Hey guys thanks for watching! We left the hawk in the cage with the door open so he could leave on his own time. Do u guys think i would've made a good falconer? 🦅🦅🦅
Matt, I have to say, few people can become world class in one area, and then completely change and do it again in another area. You are a natural in front of the camera. Your wit and your quick thinking is impressive. Well done. I enjoy watching you both. I look forward to your adventures every week. I wish you all the success in this new endeavor.
@@SailingGoodBadandUgly I haven't watched the last video and have not yet watched this one but I just wanted to ask you Matt and Kris what type of house do you plan to build. Of course you have a limited budget but I was wondering if you were considering building a traditional wooden house on stilts? Many advantages...
Matt, from an engineer to a diy I just want to say you would have a much stronger roof by putting metal panels at 90 degrees to the poles they are on. Have been watching you two for many years and love your spirit and drive. You helped inspire me to make the move to full time on a sailboat. Thanks bro.
I’m sure he would’ve run the corrugated roofing across the bamboo poles if they were all the same diameter and straight, but could you imagine trying to screw down the roofing on uneven surface ? Being a temporary and laying the corrugated ridges with the length of the poles allow the roofing to flex enough to screw them down.
Props to Matt for getting hands on with a hawk! Glad the chickens were OK. As for your Tacoma, maybe put a winch on it? You'd be able to pull yourself out of trouble, and the winch could come in handy for other tasks. You have trees everywhere that you could anchor yourself to. It's a lot cheaper than buying a 4x4.
How about a handheld winch that could be used in multiple ways to decrease the strain on Matt's back. You should of had hawk mcnuggets for dinner and that would be solved.😈🍗
Those lizards are looking for a free baby KFC meal ! mentioned it before you need Borax for that bamboo or it will be chewed up by the termites. For soft bits of road keep piling in more stones and rocks in that area. It will be a great day when you can brew your own coffee and all the struggles are behind you.
Just goes to show you can never let your guard down! So glad no chicks or chickens where lost! FYI hawks/raptors can take out any size cat be very careful with those kittens! Can’t wait for the next video! God bless everyone
Because of the rain there, you will need at least gravel, 3" size for a base and the work down to 1" size later on. The gravel is necessary even if you do a hard surface for the next step. Asphalt might work, suggest talk with locals and see what their experience is. Also, cost could help you make the decision. Also, with the roofing panels, if possible, run the screws on the high ridges to lessen chance of leaks as the water will tend to run off the ridges and puddle on the low spots. The place is shaping up nicely!
I agree with Greg. I had off-the grid property in Oregon, where it rained a lot, up on the hills with a very steep driveway and it was all gravel. Also, if a land roller compactor can get in there to pack it, you’ll be very happy with the results.
Must have been those old fighter reflexes and your being a good dad to your kittens, peeps, and chicks Matt, that snatched Mr. (or Ms.) Hawk right out of the air. Mr. Hawk looked a wee bit dumbfounded about his circumstances and gave you some respect. Many would have bid Mr. Hawk a rapid farewell but this guy will live to see a another day due to yours and Kristen's love and respect for animals as well. BRAVO!! This story just keeps getting better! Be safe you two. See ya next week.
Watching you hold the hawk I told my sons and wife you caught and are holding a hawk. They were shocked and asked why. I replied because you are a beast! You bought a 5k 50 yr old boat and sailed the oceans, rebuilt the boat and are now taming the jungle. I wish I was more like you buddy! You’re a beast!
Definitely Hawks that size could take your kittens too. It would be good to keep them contained when not supervised closely. Even kept under a shade in an enclosed area with you guys. It only takes a minute for one to swoop down. My friend has lost full grown farm cats to eagles. Literally helpless as he watched them being carried away. Have to respect those predators. They have babies to feed too. Don't discount those big iguanas for eggs and baby chicks; they are mostly herbivores but will do eggs and baby birds. Wish you guys all the luck possible and so glad you are learning and taking things seriously. Really respect your mindfullness for the ecology and nature as you develop your property. If you go the gravel route for your roads and pathways, you must put down cloth to stop plants growing through. 😊
Matt, just some advice. Here in Australia we know all about cyclones and your roof, as others have mentioned should have the sheets running accoss the beams. Also if you see the way winds rip off a roof it usually picks up the windward edge. How about putting some of those bamboos around the roof perimeter on top of the sheeting and wire it down with heavy wire to the concrete wall. Also in Australia we call a pickup a utility, how about Tilly for a name?
I agree with the constable completely. Maybe you could rip one of those bamboo trunks in half the long way . screw them in around the edges and maybe one across the middle. Keep in mind , I've never worked with bamboo so what do I know ?
It's funny: As your doing the first high speed clip of Matt chopping into the lower brush blocking the view, each time he takes a mighty swing - all the trees around him shudder, as if in fear, crying, 'OH NO, HERE COMES THAT CRAZY TREE SLAYER!! RUN (very, very slowly)!!!
With as much as you’re going to have to beat back the jungle foliage on a continuous basis, a decent mulcher would be a valuable investment. Something that can handle 2 to 3” diameter would be good. Beyond that you can save for firewood/kindling.
That’s so cool you can take bamboo from your land and use it to make a roof. I love that. It’s a bummer you can’t let the chickens roam around. Also I love the music you are adding with the time lapse. Beautiful.
Bamboo here is protected by natural resources and is illegal to cut or trim them. They need to have a special permit and they are allowed only if the bamboo is a threat to life and property. This guys have broken many laws of natural resources. Including what he did to the falcon. He caught it and put it in a cage. Thats illegal and is jail time
@@danny96787 I've searched for a while online and can't find any evidence in Puerto Rico's laws that states that you can't cut or trim bamboo. I have a hard time believing that would be the case on private property, especially. As a matter of fact, I did read a lot of articles talking about invasive species of bamboo in PR that I'm sure governing bodies would be happy to be rid of. And concerning the "falcon" -- that's a common juvenile red-tailed hawk. Not a protected bird. What Matt did is not illegal, nor would it involve jail time lol. And more importantly, it's silly for you to imply that he should have let this bird eat their baby chicks, just for the sake of "protecting the wildlife". The hawk got a good scare by being caught mid-attack, but Matt didn't kill it or injure it in any way. They left the cage door open for it and it flew away in its own time. You should probably re-assess your moral/ethical priorities on this one, because they seem to be lacking.
@@monkyznblondz i live in the island. And you need special permits. One thing you. Need to understand is that you wont find many things on the internet from the island. Specially if you search it in english. Because things here are still done old school you wont even find most laws online because they are not online. You have to go to specific places. Register to get the info you need. Bamboo is protected and you need special permits to trim or cut. And the ones who are authorized to cut it is the municipality you live only if the bamboo is a threat to life or property. The bamboo of puerto rico is a centenary bamboo. If you dont live on the island you dont know what you are taking about. Also if their land is situated in the rain forest there are 20 rain forest in puerto rico. All of them are fully protected and if you have land that is inside the rain forest you need all kind of permits to do anything even to clean with tractors like they did here. Cause there are many species that are protected like the coqui. And before they sent a machine to clean they needed to hire a biologist to make a survey. That means the biolofist needed to put traps around the property for at least a week and see what species are in the land. And removed them if there any My cousin is a professor and a biologist and he is one of the few on the island who does the survey for that kind of stuff. And i have gone to work with him and others doing that.
@@danny96787 I'll admit that I don't live there so could be wrong about the municipalities. However, I do know that PR has more than one type of bamboo, and even invasive speeches that was planted there in the 40s and 50s. But again, since I don't know what type they have, it's a moot point. You were, however, way off base about the hawk. They handled that about as well as they could, and a lot of people would have killed it in trying to get it to stop attacking. Matt did a good job in an incredibly stressful moment for them, and you shouldn't paint them like they're trying to terrorize all of the wildlife lol.
Matt you are BRAVE I can't believe that you grabbed that hawk. I'm so happy nothing happened to Roxanne or her babies. The kittens are so sweet. A hawk that size I was questioning if he could grab a kitty. Dear Lord. The land is looking beautiful. Matt your a protector Kristen you are Blessed and so is Matt you two compliment each other. God Bless you both ❤❤
Respect, friends. We all live with you in your adventures. I respect your concern not only for the chicks but also for the hawk that is part of Mother Nature. Just like we are part of it.
Matt if you can find 3in lime Stone rock for a base let it settle in for a couple months then go with a 1 in Limestone Rock looks like you have a great distance of a Road start with Let the Rain settle the Rock after its spread out wettest spots first try not to drive on it when it's wet.
OK, there are a lot of amazing MMA fighters out there. And yes, lots of talk over those who even accept a crazy fight on less than two weeks' notice. But how many of them go into a cage fight with a hawk on zero notice? Just saying. Matt, you are my here! Always love the videos and especially this new chapter in your two's lives! So fun to watch and continue to learn along the way! Thanks as always for sharing and always with you all the best!
you need to concrete that hill matt . first monsoon and gravel is in the river along with the road . roots was holding the hill up . take out vines and roots and you got a mudslide .
I live in south Florida. My home is on the barrier island just south of Sebastian. I have the same problem you do removing thick vines and brush. The one tool I rely on the most is a small battery powered chain saw. No gas. No long extension cord. But it chews up vines, and cuts small trees and branches like going through butter up to a thickness of about 3 inches. It can cut larger thicknesses, but you are probably going to leave them as shade trees. Then, at night you can recharge the battery while you sleep. Though being married to Kristen, you can probably find more interesting things to do at night.
Your hard work is paying off Matt. Fantastic catch grabbing that hawk. Of course there will be losses with farm animals and things do happen. Live & Learn. Don't put so much pressure on yourself. Love watching you guys & your adventures. Still miss the boat adventures though...
Just got back from the boat show in Annapolis and as soon as I walked into the camper( I’m out of town working in York PA) I told the wife it’s time to watch homesteading GBU.
For now crown the downhill roads with drainage one or both sides depending on the water run. Best wishes for no problems due to the tropical storm headed your way. Nice save in the chicken coop. Your fighting instinct made you grab that hawk. 💪 The roof looks good. Momma chicken fought the hawk long enough for you to get there. Ms. Tyson did well. 🐓🐥
I believe that was a "Cooper's Hawk". As for it biting you, If it bit something like your finger, Its beak would most likely go to the bone. You wouldn't want to get bit by one. lol. It was spreading its wings out like that to make itself look much larger, it's a defense thing they do when fighting a larger predator.
Wait, wait! Grabbing hawk mid air? What in tarnation...?!!! I mean when I saw Matt with hawk in his hands, with empty -just got out of bed- stare, holding it like it was toothbrush- I thought it was cartoon. EXACTLY like a kid when you catch him stealing jam from a jar. I expected him to say "It wasn't me!". Had to reload 3 times to believe. Meme material if I ever saw one.
I have enjoyed I have enjoyed watching UA-cam first time he came on it wasn't about the boat it was about yalls relationship and this is just a new chapter in fun to watch
That hawk was just doing what Hawks do and thank you for not dispatching it. It was born and raised there before y’all got there and soon the cats will be holding down the fortress
Welcome to parenthood 101!!! Can't turn your back for a minute until you have adjusted to your new surroundings and pets! Good luck as it's an adventure and property is starting to take shape!!!
If Matt ask the question about Falconer probably would make a outstanding one. On the other hand if Kristin asked the question she would definitely make one hell of a Falconer. As you both know I am biased LOL. You two are awesome and you can do anything you want to do. Matt on the road, I would look around and see what people have done. Wishing you two all the best. God Bless you two in all things. ❤
Most folk on farms for example use gravel for roads but not the round pebble type but crushed stone with sharp edges so the stones lock in to each other. That would be fine for your "road" but if you have a known soft spot first lay a decent geotextile down before the gravel or the mud will come through. In fact use a large stone sub-base first and then top that off with the gravel on the known bad spots. Good luck, doing a great job there! Well done for catching that hawk too, they are beautiful birds but naturally you don't want them scoffing your chicks, bunnies, kittens whatever for lunch.
Hey guys! So glad any of the chickens and chicks weren’t killed. Wild animals are meant to hunt so you always have to be on the lookout. Besides, the hawk could also be a mom looking for food for her chicks, so it’s just nature. May I suggest for the road you could do a cement path on the tire tracks and because it’s so humid there, the cement doesn’t get moldy. I think it cheaper and it would last for a long time. Love and be safe!🤗😘🌼🇻🇪
Since the Taco is only 2wd I’d name it “Skid” also, that Taco has an electric differential so if you turn off your traction control it’ll lock both wheels when it slips
Letting the air out of your rear tires when in soft surfaces can help traction. It increases the tire footprint on the ground. This helps the tire not sink so far into the surface. The tire will flex more thereby flicking out material that gets in the tread grooves. They should look pretty flat. Keep a cigarette plugged air compressor in the truck. Remote winch is a good option as well. Also putting in a limited slip rear differential would make the truck a beast. Great videos as always.
Wow guys, that was so close, thank goodness you seen what was happening and could intervene. I was still busy smiling at the footage of you with the kittens.👍❤
HAHHAHHAHAHAHAHA!!! Yeah, and Matt walks out with a hawk in his hand!!! Hilarious! Glad he didn't reach down and take a big chunk out of your hand. That's how they eat ya know.
So much fun watching you guys figure out your new situation. Glad the chickens are ok. What a legend, grabbing a hawk in flight! Thanks for the videos.
You're right, everyone makes mistakes, but that happening isn't really a mistake, it is just a part of living with nature, and thank goodness Matt was right there to catch that hawk, I think Matt catching it and putting it in that cage for a bit may have taught that hawk a lesson, and that hawk may not ever mess with that chicken coop again. lol. Thank goodness all the chickens are okay.
Hey you guys love following along. It's funny how we are doing the same exact thing but in the opposite way. We went from homesteading to sailing and I gotta tell ya, we had hawks and owls take off with our fully grown cats before and the were pretty good sized cats 😢 we've also had weezels dig under our chicken coop and try steeling our eggs. I know I bit about homesteading and don't mind answering any questions you might have about it. As for your road, I have run into some muddy areas my self and have found that laying down the biggest rock / gravel you can find and getting it packed down really good then coming in over top of it with a nice thinner gravel that packs together really good seems to work. But you want to lay down that big gravel really thick! Depending on how muddy it gets and how thick you lay it down, it should last you a few years before you'll need to add to it again. The earth will keep swallowing it over the years until it finally finds good solid ground to settle on underneath all that mud and soft ground... Anyway I hope this helps you a little and works out for you, you are in a rain forest after all so everything is going to take time to settle into a solid surface. Beautiful land you have there tho 😁
I don’t say negative comments, however wear gloves when handling raptors. I am enjoying this series, have done that sort of thing in Colorado and Washington state. It always felt good to me. My DD T-shirt arrived very cool. Much love PS the road thing, use sharp 4. Inch minus and have big boy pack it with the machine, dry and then after rain
If you can keep the water from pooling on the road by having little channels taking it away from the problem areas its a great start. Most people then lay rough grade, like building rubble, larger stone as the bed. Once you are happy with the base you can cover with your choice of gravel. The locals might point out what works best and is available there. I've lived on a gravel road for over thirty years, you will always have to maintain it.👍
Matt, for your driveway, I would suggest brushed concrete. It’s durable for years and the brushed surface is rough enough to give your lil 2x4 a good surface for traction. Good luck man. Really enjoy your videos
Chickens are pretty good fighters. We found a fox in our Chicken cage a couple of years ago, it had been pecked to death, it killed 4 chickens but the 6 remaining ones got revenge. BTW, ideally you want to run the roof corrugation in the opposite way to the beams supporting it and use batons to further support it, so you can walk on it but also to prevent it collapsing or warping in bad weather.
Kids. What ya gotta do! Road building is a science and depends on the soil and grade of the road. I used 40 tons of road base. It compacts hard. But you have to dome the road in the middle so that water flows to the sides. Build up low spots and trim high spots. You definitely don't want a ski slope to slide all the way down. Concrete, depends on the soil and how much it swells and shrinks. Blacktop can get slick and will crack like concrete from roots expanding underneath. Ask your local road builder. You can build your house on stilts to get a better view. Remember, trees grow higher and water does flow.😂
No matter what you put down it's going to start with very large gravel. Do not start with small gravel or you will have a mud pit with small gravel because the small gravel will just get pushed into the mud. You have to start with large gravel, let that get worked in. Then you go to the smaller gravel, and that will be all you need. Paving is absolutely too expensive in my opinion.
Loving your new adventure/effort. I've become kinda jaded watching all these industrious cruisers doing incredible work bringing hurricane-beaten boats back to life and out on the water. There's definitely a beauty in that and I enjoy watching them immensely...but refitting land is a whole different ballgame and you guys have taken to it like beavers. Great work. Thanks for detailing it for us. Your efforts have exhausted me for the day, though. Time to go sit around the pool and do something else unproductive. Edit: first comment made before the great Mike Tyson fight. That was wild! But, as you realized, not to be unexpected. Way to bring it to us.
This is a very awesome UA-cam idk channel. I feel like I’m there with you on this journey. Best of luck to you. Maybe a good Shepard puppy is up next to help protect the farm.
"Sure Pack" is the best gravel, if it is available. Then there is transporting of gravel. A 1/2 ton pickup will take about an 1/8th of shovel full, and that will bottom out the springs. So there is that. Large gravel will provide drainage, but be rougher on feet and tires. If you have to move gravel or dirt by hand it will be measured in days rather than hours. Please, if you are moving dirt, or gravel by hand; pace yourself, and do not try to do it quickly. Find a pace that does not cause pain or over exhaustion.
Coming along,looking good! With you guys being so close to the stream/river and hill side springs you may want to consider alternative waste water systems rather than septic. Perhaps an incinerator toilet and a gray water catch of some sort? Obviously with the gray water system biodegradable soaps and such would be part of it. From the looks of it, the stream already has heavy run off and such in it. It would suck to make it worse.
I had a hawk come down right behind me. The hawk dont care if you left or not. They are very strong. I left on a different occasion come right back and one of my chickens head was off. What ever it was left the body. The right mama will die and,baby's are the reason. Glad she is OK and her baby's.
For your roads. Use crushed shell. Drains good. Doesn't make mud. Great for swampy areas. Should be cheaper than any other material other than your jungle mulch.
We lost 5 out of 8 chickens this spring due to hawks. We let our quard down one evening allowing the chickens to free range until they put themselves to bed at sunset. Yes, lessons learned, but at the cost of 5 chickens. The hawks seemed to kill them for sport. That was a very bad day.
Lots of exposed clay. Make sure you think about erosion. Your next rain event you are going to add a lot of silt to your creek. Think about putting down a base or seeding with grass over the roads, otherwise you'll need to bring a machine back to clean up the ruts. Also, for farming your top soil is realy important (6") All dirt is not equal so keep that in mind as you begin to clear areas for planting. May wanr to start adding compost to areas where the top soil was stripped. VERY impressed with you guys! Thanks for inspiring me.
3” to 4 inch rock as the base and c86 for the top aka 2inch to fines it like another country down there so they might call it something else but crushed white rock is going to be the best and most places sale weed mat in 6’ to 12’ wide and 200 to 500 foot lengths it’s heavy shit you can put down first and it helps stop you from losing all your rock in the mud
good to see ,that you care about the animals on your farm . now you might better understand ,why several movable secure tunnel fences for chickens are useful in addition to main enclosure .1. protection for chickens still to young to defend themselves .2. extended self feed range 3. chickens temporary on restricted ground will prepare the ground for garden plants ,like mini tractors including fertilizing 4.for days you are away beyond' bedtime ',you connect the tunnels secure with their main ' home ' and the chickens have extended feed range in more secure circumstances ,including access to their nests and water/feeder. strong adult chickens on days you are at home as free range . the above is of good mutual benefit :protection as needed ,but as free as possible .
Excellent videography and editing. I picture Kristin seated under an umbrella with a margarita on a table beside her as she records and directs Matt's work. Hydro and solar both sound good. Great preplanning before getting into large builts. It will payoff. We would love to order some GBU Puerto Rico mountain grown coffee in the future so please plan a coffee bean prep and shipping area. Maybe some roasted, ground, or blended in the future? Great use of the bamboo. UFC fighter 1, hawk 0.
If you get spinning too much, put a shit load of weight in back and you can let a bunch of air out of tires and it will help, if you gotta way of pumping back up.
My husband said you need a four wheel truck it would work better for the environment you guys have on your property oh great job on grabbing that hawk although I will say she’s beautiful I’m glad the chickens and the peeps are ok and the kittens and bear 😊
@@SailingGoodBadandUglyfind a older Toyota Land Cruiser.. parts are everywhere.. and cheap.. one of the most capable vehicles on earth.. FJ40!!! Matt would LOVES him an fj40
Get you a larger 4x4 four wheeler……small nimble, will,climb a mountain and pull the taco…that and a small trailer and you will have a farming/building machine….and they don’t cost a fortune
When your drone flew over the roof and it cast its shadow on the metal sheets just for a moment I thought "Christ they have big cockroaches there !" Also remember that as they kittens grow up they may well start taking an "interest" in the chickens especially the littles ones, not unlike that of the hawk.
Ha! That baby dinosaur frog is a cutey. I lost track of your boat... is it near enough that you can (or want?) to jump out for a sail once in a while. Would be a nice change of scenery. Matt with those western 'work' boots 😎🤠👍
It probably would’ve been a good idea to put some one by two or one by four run in the opposite way of your bamboo rafters to keep that structure like a strong grid and then that’s what you would nail your aluminum roofing too, just a thought. Ps Overhang of your roof is good, it protects your foundation keeps things dry.
i love the shot of the hawk. he's all like "what bro? I'm just a hawk" though i did have a thought like "man remember chickens are dinosaurs." You guys are ideal farmers that try to integrate with nature and end up with the best produce n' stuff. Good luck with the farm!!!
Matt, my friend, who works with birds of prey, got lanced by a hawk that was slipping off her glove. She got an infection and spent seven days in the hospital, so be careful!
Hey guys thanks for watching! We left the hawk in the cage with the door open so he could leave on his own time. Do u guys think i would've made a good falconer? 🦅🦅🦅
You caught a wild hawk in your bare hands 😮 …. Tarzan 😊
@@DonFarmer-hq5sw😂😅 to be fair I just broke up a fight
Amazing you caught the hawk in flight. Fearless.
That falcon would be buttered on a spit with some old bay seasoning imho. Tastes like chicken I'll wager.
It was attacking your animals you should have delt with it and not givin it a second chance to kill your animals.
Matt, I have to say, few people can become world class in one area, and then completely change and do it again in another area. You are a natural in front of the camera. Your wit and your quick thinking is impressive. Well done. I enjoy watching you both. I look forward to your adventures every week. I wish you all the success in this new endeavor.
Thanks! But truth be told it's just that Kristen is good at editing me😅😂
@@SailingGoodBadandUglyThat’s a fact Jack ! 😂. Just pickin, I love y’all tremendously. Stay safe. 👍😎✌️🇺🇸🙏🏼
@@SailingGoodBadandUgly I haven't watched the last video and have not yet watched this one but I just wanted to ask you Matt and Kris what type of house do you plan to build. Of course you have a limited budget but I was wondering if you were considering building a traditional wooden house on stilts? Many advantages...
Cement and cement blocks much cooler and hurricane proof when using rebar.
@lorenzoblum868 we want to build something kind've big we plan on putting roots down here for the next ten yrs or so so we need something family sized
UA-cam, this couple is amazing! Grow their audience because they absolutely deserve it for being real and honest! Love you guys.
Matt, from an engineer to a diy I just want to say you would have a much stronger roof by putting metal panels at 90 degrees to the poles they are on. Have been watching you two for many years and love your spirit and drive. You helped inspire me to make the move to full time on a sailboat. Thanks bro.
I was going to say the same thing about the roof panels.👍
Perlins. Smaller dim wood perpendicular to main beams to support corrugated roofing. Only way to run sheet roofing.
I’m sure he would’ve run the corrugated roofing across the bamboo poles if they were all the same diameter and straight, but could you imagine trying to screw down the roofing on uneven surface ? Being a temporary and laying the corrugated ridges with the length of the poles allow the roofing to flex enough to screw them down.
@@gkeller9958 no, should run sheeting perpendicular to rafters, there is little integrity to that design.. anyway, it is doing the job temporarily!
agreed!
Props to Matt for getting hands on with a hawk! Glad the chickens were OK.
As for your Tacoma, maybe put a winch on it? You'd be able to pull yourself out of trouble, and the winch could come in handy for other tasks. You have trees everywhere that you could anchor yourself to. It's a lot cheaper than buying a 4x4.
So many changes on YT.....
The winch is a great idea!
How about a handheld winch that could be used in multiple ways to decrease the strain on Matt's back. You should of had hawk mcnuggets for dinner and that would be solved.😈🍗
I would get me a pair of snow chains for the drive wheels as a first option. if its only once in a while, maybe that'll do!
I was waiting for a missing finger or two! In Australia we call that species chicken hawkes....as they literally love eating chickens! Great work 👏
Those lizards are looking for a free baby KFC meal !
mentioned it before you need Borax for that bamboo or it will be chewed up by the termites.
For soft bits of road keep piling in more stones and rocks in that area.
It will be a great day when you can brew your own coffee and all the struggles are behind you.
Just goes to show you can never let your guard down! So glad no chicks or chickens where lost! FYI hawks/raptors can take out any size cat be very careful with those kittens! Can’t wait for the next video! God bless everyone
Because of the rain there, you will need at least gravel, 3" size for a base and the work down to 1" size later on. The gravel is necessary even if you do a hard surface for the next step. Asphalt might work, suggest talk with locals and see what their experience is. Also, cost could help you make the decision.
Also, with the roofing panels, if possible, run the screws on the high ridges to lessen chance of leaks as the water will tend to run off the ridges and puddle on the low spots.
The place is shaping up nicely!
3 important principles in pavement design:
1. drainage
2. drainage
3. drainage
@@worms1 So maybe pervious concrete?
I agree with Greg. I had off-the grid property in Oregon, where it rained a lot, up on the hills with a very steep driveway and it was all gravel. Also, if a land roller compactor can get in there to pack it, you’ll be very happy with the results.
Perviou$ concrete could work if the $ubba$e is adequate
Your right, it would have been nice to walk down those with that machine.
Must have been those old fighter reflexes and your being a good dad to your kittens, peeps, and chicks Matt, that snatched Mr. (or Ms.) Hawk right out of the air. Mr. Hawk looked a wee bit dumbfounded about his circumstances and gave you some respect. Many would have bid Mr. Hawk a rapid farewell but this guy will live to see a another day due to yours and Kristen's love and respect for animals as well. BRAVO!! This story just keeps getting better! Be safe you two. See ya next week.
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Way to go Matt! The Hawk whisper. Ha! Sorry you had to go through that. Thanks for videoing it. Kristin, I’m glad you didn’t have a heart attack.
You are two of my favorite UA-cam folks. You have such love and compassion for each other and your critters.
Watching you hold the hawk I told my sons and wife you caught and are holding a hawk. They were shocked and asked why. I replied because you are a beast! You bought a 5k 50 yr old boat and sailed the oceans, rebuilt the boat and are now taming the jungle. I wish I was more like you buddy! You’re a beast!
I always love the real and raw that you have in your videos. Great stuff! Keep up the good work.
Definitely Hawks that size could take your kittens too.
It would be good to keep them contained when not supervised closely. Even kept under a shade in an enclosed area with you guys. It only takes a minute for one to swoop down. My friend has lost full grown farm cats to eagles. Literally helpless as he watched them being carried away. Have to respect those predators. They have babies to feed too. Don't discount those big iguanas for eggs and baby chicks; they are mostly herbivores but will do eggs and baby birds.
Wish you guys all the luck possible and so glad you are learning and taking things seriously. Really respect your mindfullness for the ecology and nature as you develop your property.
If you go the gravel route for your roads and pathways, you must put down cloth to stop plants growing through. 😊
kudos to matt strolling around holding a hawk...those talons are sharp . hopefully old hawky knows matty now and stays away !!
The talons are incredible sharp😅😂
you should name the taco truck "HAWKEYE" 🤣
no one can say Matt is a afraid of work, . also what a great protector of his animals
Matt, just some advice. Here in Australia we know all about cyclones and your roof, as others have mentioned should have the sheets running accoss the beams. Also if you see the way winds rip off a roof it usually picks up the windward edge. How about putting some of those bamboos around the roof perimeter on top of the sheeting and wire it down with heavy wire to the concrete wall.
Also in Australia we call a pickup a utility, how about Tilly for a name?
I agree with the constable completely. Maybe you could rip one of those bamboo trunks in half the long way . screw them in around the edges and maybe one across the middle. Keep in mind , I've never worked with bamboo so what do I know ?
It's funny: As your doing the first high speed clip of Matt chopping into the lower brush blocking the view, each time he takes a mighty swing - all the trees around him shudder, as if in fear, crying, 'OH NO, HERE COMES THAT CRAZY TREE SLAYER!! RUN (very, very slowly)!!!
With as much as you’re going to have to beat back the jungle foliage on a continuous basis, a decent mulcher would be a valuable investment. Something that can handle 2 to 3” diameter would be good. Beyond that you can save for firewood/kindling.
That’s so cool you can take bamboo from your land and use it to make a roof. I love that. It’s a bummer you can’t let the chickens roam around. Also I love the music you are adding with the time lapse. Beautiful.
Bamboo here is protected by natural resources and is illegal to cut or trim them. They need to have a special permit and they are allowed only if the bamboo is a threat to life and property.
This guys have broken many laws of natural resources.
Including what he did to the falcon. He caught it and put it in a cage. Thats illegal and is jail time
@@danny96787 I've searched for a while online and can't find any evidence in Puerto Rico's laws that states that you can't cut or trim bamboo. I have a hard time believing that would be the case on private property, especially. As a matter of fact, I did read a lot of articles talking about invasive species of bamboo in PR that I'm sure governing bodies would be happy to be rid of.
And concerning the "falcon" -- that's a common juvenile red-tailed hawk. Not a protected bird. What Matt did is not illegal, nor would it involve jail time lol. And more importantly, it's silly for you to imply that he should have let this bird eat their baby chicks, just for the sake of "protecting the wildlife". The hawk got a good scare by being caught mid-attack, but Matt didn't kill it or injure it in any way. They left the cage door open for it and it flew away in its own time.
You should probably re-assess your moral/ethical priorities on this one, because they seem to be lacking.
@@monkyznblondz i live in the island. And you need special permits. One thing you. Need to understand is that you wont find many things on the internet from the island. Specially if you search it in english. Because things here are still done old school you wont even find most laws online because they are not online. You have to go to specific places. Register to get the info you need. Bamboo is protected and you need special permits to trim or cut. And the ones who are authorized to cut it is the municipality you live only if the bamboo is a threat to life or property. The bamboo of puerto rico is a centenary bamboo.
If you dont live on the island you dont know what you are taking about.
Also if their land is situated in the rain forest there are 20 rain forest in puerto rico. All of them are fully protected and if you have land that is inside the rain forest you need all kind of permits to do anything even to clean with tractors like they did here.
Cause there are many species that are protected like the coqui. And before they sent a machine to clean they needed to hire a biologist to make a survey. That means the biolofist needed to put traps around the property for at least a week and see what species are in the land. And removed them if there any
My cousin is a professor and a biologist and he is one of the few on the island who does the survey for that kind of stuff. And i have gone to work with him and others doing that.
@@danny96787 I'll admit that I don't live there so could be wrong about the municipalities. However, I do know that PR has more than one type of bamboo, and even invasive speeches that was planted there in the 40s and 50s. But again, since I don't know what type they have, it's a moot point.
You were, however, way off base about the hawk. They handled that about as well as they could, and a lot of people would have killed it in trying to get it to stop attacking. Matt did a good job in an incredibly stressful moment for them, and you shouldn't paint them like they're trying to terrorize all of the wildlife lol.
Matt you are BRAVE I can't believe that you grabbed that hawk. I'm so happy nothing happened to Roxanne or her babies. The kittens are so sweet. A hawk that size I was questioning if he could grab a kitty. Dear Lord. The land is looking beautiful. Matt your a protector Kristen you are Blessed and so is Matt you two compliment each other. God Bless you both ❤❤
Respect, friends. We all live with you in your adventures. I respect your concern not only for the chicks but also for the hawk that is part of Mother Nature. Just like we are part of it.
Matt if you can find 3in lime Stone rock for a base let it settle in for a couple months then go with a 1 in Limestone Rock looks like you have a great distance of a Road start with Let the Rain settle the Rock after its spread out wettest spots first try not to drive on it when it's wet.
OK, there are a lot of amazing MMA fighters out there. And yes, lots of talk over those who even accept a crazy fight on less than two weeks' notice. But how many of them go into a cage fight with a hawk on zero notice? Just saying. Matt, you are my here! Always love the videos and especially this new chapter in your two's lives! So fun to watch and continue to learn along the way! Thanks as always for sharing and always with you all the best!
My hero, too Matt . You remind me of my husband of 56 years, I always feel safe with him at the tender age of 83.
you need to concrete that hill matt . first monsoon and gravel is in the river along with the road . roots was holding the hill up . take out vines and roots and you got a mudslide .
The property is coming along nicely! Glad all of your farm creatures are safe!
I live in south Florida. My home is on the barrier island just south of Sebastian. I have the same problem you do removing thick vines and brush. The one tool I rely on the most is a small battery powered chain saw. No gas. No long extension cord. But it chews up vines, and cuts small trees and branches like going through butter up to a thickness of about 3 inches. It can cut larger thicknesses, but you are probably going to leave them as shade trees. Then, at night you can recharge the battery while you sleep. Though being married to Kristen, you can probably find more interesting things to do at night.
Your hard work is paying off Matt. Fantastic catch grabbing that hawk. Of course there will be losses with farm animals and things do happen. Live & Learn. Don't put so much pressure on yourself. Love watching you guys & your adventures. Still miss the boat adventures though...
Just got back from the boat show in Annapolis and as soon as I walked into the camper( I’m out of town working in York PA) I told the wife it’s time to watch homesteading GBU.
For now crown the downhill roads with drainage one or both sides depending on the water run. Best wishes for no problems due to the tropical storm headed your way. Nice save in the chicken coop. Your fighting instinct made you grab that hawk. 💪 The roof looks good. Momma chicken fought the hawk long enough for you to get there. Ms. Tyson did well. 🐓🐥
I believe that was a "Cooper's Hawk". As for it biting you, If it bit something like your finger, Its beak would most likely go to the bone. You wouldn't want to get bit by one. lol. It was spreading its wings out like that to make itself look much larger, it's a defense thing they do when fighting a larger predator.
Wait, wait! Grabbing hawk mid air? What in tarnation...?!!! I mean when I saw Matt with hawk in his hands, with empty -just got out of bed- stare, holding it like it was toothbrush- I thought it was cartoon. EXACTLY like a kid when you catch him stealing jam from a jar. I expected him to say "It wasn't me!". Had to reload 3 times to believe. Meme material if I ever saw one.
I have enjoyed I have enjoyed watching UA-cam first time he came on it wasn't about the boat it was about yalls relationship and this is just a new chapter in fun to watch
That hawk was just doing what Hawks do and thank you for not dispatching it. It was born and raised there before y’all got there and soon the cats will be holding down the fortress
I love the bamboo use. Super cool . Thanks for sharing.
Do not know if it was possible but the panels would of been stronger the opposite way of the bamboo.
Great job anyway!
Welcome to parenthood 101!!! Can't turn your back for a minute until you have adjusted to your new surroundings and pets! Good luck as it's an adventure and property is starting to take shape!!!
If Matt ask the question about Falconer probably would make a outstanding one. On the other hand if Kristin asked the question she would definitely make one hell of a Falconer. As you both know I am biased LOL. You two are awesome and you can do anything you want to do. Matt on the road, I would look around and see what people have done. Wishing you two all the best. God Bless you two in all things. ❤
Projects are so fulfilling and keep you on your toes ... love all the greenery ....
Most folk on farms for example use gravel for roads but not the round pebble type but crushed stone with sharp edges so the stones lock in to each other. That would be fine for your "road" but if you have a known soft spot first lay a decent geotextile down before the gravel or the mud will come through. In fact use a large stone sub-base first and then top that off with the gravel on the known bad spots. Good luck, doing a great job there!
Well done for catching that hawk too, they are beautiful birds but naturally you don't want them scoffing your chicks, bunnies, kittens whatever for lunch.
Hey Matt, sorry to tell you this, no cat regardless of size is a match for a hawk. The only safe cat is an indoor one.
Hey guys! So glad any of the chickens and chicks weren’t killed. Wild animals are meant to hunt so you always have to be on the lookout. Besides, the hawk could also be a mom looking for food for her chicks, so it’s just nature. May I suggest for the road you could do a cement path on the tire tracks and because it’s so humid there, the cement doesn’t get moldy. I think it cheaper and it would last for a long time. Love and be safe!🤗😘🌼🇻🇪
From renovating yachts to homesteading and building,amazing.👍🏾💕
Since the Taco is only 2wd I’d name it “Skid” also, that Taco has an electric differential so if you turn off your traction control it’ll lock both wheels when it slips
Letting the air out of your rear tires when in soft surfaces can help traction. It increases the tire footprint on the ground. This helps the tire not sink so far into the surface. The tire will flex more thereby flicking out material that gets in the tread grooves. They should look pretty flat. Keep a cigarette plugged air compressor in the truck. Remote winch is a good option as well. Also putting in a limited slip rear differential would make the truck a beast. Great videos as always.
Wow guys, that was so close, thank goodness you seen what was happening and could intervene. I was still busy smiling at the footage of you with the kittens.👍❤
HAHHAHHAHAHAHAHA!!! Yeah, and Matt walks out with a hawk in his hand!!! Hilarious! Glad he didn't reach down and take a big chunk out of your hand. That's how they eat ya know.
Never mind the mama instinct, I think the papa instinct kicked in catching a hawk with you bare hands 😂
So much fun watching you guys figure out your new situation. Glad the chickens are ok. What a legend, grabbing a hawk in flight! Thanks for the videos.
You're right, everyone makes mistakes, but that happening isn't really a mistake, it is just a part of living with nature, and thank goodness Matt was right there to catch that hawk, I think Matt catching it and putting it in that cage for a bit may have taught that hawk a lesson, and that hawk may not ever mess with that chicken coop again. lol. Thank goodness all the chickens are okay.
Exactly. Sure to be easier pickins down the road.
You guys are amazing you have accomplished so much on your homestead beautiful land great people big hugs 🫂 to you both ❤
Hey you guys love following along. It's funny how we are doing the same exact thing but in the opposite way. We went from homesteading to sailing and I gotta tell ya, we had hawks and owls take off with our fully grown cats before and the were pretty good sized cats 😢 we've also had weezels dig under our chicken coop and try steeling our eggs. I know I bit about homesteading and don't mind answering any questions you might have about it. As for your road, I have run into some muddy areas my self and have found that laying down the biggest rock / gravel you can find and getting it packed down really good then coming in over top of it with a nice thinner gravel that packs together really good seems to work. But you want to lay down that big gravel really thick! Depending on how muddy it gets and how thick you lay it down, it should last you a few years before you'll need to add to it again. The earth will keep swallowing it over the years until it finally finds good solid ground to settle on underneath all that mud and soft ground... Anyway I hope this helps you a little and works out for you, you are in a rain forest after all so everything is going to take time to settle into a solid surface.
Beautiful land you have there tho 😁
I don’t say negative comments, however wear gloves when handling raptors. I am enjoying this series, have done that sort of thing in Colorado and Washington state. It always felt good to me. My DD T-shirt arrived very cool. Much love
PS the road thing, use sharp 4. Inch minus and have big boy pack it with the machine, dry and then after rain
If you can keep the water from pooling on the road by having little channels taking it away from the problem areas its a great start. Most people then lay rough grade, like building rubble, larger stone as the bed. Once you are happy with the base you can cover with your choice of gravel. The locals might point out what works best and is available there. I've lived on a gravel road for over thirty years, you will always have to maintain it.👍
My husband asked me if I like to watch “Tarzan and Jane”. Looks like you both have new names!!
Matt, for your driveway, I would suggest brushed concrete. It’s durable for years and the brushed surface is rough enough to give your lil 2x4 a good surface for traction. Good luck man. Really enjoy your videos
Chickens are pretty good fighters. We found a fox in our Chicken cage a couple of years ago, it had been pecked to death, it killed 4 chickens but the 6 remaining ones got revenge. BTW, ideally you want to run the roof corrugation in the opposite way to the beams supporting it and use batons to further support it, so you can walk on it but also to prevent it collapsing or warping in bad weather.
Your chiken has a new name
🇵🇷 "Roxana Trinidad" 🇵🇷 she's Boricua like one of our best boxers, Tito Trinidad. Glad they are all fine.
We need more of your vids guys. Please consider doing two vids per week please. We just like you alot and need more of goood thang.
So nice to hear Matt using “we” more than “I” in this episode. Go team Kristen & Matt… & all of the fur babies too!
Jesus christ how fucked up your life must be, to care about that
Kids. What ya gotta do! Road building is a science and depends on the soil and grade of the road. I used 40 tons of road base. It compacts hard. But you have to dome the road in the middle so that water flows to the sides. Build up low spots and trim high spots. You definitely don't want a ski slope to slide all the way down. Concrete, depends on the soil and how much it swells and shrinks. Blacktop can get slick and will crack like concrete from roots expanding underneath. Ask your local road builder.
You can build your house on stilts to get a better view. Remember, trees grow higher and water does flow.😂
Enjoyed the video. Great to see progress on your property. Glad all the animals are safe.
YAY on hydro-electric! Better than solar (even works at night) :)
No matter what you put down it's going to start with very large gravel. Do not start with small gravel or you will have a mud pit with small gravel because the small gravel will just get pushed into the mud. You have to start with large gravel, let that get worked in. Then you go to the smaller gravel, and that will be all you need. Paving is absolutely too expensive in my opinion.
Hey Mattster, with that river flowing, you could have a self operating ram pump to send water up hill to the garden. No electricity needed.
Loving your new adventure/effort. I've become kinda jaded watching all these industrious cruisers doing incredible work bringing hurricane-beaten boats back to life and out on the water. There's definitely a beauty in that and I enjoy watching them immensely...but refitting land is a whole different ballgame and you guys have taken to it like beavers. Great work. Thanks for detailing it for us. Your efforts have exhausted me for the day, though. Time to go sit around the pool and do something else unproductive.
Edit: first comment made before the great Mike Tyson fight. That was wild! But, as you realized, not to be unexpected. Way to bring it to us.
hey guys you realy should run those sheets across the rafter ie cane much stronger good luck
This is a very awesome UA-cam idk channel. I feel like I’m there with you on this journey. Best of luck to you. Maybe a good Shepard puppy is up next to help protect the farm.
"Sure Pack" is the best gravel, if it is available. Then there is transporting of gravel. A 1/2 ton pickup will take about an 1/8th of shovel full, and that will bottom out the springs. So there is that. Large gravel will provide drainage, but be rougher on feet and tires. If you have to move gravel or dirt by hand it will be measured in days rather than hours. Please, if you are moving dirt, or gravel by hand; pace yourself, and do not try to do it quickly. Find a pace that does not cause pain or over exhaustion.
glad the chickens are ok. you should have put your bamboo the opposite direction to the sheets of iron.
Coming along,looking good! With you guys being so close to the stream/river and hill side springs you may want to consider alternative waste water systems rather than septic. Perhaps an incinerator toilet and a gray water catch of some sort? Obviously with the gray water system biodegradable soaps and such would be part of it. From the looks of it, the stream already has heavy run off and such in it. It would suck to make it worse.
I had a hawk come down right behind me. The hawk dont care if you left or not. They are very strong. I left on a different occasion come right back and one of my chickens head was off. What ever it was left the body. The right mama will die and,baby's are the reason. Glad she is OK and her baby's.
For your roads. Use crushed shell. Drains good. Doesn't make mud. Great for swampy areas. Should be cheaper than any other material other than your jungle mulch.
Love watching and waiting for what happens next👏👍
damn - catching a wild Hawk by hand - that is incredible... Well done.
We lost 5 out of 8 chickens this spring due to hawks. We let our quard down one evening allowing the chickens to free range until they put themselves to bed at sunset. Yes, lessons learned, but at the cost of 5 chickens. The hawks seemed to kill them for sport. That was a very bad day.
Sorry to hear that... I couldn't imagine
I've lost 3 to hawks this season and can no longer free range. It's a terrible feeling when it happens,
Glad the chickens are OK.
Dove or polar bear , Casper for white truck names
Thank you for the videos
Matt......the ULTIMATE name for your little truck would be ........ TONKA!
Lots of exposed clay. Make sure you think about erosion. Your next rain event you are going to add a lot of silt to your creek. Think about putting down a base or seeding with grass over the roads, otherwise you'll need to bring a machine back to clean up the ruts. Also, for farming your top soil is realy important (6") All dirt is not equal so keep that in mind as you begin to clear areas for planting. May wanr to start adding compost to areas where the top soil was stripped. VERY impressed with you guys! Thanks for inspiring me.
3” to 4 inch rock as the base and c86 for the top aka 2inch to fines it like another country down there so they might call it something else but crushed white rock is going to be the best and most places sale weed mat in 6’ to 12’ wide and 200 to 500 foot lengths it’s heavy shit you can put down first and it helps stop you from losing all your rock in the mud
good to see ,that you care about the animals on your farm . now you might better understand ,why several movable secure tunnel fences for chickens are useful in addition to main enclosure .1. protection for chickens still to young to defend themselves .2. extended self feed range 3. chickens temporary on restricted ground will prepare the ground for garden plants ,like mini tractors including fertilizing 4.for days you are away beyond' bedtime ',you connect the tunnels secure with their main ' home ' and the chickens have extended feed range in more secure circumstances ,including access to their nests and water/feeder. strong adult chickens on days you are at home as free range . the above is of good mutual benefit :protection as needed ,but as free as possible .
It's cheaper to hang some fishing nets up above the chicken it will turn them hawks away
Excellent videography and editing. I picture Kristin seated under an umbrella with a margarita on a table beside her as she records and directs Matt's work. Hydro and solar both sound good. Great preplanning before getting into large builts. It will payoff. We would love to order some GBU Puerto Rico mountain grown coffee in the future so please plan a coffee bean prep and shipping area. Maybe some roasted, ground, or blended in the future?
Great use of the bamboo. UFC fighter 1, hawk 0.
If you get spinning too much, put a shit load of weight in back and you can let a bunch of air out of tires and it will help, if you gotta way of pumping back up.
My husband said you need a four wheel truck it would work better for the environment you guys have on your property oh great job on grabbing that hawk although I will say she’s beautiful I’m glad the chickens and the peeps are ok and the kittens and bear 😊
Ye a 4x4 woulda been better but they're so expensive
@@SailingGoodBadandUglyfind a older Toyota Land Cruiser.. parts are everywhere.. and cheap.. one of the most capable vehicles on earth.. FJ40!!! Matt would LOVES him an fj40
Get you a larger 4x4 four wheeler……small nimble, will,climb a mountain and pull the taco…that and a small trailer and you will have a farming/building machine….and they don’t cost a fortune
Maybe asphalt would work
I know of you Matt I jupiter Amory in FL. I been a fan from the start. Much love to the two of you. You got this.
When your drone flew over the roof and it cast its shadow on the metal sheets just for a moment I thought "Christ they have big cockroaches there !" Also remember that as they kittens grow up they may well start taking an "interest" in the chickens especially the littles ones, not unlike that of the hawk.
My cats neverrrrr mess with the chickens. A chicken can whoop a cat's butt.
@@susanhighfield8284 agreed, but when the chicken isn't looking those little chick's make a tempting toy.
Ha! That baby dinosaur frog is a cutey. I lost track of your boat... is it near enough that you can (or want?) to jump out for a sail once in a while. Would be a nice change of scenery. Matt with those western 'work' boots 😎🤠👍
It probably would’ve been a good idea to put some one by two or one by four run in the opposite way of your bamboo rafters to keep that structure like a strong grid and then that’s what you would nail your aluminum roofing too, just a thought. Ps Overhang of your roof is good, it protects your foundation keeps things dry.
Nothing ventured nothing gained. All the love to you Kristen and Matt, we all make mistakes from time to time. We are all human ❤
Hey guys, thanks for this new video, very interesting like always. Have you considered the option of building an earthship type of house ?
Thank goodness they are ok.. Had me nercous waiting to see what happened
You did great!! But you should always have gloves on before handling birds!!❤️ glad your ok!! Your property is looking amazing!!
i love the shot of the hawk. he's all like "what bro? I'm just a hawk" though i did have a thought like "man remember chickens are dinosaurs." You guys are ideal farmers that try to integrate with nature and end up with the best produce n' stuff. Good luck with the farm!!!
Matt, my friend, who works with birds of prey, got lanced by a hawk that was slipping off her glove. She got an infection and spent seven days in the hospital, so be careful!
I'm fine, their feet are pretty dirty from what I've read
I am so glad Bear is lapping up the good life in the trailer!
I'm wondering how long those cowboy boots are going to last.
Not much longer😅 they were cheap ones from Nashville
Guys so beautiful forest. U have river just clear slowly. Very nice view. Lots of fruit trees.
Roxy Balboa
An Iguana's bite is not what you should worry about. the tail can cut you pretty bad. To connect Bamboo Use Galvanized Screws