate and we have asked people that have been here for over a decade and they tend to give the 3 most important reasons people leave are 1) Relationship breakdown 2) Cripling their bodies on their construction and 3) running out of money. We love our off grid life but we are pretty lucky in terms of not only where we chose but also the community but we have spent an awful lot more money than most could probably not afford. Another great video
Thanks and isn't just....
And yes on the 3 points those definitely and also weather and infrastructure both affecting each other. I mean who really wants to live in a bell tent, it's hard....
And your place is stunning, oh for a house!
We agree. Many want to move to live the off- grid dream here and why not, it's beautiful!! Unfortunately some loose out by not being prepared enough; with finances, for the weather variations, the importance of ready access to water, amongst all the other things you talked about. And all this can put disastrous stress on relationships too... Good to have straight up advice. :)
Absolutely, thankfully we're pretty chill relationship wise, but definitely seen others under duress...
And it's hard to prepare for things you've never done before but equally all part of the journey and for many us included the journey or as, some have called it the rights of passage make the, successes all the more sweeter 🌞
@@TheWildlandersOffGrid We have our fingers crossed for our own water issues too over the coming summer months...
You've done some amazing things there with your land, in a relatively short time frame... Hope the next few months brings you all good things, best wishes.
Watercis, always sonething that can be solved so fingers crossed for you....
We just got a 50,000 liter water bladder which should totally sort ours, next year
Been watching you guys since yellow sub days i think you’re still full of energy.. Off grid is very rewarding but difficult as you have said . Best of luck.
Awesome! Thank you for watching us that long! 💚🙏
Do miss the sub driving about though.....
I reconize a lot in your story, we also live off grid , close to Viseu. It is not always easy. But we learned that is is important to have a comftable place to retreat to
when you dont feel like building or the wether is bad. so that was our first priority. Hop e you keep it up. like watching your chanel
Thanks and agree, defo need our space now, realistically though it's, several years away. But a bath and proper toilet block will be great to start 😊
I love your honesty.
Thanks Paul good to share and frankly quite therapeutic to get our thoughts out there 💚🙏
Hi! I’ve lived off grid but you have to think of those later years and health.
I live on 6 acres in the UK but built a bungalow on it. I’ve planted many fruit trees in clouding citrus tress that are doin well. Get buckets of strawberries, red gooseberries and apples. Just planted many other fruit trees. Built a lake just applied for a FHI number to then apply for a fishery. I worked not stop for 7 seven years here. Had to fight my local council in court. She’d much blood have many scars to prove it. I’m 71 had a heart attack last year recon it was the covid jabs. Got married in January this year. Fit and still kicking with a young wife. Hard work keeps you going and the fresh air is great. Make you home to live in important as you will break in the end mist do. But it’s great getting there! Have fun I am 😂😜
Thanks for sharing 💚🙏
Couldn't agree more, today I'm 57 and I've jokingly stated 60 is my goal for completing any bigger building jobs so after then I can focus on the garden...
So I e 3 years to get the toilet bathroom and rosies cabin finished as well as my own cabin!
Haha no rest eh 🌱💚🌱
Love your attitude. Taking a step back and understanding the challenges you face each day. Your challenges are better than waking up each morning to go to a job you hate or tolerate to pay the bills you need for the very things on hand you are talking about.
Absolutely true... Sometimes I do need to remind myself just how lucky we are. And despite challenges that's really part of the journey, it'sike a right of passage 🙏💚🌱💚
I know what challenges I prefer to wake up to and with whom I discuss and face them with. So much more joy in solving them than within a workplace where the boss gets the benefits and to whom I am answerable to. Off grid is ideal for those who dont wish to work or be a slave to another.
@@TheWildlandersOffGrid
Yes we love the freedom despite its challenges and also being self employed for nearly 30 years. It's harder often but so much more satisfying 💚🌱💚
And are you off grid or hoping to be?
Nice to see a sensible balanced video on the subject 👍
I appreciate that! Thanks 👌 and I do think it's good to be honest, especially for those maybe considering the move
@@TheWildlandersOffGrid it is, we liked the fact that you kept the arguments balanced and not just in favour or just against off-grid life. Usually these sort of videos tend to focus on just for or just against, it's fairly rare to see one where both are combined and arguments are balanced 👍
Thanks and I think as, we were kinda chatting for real so it's, an honest or candid video 🙏💚
This video was a real reality check, thanks for sharing 🤗
Glad you enjoyed it! And pleasure, thanks for watching 👌🙏
You nailed it all! We are only 6 mos in and we are still shell shocked and wanna quit honestly. We live on our sons land and he bought a yurt specifically for us with the thought that if we didn’t like it, he could take it over and enjoy it himself on his land. And we are so tempted to leave because it is just so difficult. The location itself is very challenging as well- down the side of a mountain near a creek. Bugs are next level. Heat is outrageous and the rainy season is brutal. The thought of going back to a house with all the comfort we had for 30 years before this, is so inviting to me after living like this, it’s all I think about. My husband is even further into the house thought than I am. He is exhausted and has no interest in creating all these systems. we talked extensively for a year before we started this journey. Sold our house, retired and moved across country to live in the woods off grid. Sounded amazing! Then it all changed when we started doing it. Not sure my marriage will withstand this lifestyle much longer. Thanks for video! Seriously! Your candidness is refreshing and much appreciated.
I'm Sorry you're not enjoying the move to off grid. Ultimately it's not for everyone and nothing wrong with changing your minds. Least you gave it a go. And it's, certainly not easy and it's also a, fair bit of work especially early on to get the infrastructure in. Have you broken it down to the most irritating or challenging parts for you and your husband and looked at what 'fixes' there maybe for the things that frustrate you the most.... As, once thise start getting fixed the next challenge becomes, easier..
@@TheWildlandersOffGrid thank you for the suggestions and input!
How's it going for you now?
Thank you. This was a really good discussion on the pro's and con's of off grid living.
Thanks, good to have some honesty, especially for those thinking about going off grid
Very interesting thoughts and advice and i wish you all the best for the future. Two things you didn't mention are the ever present risks of fire in Portugal and I have known people living off grid in Monchique who have lost everything through fire, Also paying tax by green receipts when self employed, also I have known people in the south selling produce at markets who have been landed with large fines because they haven't registered with the IRS.
Good points. Fire and its risks are part of our life and the lives of all those living here. We have the apps, we're vigilant and last year, we did have to evacuate with all our animals. Thankfully the wind changed direction. We're also registered at the junta et Al and the gnr and fire brigade know we are here 🙏
On markets were readying for having a small nursery, we're going to test the water really. Ultimately if it looks, like a goer we'd be registered as farmers 🌱💚🌱
I think we have been taught to expect things to be delivered to us without thinking where they come from & the hard work that has been put in by others to produce what we then acquire easily. I see a lot of people on youtube bemoaning the 'disaster' of a messy house while they are demolishing it in order to rebuild the house of their dreams. People see actions in isolation rather than seeing everything as a process toward a vision they held that led them to attempting to build that vision. Being true to a vision can be tough but the rewards can be extraordinary. And when you hold the end vision to the fore front in difficult times, it helps to put you back on track. Living outside of the box of others expectations is challenging especially when it brings you face to face with your own in the box thinking
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Indeed and agreed. We often remind ourselves just how lucky we are and despite the aforementioned challenges it's wondrous here. The nature the birds, our gardens... Living basically in nature in sync with it, love it really 💚🌱💚
Great vlog guys 👍
Thank you 😁
Good to hear ur story. Appriciate the hounesty. I would love to live off grid somewere warmer, but i gues times has changed and i have to realise that i dont have the money for it now. Great vlog guys!! 🌱
Thanks and do you think there's a way you could or would?
@moparmanuk
We are doing a bit of baby steps towards the possibility of off grid. Water supply is almost set up. Then it's rebuild half the house. Then maybe...maybe..look at solar. But ok either way if it doesn't happen. Hats off to you for being fully off grid that's for sure
Thanks and I do recommend getting solar off grid or not 🌞☀️
You're doing a great job guys. Progress is good, get that cabin finished and you'll be flying. Love your channel
Thanks 👍 and yep we're on it! Floors in now.... 🙏👌🔥
Spot on. In the Algarve, everyone seems to be doing something linked to 'wellness'. I edit articles about it every month and I do find myself groaning at times.
And permaculture courses!
And thanks 😊👌
I hear where you guys are coming from. Living off grid is not for the faint hearted but just because you live off grid doesn’t mean you have to live like you are camping all the time. We have been living off grid in Italy for the last 7 years. Admittedly we did have a grid connection until October 2022 when we cancelled our energy contract. We live in normal houses with running hot and cold water, flushing toilets, washing machines, central heating etc. the only utility bill we have is our internet connection. We generate our own electricity, have a deep borehole that provides all the water we need and a septic tank. We are now trying to become self sufficient in the food department which is not as easy as I thought. 😂 it’s a lot of hard work but I would never go back to a normal way of living.
Sounds lovely and agreed too on the food front not as, easy as, we thought and a lot of work, but each year, we learn a bit more and we always planned 5 years for food growth to be closer to self suffient
I like my comfort too much to live as you do. I like the idea in theory, especially the environmental benefits. I would probably have to win the lottery to even attempt living off grid.
All the amenities would have to be on the land before I’d even attempt to live on it. No I couldn’t go without a flushing toilet and a hot shower. Good on you three for taking on the hardship of true off grid life.😊❤
I do entirely understand your viewpoint, equally it is rewarding to build it yourself kind of a right of passage too. Does make the victories sweeter. But yes to have it already in place would be nice! ☺️
I absolutely admire both of you, living your best life, with lots of plans, off grid, I live in a house, when we go camping, it's a spacial feeling being next to nature, & I think I could live off grid, my family before me come from Romany Gypsies, so living next to nature is the best thing, you are right, if people are not close to nature, then they won't make it, you don't have to have all mod cons to get by, it's more fun going back to basics, sending love all so much love ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Thanks Jayne 💚and do you yearn to go back to the freedoms of your past?
@@TheWildlandersOffGrid I would love to be free from all the binding things, I feel suffercated living where I am, I'm a free spirit & need space 🌿💚🌿💚🌿
Aw.... Can you find a way?
Well balanced vlog. Personally living totally off grid doesn’t suit us but one thing that is important is health. We moved to rural France for a more relaxed life. We bought a renovation and to survive my husband ended up working 7 days a week, often too tired to get on with the work and the hectare of land. He was an electrician and his back began to get problems. Over a couple of years it ended up with him finally being unable to work. That was the end of the dream. Sufficient money to back you up is very important. We had to return to UK because we would have ended up homeless and penniless as obtaining disability in France takes at least a year (our French friend went through it). So think very carefully before making the move.
Health is most definitely important, we both have bad backs but so far we can still get on with things but we have to be careful. We plan or the goal is loosely to have the infrastructure all done by my 60th. We don't do much planning tbh, we worry as things happen and live for the now. Not for everyone but the freedoms outway the rest.... Can't imagine ever wanting to live in the UK again. But if health came along and hit one of us that would definitely have implications. For now really loving it and just a bit overwhelmed at times with the volume of jobs
When you bring all of the off grid life and jobs together, then it's apparent just how hard it is to sustain your lifestyle. 3 years have passed and you have achieved so much more, than anyone could have imagined. Life in bricks and mortar here in the uk, has really reached a crisis for the majority with the ever increasing costs and rules thats taken the joy out of living. So many folk wish they had a better alternative but that's not possible unless you are rich. I doubt that you would get back what you have, if you were to give it up. There could be an alternative for you further down the line, that may be not require so much time and effort but maybe not now and certainly not the uk. I see you as the lucky ones to have chosen the right time to do this lifestyle and with so many folk wanting to pack it up and do something similar, then it wont be too long before the doors start closing, so to speak.
I think you're right everytime I visit the uk it really does depress me. I can't ever imagine going back or even being able to afford to. Our hardships if that's, the right word are different and relatively easy to solve with time and sone money. I'm really looking forward to finishing Rosies cabin but equally can't wait for my own! That will be a game changer.... living in a van is getting a bit tiring now!
I think you are doing a beautiful job. living off grid is not easy. but still you do it. freedom of off doing the things you love is importend. living more self sufficient is healtier.
compliments for what you are doing. and i love to see your videos. you tell and let see how your live realy is. i am a Duth woman who lives alone in France, not off the grid. but i try to be self sufficient with gardening and chickens. and i love to do it. so i know how much work it takes to do your things. again compements
Thank you so much! And we do love our gardens more than any other parts I think... And chickens and building too! 💚🙏
But yes important to remind ourselves and remember why we're doing it and the freedom and the outdoors is definitely key 💚🌱💚
We build bedrooms on top of a converted shed. Also with pillars and large windows. Loved being able to sit and have a view over the whole property.
Sounds wonderful and not dissimilar to our vision for our building ❤️
Living off grid is not for the faint of heart. I don’t have any wish to do so. I moved with my son and DIL to the mountains of Montana in the US. We wanted a more rural lifestyle. But I have no wish to do without comforts😆. I think you are doing quite well with the situations you’ve faced.
I hear you rural us great. I guess once we build our own cabin and fi ish things, we mentioned we'll be much the same. I guess there is, satisfaction in building it yourself but it can be hard getting to and past those steps! But yes generally we do love it despite it's challenges
Love you Guy's honesty as always. After my first winter in Portugal in my nice warm house, and with all the rain, I literally do not think I could cope without my house and utilities.. I often think of the select 'off gridders' I follow and how they manage. Looking forward to seeing your adventures this year.
also...if you tube makes so little, may I ask why you stick with it? If you don't mind :)
A good question 2 reasons, we like or hope to inspire others and we also benefit via sponsorship. Plus it grows so we hope eventually we'll get bigger! 🙏🤲
Lovely honest chat
Thanks 👌🙏
A great video with very pertinent points. You are so right, it is not for the fault-hearted and however much you think it will cost, you can probably quadruple that!
Absolutely! It's not always cheap as you know! How's things on your land?
Some cold, hard truths there, good to know, reality check.
Thanks and good to share 🙏
I appreciate your suggestion and concerns regarding the access to the well. It's important to find a solution that ensures the well-being of both you and your neighbors. Building a circular reservoir on the land to collect water from the well during winter and summer rains sounds like a practical idea. It could help manage water resources effectively and minimize any potential conflicts. As for the Portuguese saying, it emphasizes the importance of fair and equitable sharing.
Absolutely wise words 💧💦
We've also just got a 50,000 liter water bladder and next autumn winter in the rainy season we'll fill that up to just to be sure!
Life costs whichever way you approch it. Either you work for money and pay to live, or you work to live. We don't live off grid, but have very cheaply brought and renovated our house (in2015 when everything was cheaper)to keep overheads to the absolute minimum. We produce as much as possible, about 80% self sufficient in food and 100% heating fuel. We Trade what we produce for what we cannot. Have varios small income streams. At the end of the day its a compromise, but a decent one from my point of view. Good luck guys.
Thanks Mark and wise words. That's our goal to get the land sustaining itself, what we can't grow we'd aim to trade for etc.. All takes it's, time to set up and or plant 🌱🌱🌱
Very informative vlog if I was a young person again off grid would be for me .house bills taxes no thanks. I'm 59+ years and don't have alot of white goods my friends laugh saying I was born in the wrong time ,remember the good times ,like the day your visa was granted smile your doing great .
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I'm. 57 tomorrow so feel that, I've hooked all the building etc needs to be finished by my 60th ..... So much to do till then!
@TheWildlandersOffGrid happy birthday 🎂 🥳 🎉
Thanks am just about recovering 😂🤣
Ive worked with volunteers here,boy that was a learning curve..an exoensive one,both financially ( things get broken,lost or stolen,or botch jobs wnd up costing more to put right)and emotionally( people can be hard work!),we struggle on alone,at least for now 😅
Yes feel that pain... Not really fancied the woof route ourselves but did used to regularly have campers over and was quite hard work and lots of socialising. Tbh prefer to do as much as possible ourselves much like you
And how's things with your place much still to do?
@TheWildlandersOffGrid literally everything to do..but next to no funds..almost got it fully fenced though which will make an enormous difference,then we need a nice secure gate! 3 story unfinished dubious legality extension to house,which may stay as it is for years to come the bats and birds enjoy it! Concentrating on food for this year. Slowly but surely beating the snails! Maybe!
I feel you.... But we all love it eh! 💚🌱💚
Hows the growing going?
@@TheWildlandersOffGrid what the snails haven't consumed is doing well..my fault,didn't clean the mini greenhouse out thoroughly so far too many hiding spots,at one point I considered giving up and farming snails instead 😆..winning now though I think! Next year greenhouse will be gutted and will put a thick layer of ashes on the floor,plus thinking of edging shelves with copper wire/tape.
Great video. Thank you for your honest feedback! The little I know about this homesteading/off-grid/small-scale farming life is that small farmers are some of the hardest working people in the world. There is a reason why there was a huge wave of urbanization once there was work to be found in cities. The young generation didn't want to work that hard anymore...
You have to have a reason to want to do this that's NOT "romantic"... not saying there are no romantic aspects to this life but you need to have a reason beyond that.
I think you're right but if you want to do it it doesnt feel like work. For example if you're employed on a horticulture nursery and you spent all day sowing seeds that's, work but for me it feels like a gift doing what you want be it a labour of love or not doesn't feel like work. If I'm a builder building a house for money it's work, build it for myself however hard it may be it doesn't feel like work.... But I entirely agree in what your saying
It’s a lot of work 😂👍💙❤️
Haha it is indeed and we need that 'catch phrase' back! 😂
Hi guys, I was wondering if you have considered doing straw build or make your own plaster to substitute for any other materials. Or , have you considered building a stone structure. It seems that there is plenty of material on the land to build the way it ws done there 100 years ago. Whatever avenue you take I hope that you hang in. Love your site!!!
Hi Karen we have indeed considered strawbale build although bales are super exoensive at the moment. Our friends have some fabby bale builds....
However im a, wood guy... And for our cabin and our viking area we'll be using as much wood from the land or friends lands as possible. And mostvlikelycall natural, so insulated with straw.
Rosies cabin is, to her spec, she wanted more modern houselike vibes so we respected that 🙏
Stone wise weve only granite it's buried deep etc....
Weve yet to find clay wheras, our friends have and are platering with this, and using it on their floors
Definitely hanging in and many olans, afoot 👌🙏☺️
A hot shower is the best thing to have. We are renovating an old village stone house in Central Portugal and I was also no worries...we will get by the place going we can manage :-) during the coldest days I prayed for a shower never realised what a privilege it was until I did not have it.....good luck guys
So true! Can't wait for a hot bath too tbh so we plan that in the bathroom too 🙏👌
Hows your renovation going?
You certainly haven't opted for an easy life have you, and I really admire your approach to off grid living. If it's any consolation, your'e on my list if I win the lottery 😏. Go well Wildlanders x
Aw thanks and a lottery win be great thanks look forward to it! 💚🌱💚
Hi guys thanks for this great insight to off grid very informative stay well
Cheers Ray, glad you enjoyed it ☺️
I do like your 2 storage rooms. Lot of potential. The one with the large rock in the corner could perhaps be turned into a bathroom. The other room into cosy lounge with spiral staircase going up to two bedrooms. The top floor built with pillars and large windows. Can buy those secondhand. Maybe outside verandah from bedroom.
Yes definitely the idea we've got, could be, stunning 👌🔥
Nice to listen you than the talk radio you know friends 🎉
Thanks for listening 💚🌱💚🙏
Thanks for listening 💚🌱💚🙏
I don't know if this would be a possibility for you, but have you considered introducing beavers to your land. They can really assist with water management. If that is of interest, you might contact your local eco folks about it. I haven't watched your vids yet so forgive my ignorance, but were you able to set up a rainwater catchment system? The more I look into off-grid life, the more I think getting a place that is set up with mains and gradually converting it to function off-grid is something I might be able to do...That or setting up a community situation rather than individual families trying to do everything themselves...Looking forward to binge watching your vids!
Hi Susan, don't think we could introduce beavers here. We could potentially damn the stream but with the water being so far probably not overly beneficial. We do now have a 50,000 liter water bladder. Just need to install it on fiat ground so a digger is required.... We do have some rain catchment into IBC. And we have built a reservoir so some improvements to water security. Our friends help as we do them but not really a commune living type of peeps. Great you found us and enjoy the binge watches! ☺️
Thanks for your vid 😇💟💟💟 Love and bless you guys, I still think living in nature is a good idea being with the birds 🐦 and the bees having your animals is the best life there is and a veggie garden of course.
Maybe make a solar boiler with a black plastic water pipe coiled up and a water tank 2 meter high watch out can be very hot if the sun shine's and you can pomp the hot water in to a electric boiler to keep it for longer and you don't have to plug 🔌 the electric part then you have hot water in the kitchen also 😁😜
Thanks and agree totally, the birds, are fabulous here, and the sound of the frogs in the river, the stars, at night and sitting round the fire...
It is, wondrous despite some challenges 💚🌱💚
And yes good idea on the solar heated pipes have considered this and definitely get plenty of hot water here! 🔥
Living Off Grid certainly cannot be called a “simple life” but it seems to suit yourselves as you both look well.
I guess it is simple in some ways but complicated by weather, time and money and made hard by a so called modern world
Absolutely you do the same with bottled gas in uk..its just not every petrol station,or supermarket that stocks gas..bottles are heavy to transport though,and really for sense you need to have 3 bottles,one on ,one for when it runs out,and a back up. Propane/butane in uk is these days prohibitively expensive,but ofcourse is what offgridders,whether van lifing,canal boat living or caravan dwellers,along with folk way out in the wilds use.
We are currently semi offgrid, ive lived totally off for many years,working on the infrastructure to cut off once more, its not as simple as it may seem though. Daughter with 3 children now live with me,and she has a little one on the way. Our house is in a terrible state and funds are scarily low,especially as she will soon have to stop working fulltime,which is our current main income. I work part time online and do most of the childcare.
You're entirely right and I feel for you us and others. I guess, we all really Want this, way of living as we all continue to strive for it and move slowly forward....
And despite your hardships wonderful to be with your daughter and grandchildren 👌💚 that's, worth so much
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences with us about your off grid journey. At various times in the video you speak about the costs, the need for an amount of money to accomplish your plans and the fact that your "pot" of money ran out while your plans were still to be accomplished. Also the fact that certain acquaintances may have found the same issue and so gave up the dream and returned to whence they came. Can you share for us the amount of money you estimate that it would take to comfortably accomplish the move, I am hoping to be free to start my journey in the next few months and would really like to hear your thoughts on just how much I should plan on spending to purchase or develop a small holding to be relatively self sufficient in providing for myself. I will have a steady retirement income as well as investment income with a healthy but certainly not large/unlimited capital pot available as I attempt to relocate from Canada, I am hoping to do it for somewhere in the neighbourhood of $300,000.00 Euros, do you think that will be enough for a humble farm/quinta? Warmest regards and be well.../Bob
Hi Bob, I think you can definitely find a nice Quinta and live well for that amount. With some planning. We really did it on a much smaller budget. One of our friends had 100k but spent 65 of it on their land without a house. It's the that it's tough but you could buy a beautiful farm for well under that and live comfortably off the rest for quite some time. We will do a what does it cost off grid vid soon 💚🌱💚
We have a place in Portugal ,not off grid thank goodness. Mains water ,electricity , we have bottle gas for heating water and a gas hob. The land has just over 5,000 square meters, of good boulder free agricultural land. There are two wells on the land, one does dry to mud, but the second has always maintained water.
We are of an older generation that suffered outside toilets and bathing once a week in a tin bath.
By the time you reach into your 70’s, perhaps with grandchildren living off grid may not be all you wish for.
It may only be a short period of the adventures life holds in store to be remembered at will.
Don't think having an outside toilet and bathroom would particularly bother us per say. It's more the volume of infrastructure needing building to time to budget ratios....
That Said can't say how I'd feel in say 10 years. Although I'd certainly hope to have all the infrastructure completed long before then. We've always pretty much lived for today so we shall see
yes we never sold the house,cant get me doughter out of it,so weve got the back bedroom.
Haha, don't blame her 👌🙏
hi guys; having lived on a narrow boat the last 15 years it can be a hard slog.seen freinds come and go,they call it the 5 year itch,sold the boat last year and bought our land in portugal,,not to live there just 6 months a year,3 x 3,chinese heaters are brill, houses to me are just a cave,good luck.
Cheers Shane and always fancied boat life myself. Are you housebound now or Van lifers. Chinese heaters are indeed brill, one in the van is awesome and have installed one in the cabin now too
Dows the land stick a bore hole in,waters at different levels,deeper the better
Definitely on the dowsing but not a fan of bore holes unless, we get really desperate in the future. For now also have a new 50,000 liter water bladder 💦💧
@@TheWildlandersOffGrid whats wrong with a borehole,thats a big bladder.
Keep going
Gotta fill the bladder now mind!
It sounds to me that you have to be rich to go live "off-grid" or have some passive income from renting a house or having a store with your parents' help or something something... unless you don't mind to live in utter poverty in exchange for the outdoor/agricultural lifestyle
We still work and you definitely cannot survive without some income. The trick is to find income from being off grid. We're working towards this but again it's down partly to infrastructure. Ie, we need proper toilets, so we can host garden open days....
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3 years? Blimey. Good on yer.
Yep time has flown!
Thanks for this very informative video on the reality of things. Did you say you get 20 to 30 quid a month from youtube? and that it takes 2 and half days editing a video? How much is that in euros? Is it worth doing it? I love to watch people's video, don't take me wrong. Cheers.
Yes I did, does, go up at other times, of the year and we do do well on sponsorships, so it's not all bad but it is, as they say a lot of work that does, at times, eat into time that could be spent building...
Watched u for ages and love it but I think Rosie’s cabin should come first she will be grown before u know it and be off in the world making her own adventures xx
Agreed, Rosies, cabin is only slow due to budgetary issues! But hope to finish it this year 🌞
So it's hard then living in a van , your place looks fabulous to so it's Harder .
Love the van but equally like some space, and to be able to sit up!
Apreciate the open flow way you talk (and do) things. You actually surprise me how good you do.
Belive the "problem" is not if you go off grid or on grid for power and water. Thats just a choice. Options. If you have enough money off grid can be quite luxurious, prepper style kind of thing.
The "problem" its money and work (that includes a lifestyle). Money and time (work).
If one have enough money anything its possible, and even easy and fast. In all of this things, land management, building, etc, one trades money x time. More money, faster. Less money slower (and more work).
So, if one is a young couple, full of energy and reasonably good at dyi skill, and are willing to live a frugal simple life, its possible to live and built a homestead living on the cheap (still, money is needed, maybe 1000 euros monthly, minimum, plus building money). If you are not full of energy and time, not good diy, have kids or elderlies, you better have a good chunk of money!
Other thing is...ilusions! Delusions.
A marketgarden (or and orchard business, or a nursery...) is a full time job in its self. And not all lands are suitables. Not every type of land, not every size. This are very tuff competitive business. Not a lazy side kick...
Other ilusion is "self suficience", wich is simply not possible at all. Not even desirable. Its anti social. Even to rise to somekind of 50% selfsuficience in food one will need to invest a lot of time and work before that. Years.. 5 to 10 years.
Just managing a 3 acre property, even in a loose, no pressure kind of way, takes time and money. And no money comes out of it. Its a expensive time consumming job in its self, homesteading. And even with big money a homestead is a forever job. Never ends. Its a marriage, and romance its not enough and ever present. You really need to like it and want it, to endure through times...
Another thing is loneliness. Its not all comunity, party and fun. Most of it is : take care of yourself and dont mess with me...even neighbors can be big problems.
When i saw dozens of youtubers comming to Portugal doing this i was in desbelive. Seemed unreal. Lots of people doing ilegal stuff, and showing off on the internet!
But was inspiring too. Some people do great. You guys do fairly well.
Because of youtube (revenue) some of the most incompetent ones on the land are even the most sucefull ones!
But for many its just an allucination, dreams of lazy gardenning, "freedom" and selfsuficience destiny to fail fairly kick.
Hope you guys make it. Good luck.
Morning not really sure what you're saying. Your observations of off grid or are you off grid?
Some of your opinion seems generalised to off grid and I don't disagree others seem more directed to us. We do know a lot of people off grid and the majority have little to no money but make do. I think being out of the ratcrace is part of the journey so by default once their pot of savings is gone then it's down to surviving. Some had already diversified like us from traditional living to vanlife so we already had a remote job. But off grid or on grid self employed work can or maybe always has it's ups and downs.
And you're right homesteading is full time but it's not a Job it's a labour of love, it's a lifestyle choice. But I don't agree you can't aim for a form of self sufficiency, there's many or certainly some leading the way. You could in theory grow enough food to feed your family and have spare to trade in less than an acre. But it does as you say take time and money to set up. It's a journey or part of the journey. I didn't really know of anyone that's completed that journey in Portugal wheras in America the traditional place of homesteaders many are sufficient. Or self sufficient in a modern way.
For us it's about the land providing so whatever we cannot grow comes from selling or trading what we cannot grow in very simple terms.
We did a test on our nursery idea at the weekend to see demand and what it theoretically proved is we can increase our income even replace it in the longterm with our nursery idea. So watch this place as we've been living alternatively for 20 years and we are tenacious and positive and we don't give up easily.
Thanks for a good comment adding and inspiring the debate
What's your situation? Observing or doing?
@@TheWildlandersOffGrid Basicaly what im saying is on grid x off grid dosent matter much. The issue is "homesteading". And its all about money. Money x time (work). If you have a lot of money everything is easier and faster. If not, slower and more dificult.
Off grid just is more cost up front, and a bit more maintainance. Generaly off grid costs more. Its the price of individuality and independence.
The ilusions are about homesteading. Small homesteads dont make money. Never did, not even in the old days of extreme poverty and big families (cheap work). Nowdays only makes money with "rural tourism", workshops (agro, wellness...), or youtube. Food prodution (veggies, fruit, meat, nursery, firewood) dosent makes money in this context, at best gives one a bit of self prodution (usually at more expensive costs then supermaket).
Homesteads costs money. So, if one comes into small homesteading with ilusions of going "out of the rat race", lazy gardenning, "freedom", etc, very fast discover it was a mistake.
Going out of rat race means you still have to work, but your work is to manage others people s work, or your are managing money, so other people or money is making money for you. So you are not dependent on your limited 40 hours a week of work/prodution time. You manage time, not give your time...
I live in a 3 acre homestead, do permaculture, and have visited hundrees of other small homesteads because i do landscape as a job, and have many relatives/friends/clients that live of landscaping, constrution, nursery, fruit and veggie prodution. Im also a client, and have been in several off grid places, including comunity style places.
Most of the best places were less then 2 acres - usually under 1 acre - managed by old couples (generaly expats). Those were the most produtive, more beautiful and safer places i saw. And as soon as one gets too old or dies and goes out the place is sold...hopefully, if it was well manage, values more then before. So, for a older couple comming from northen europe, spending a couple of years here is a good investment, not only because life is cheaper, and better weather, but because becomes a good real state investment. Well...at least before this last 5 year madness in prices. Lets see how it goes...
Anyway, like you said, there are people outhere doing incredible stuff that seems almost impossible in preview. There are always exceptions. Good ones. Inspiring ones. And for what i see in your videos you might just be one of then. Hope you do.
I agree on size were basically only u sing an acre. We've started building up our stocks for our small plant nursery but an acre is fine. Amazing how many pots fit into a small area....
We're very fortunate as, we have our own business and it doesn't take all our time, so aort from that and youtube we can spend most of our time gardening and or building things 😊
Thankfully a wonderful community around us so many friends. So social but also helping each other and barter too 🙏👌
But I think whilst at times, you come across as a bit negative I do T disagree in the main
Where is your off grid or homestead?
@@TheWildlandersOffGrid as i told you before im not off grid, and very glad im not, specially on water. On power im in process of becomming, partly off grid. And, as told you before, im central litoral, near nazare.
Understand it may feel a bit negative, but actually i love homesteading, love permaculture, and love seeing people doing it and showing it on youtube. Sometimes its inspiring and educative. But feel its harmfull to be unrealistic, and see lots of people giving up (like you mention in your video) because they started on idealistic bases, have no idea what they are doing, do ilegal stuff (specially on building), make very bad choices...many off them influenced by youtubers. But, its only opinions, i may be wrong, every case is unique...
This is the first year i didnt expand my nursery (non comercial, just for self consume), just repotted left ones from last year, still have hundreeds. Its beautifull. But harder work then it seems, and very hard business. The professionals i know and work with have to sell many thousands, many on cents of profit. Lots of reselling too. And lots and lots of regulations. Complucated accounting. Big infrastucture. Tons of soil, compost, petmoss, trucks, and, most of all, plastic! Good luck for yours.
I'm going for 50 /50
As in 50/50 stay vs leave?
@@TheWildlandersOffGrid no idea ide had a drink when I wrote that, ill have to watch again
Haha that's, funny! 😂
whinging? To "whinge" means to complain or grumble persistently and in a peevish or irritating way. When someone "whinges" about being off the grid, they are likely expressing frustration or dissatisfaction about being disconnected from modern conveniences such as electricity, internet access, or other utilities.
Being off the grid often means living in a remote location or intentionally disconnecting from mainstream infrastructure. While some may find this lifestyle liberating or fulfilling, others may find it challenging due to the lack of amenities or conveniences they're accustomed to. Whinging about being off the grid could involve complaints about issues such as limited access to power, difficulties with communication or internet access, reliance on alternative sources of energy or water, or the inconvenience of being physically isolated from urban centers or services.
sound familiar?;)
Us having a whinge? Surely not 😂🤣
But yes, nothing wrong with a good whinge, especially sitting round a fire with others, off gridders, on the same journeys. It's full of joys but can be frustrating and having a healthy whinge is part of the brainstorming process or finding solutions. Mainly everyone whinges, about the things you mention but mainly it's infrastructure. With each part completed life becomes, a little bit easier....
Equally whinging or not it's, all part of a journey and personally I love it. Best life ever ❤️
@@TheWildlandersOffGrid
Sorry if I seem negative but really if I'm honest I'm just jealous, you have been able to chase your dreams and create some wonderful gardens and I'm stuck in my life doing my job and have to watch channels such as yours they're actually living my dream. I wish you all the best I look forward to seeing you guys have all the infrastructure you need to make your dreams come true maybe someday I can woof on your farm and help you achieve your goals 😊
Totally get you, is there a way you can achieve those dreams?
Catio is next... Then probably the toilet, once that's in we're better able to receiving people, however it's been on the list for years....
30 "quid"/month, is that 30 pounds/month?!
The land tax? That's, annually
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Basicly sorry to say but you dont have a plan ..you seem to just think for the moment..good luck.
Had and have many plans then there's freak weather, unpredicted income changes etc. Living in nature is different and things you've never done before are difficult to plan
Life is supposed to be an adventure. You've done everything right.@TheWildlandersOffGrid
Thanks Gary 👌☀️🌞
Did i hear you incorrectly or do you only earn £30 per month from youtube for all your hard work on the channel? I think i must have misunderstood!!
No that's it 😔 it does go up at Christmas but it's not well paid until you get huge
@@TheWildlandersOffGrid why does it go up Christmas haha? We lived in our van for 2 years and had/have a channel but all the filming was interfering with just simply enjoying ourselves and with only a few hundred subscribers couldn't really see the point in carrying on!! I truly thought with 14000 subscribers you'd earn more than that because I know how much work is involved!!
At Crimbo advertisers bid more to advertise therefore the revenue is higher. Have to be honest and while youtube it's self is pretty pants if you combine sponsorships, Patreon and buy me a coffee it all helps. But it is as you found a lot of work and arguably one might achieve more certainly time wise with doing other things. I guess for me it's also the want and hope to inspire others that is the most positive thing about clogging....
I enjoyed watching your video, for your plan to propagate plants for sale I would like to recommend a UA-camr from America, maybe you already know his contributions...it is / edibleacres / especially his airprunboxes for plant propagation in small spaces with high Number may also be something for your project.
Thanks for sharing as we weren't following them and have now, subscribed THANK YOU 💚💚