6 - Clearing out our little off grid barn in Central Portugal
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- Опубликовано: 5 фев 2025
- In this video, we will clear out the old cow shed and make a compost heap, oh and also try and bend a gate back into place!
Welcome to our off-grid paradise in Portugal! Join us on this incredible journey as we share the story of how we bought our rustic Quinta and embark on the adventure our lifetimes.
We can't wait to share the highs and lows of this renovation and farming project with you, as we turn this neglected property into a thriving, sustainable paradise. Join us as we roll up our sleeves, learn new skills, and build our dream life in the beautiful countryside of Portugal.
Subscribe and follow along for updates, tips, and the joy of our off-grid adventure! 🏡🌳🐴🐐🐓🐶
► Instagram: escape_to_the_quinta
► Work with us: escapetothequinta@icloud.com
#offgridliving #FarmLife #RenovationAdventure #PortugalFarm #NewBeginnings #gardening #farm #countryside #countryliving #farmhouse #farmlife #agriculture #farming #agro #biodiversity #horticulture #sustainableliving #agriculture #offgrid #compost #tinyhouse #agroforestry #abandoned
Thank again everyone for the support. We are overwhelmed and ever so grateful. Wishing you all a prosperous 2024 🎉
Hi, once again another honest video of your journey. Yes it may not come across as your trying to sell a lifestyle,, you know the usual, starting a video making coffee etc. The honesty is refreshing. Ive read other comments, and i can see the usual arm chair experts that have never left there home town, telling you you must do this you must do that !.... My advice which is worth nothing, you do what you want to do and when, its your journey, your property, your channel. Enjoy
Well I think your advice is worth something. It's honestly comments like this that get me up in the morning .... As I didn't realise how negative RUclips can sometimes be. I just want to wake up every morning do an honest day's work that I'm proud of and slowly make a nice home for us. We could have waited and bought somewhere in a better condition, we could have done many things different but your right sometimes you just have to take a chance and do it. We never know when our last day could be so we need to embrace every day. I wish my day started making coffee it's usually waking the pup and picking up dog poop hahahaha. Really appreciate the comment my friend. If your ever in Portugal send me a message and we can grab a drink 👍🙏✨
The wall in the field that you cleared could at one time been a cold frame for starting vegetable seedlings. The wall would afford heat and release at night . Build up the front fill with soil , make a glass frame to create a mini greenhouse .
Yessss that would be awesome!!!!!
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Thankyou for watching ☺️
Muito bem "devagar se vai ao longe " ❤
Muito Obrigado
Great job
Thanks so much the advice we get on here is helping so much 🙏
Whew! That was a job! But that orange juice was a nice reward!
Haha it was very Zingy I think maybe we are a month too early but I'm sure healthy non the less. The skin on these ones was very very thick not sure what type of orange they are. ☺️☺️☺️
Thanks for your vid 😇💟💟💟 Love and bless you guys, maybe put sandwich metal plates with isolation in between to keep you warm in winter and cool in the summer have a look what they have. How is your tractor doing you could use it to make straight your cate and bring stuff up and down the land.
Thankyou. Tractor is still not working though I haven't had a minute to try it again, it's my plan for Tuesday. Always so many things to do haha but we absolutely love it 🙏😊✨
Loving your videos I watch so many from Portugal and Australia and USA. Keep up good work. As a 73 yr old I watch and wish I had done something like that when I was young ❤
Awww thanks so much what a lovely comment. Where in the world are you? 😊😊😊
@@escapetothequinta I’m in Dublin Ireland ❤️
Ahhh I love dublin my brother and his partner lived there for years. I'm quite partial to a Guinness in delahunt. My family originates from Drogheda 😊
@@escapetothequinta ❤️
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Wow the cow shed has great potential! Also, get a good mask! ❤👍😷
Aww thanks we hope to make.it a lovely space. We've got some respirators and masks now as it was sooooo dusty ☺️☺️☺️
Bex said you should have wet the straw first to make it more manageable and less dusty. Lovely to see Walt ❤❤❤
Ahhhhh I'll know for next time then .... Took forever and STUNK 😂😂😂 I know now how Sophia is able to eat as much as me as she would clean her horse out every day ..... So many steps and effort.... All good for the ticker ❤️
Hi guys I would be very careful removing the old Super 6 roof very dangerous stuff
And you should watch Hand - i - Craft ,He has a video ( his shed build ) on structural insulated panels which can span 6 or 7m with no timbers underneath so you can save a lot of head room and get 100mm of insulation
It is expensive but you save on the timber and very fast to go up
I'm enjoying your videos great work
Ahhhh yes just watched it, that's great stuff I'll see if I can get any where I am! 😊😊😊🙏🙏🙏
Well then you need to snap your fingers and get the whole thing done 😂😂😂 much love from Oklahoma USA Jackie 🇺🇸💖
Yes we do haha! Wow Oklahoma USA that's awesome! ☺️☺️☺️
👍❤️
Mesa Arizona US here, love your videos and how real they are (like Theo and Bees). Live your dreams
Thanks so much, 🙏😊😊😊
Hope that gate can be saved.
Me too it's got a lovely charm to it. I was thinking if I take out the diagonal beam I should be able to bend things into place to get it right again then see if I can get anyone to weld a new bar in. I think it will look lovely painted again. Not sure what colour to go with maybe we stick with red 🤔😂😂☺️☺️☺️
👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Another suggestion; if the ground floor hasn't got the height for suitable living conditions, you may consider removing the top floor and turning the barn into a single floor building with a modest bedroom loft
This is a great suggestion and something we were toying with..... However the height downstairs is actually decent and I think it could make a great workshop or maybe even a root cellar for veggies in the future as there are no windows and in partly underground so super cool down there. But it would be cool to have it as one big open space wouldn't it 😍☺️☺️☺️
When you remove the roof, consider adding two or three additional layers of block so the roof is high enough to live comfortably.
Oh I would love to do that but I think if I do I'd need a proper project to be drawn up I believe, I will look into it though as that would be awesome wouldn't it. Thanks so much for commenting if you have any other ideas please let us know ☺️☺️☺️
@@escapetothequintadon’t worry and just do it. By the looks, that building is not registered already and at the end of the day adding another brick or two, it’s just correcting the lintels around. Just go with it. 👍
Unfortunately it is registered but it is habitation exempt as it's pre 1951 🙏👍👍👍
@@escapetothequinta it’s not bad being registered, it always adds value to the property. Contact a local Civil Engineer or architect to ask a license to change the roof, it’s quite inexpensive, and ask him how much you can go up, because you can for sure. 👍good luck.
@@LuisBaptistaEstateAgent that's interesting advice from a realestate sales person. Dodgy
I would just increase the brickwork higher on barn one of those brick heights when you do roof ..love your land and show
AHH thanks so much we are so lucky to have such lovely people that watch 😊😊😊
Great progress, I got itchy just watching you move that hay.👍
Dude ...... I was scratchy and itchy all day waiting for spiders, snakes and rats to jump out..... In the end only 1 rat jumped out and the ones round here seem quite small..... Not quite like the cat sized ones you see in London hahahah ☺️☺️☺️
What a big job, can't wait to see how you get on! Thanks! I've smashed all the smashers!
Salutations from astonishingly dark & chilly Ireland! ☘☮🤘🏽🤠👍🏽☮☘
Big job indeed haha. Where abouts in Ireland are you from, such a lovely place in the world, my family is from Dublin and Drogheda ☺️🍀
@@escapetothequinta We live in Kinsale. County Cork, man! 🤣
Ah lovely place in the world but I've been to Ireland in Jan I bet it's -3 on the evening. Get the log burner on ☺️☺️☺️
Make sure that you get a habitation license before you turn that shed into a home first. Or you can lose your property. This has already happened to others who have came to Portugal to do the same thing as you. But they didn't spend the time to get a habitation license first.
Thanks so much for the information and we were aware of this prior to purchase so our lawyer sorted this 😊 we are very lucky that a large portion of our land is urban. Thanks for commenting though all advice is good advice ☺️☺️☺️
Good advice.
Thanks! We're lucky as we have habitation on the cow shed which was one of the main reasons for getting the place, the land has a massive urban plot which apparently is quite rare. There is a well we found that isn't even on the paperwork too 😆
It is stil early for those oranges. Wait until late February beguining of March.
Ahhhhh excellent .... So there is still hope. Can't wait to try them when they are full ripe
If you were to install insulated panels you should be able to remove the 2 concrete main beams and replace the 4 cross beams with some steel beams. The steel beams should be work fine as the insulated panels have very good strength on there own. Also check on your current roofing that is is not Asbestos as they have some roofing panels there in Portugal that look like the old Asbestos but are not. If the panels are Asbestos you need to take care and dispose of them carefully and legally. Look forward to watching you channel !!!
Haha it's like you're reading my mind that's exactly the plan! With the roofing we are going with the assumption that they may be, so we're going to get someone to remove them properly, not worth any risks is it. Better safe than sorry ☺️☺️☺️
Great job! Looking forward to seeing the roof work begin 😊 How much is Walt loving that land! So cute
Thanks dude. Hopefully the roof comes when you visit. Get you up a 5m ladder 😆😆😆
GOOD JOB. SLOWLY RESTORING THE VOICE OF PARADISE.
Thanks so much Antonio, it's a big task but doing a little every day we really see the changes
Hey l love your video. Thanks for sharing ❤😊
Thank you so so so much ✨🙏🙏☺️
Well done, looking forward to next week. You could bag that hay to put on and around your garden beds.
Heya, that's what my initial plan was but it was very smelly and full of droppings 🤢 I was thinking to maybe rot it down a bit first maybe ☺️☺️☺️
Many work days ahead....😊 nice look at your projects.
Yep, lots of long days ahead haha can't wait to be working in the beautiful spring days ☺️☺️☺️
Collect & save them leaves, makes great compost 👍
Yep great idea will be lovely compost in several months. I'm guessing the chestnut husks will rot.down well too. Thanks for commenting ☺️🙏
That cow shed looks like it will make a great little house. 😊 You might check with an architect to see if using SIPs (Structural Integrated/Insulated Panels) for the roof would allow you to removing the concrete beams & raise the effective ceiling height. (Check to be sure you can afford the SIPs first - they're pricey. But then, you don't have to & install separate insulation & ceiling, so...)
That you'll be converting a cowshed into your home always makes me think of a huge old livestock exhibition hall/concert & sports arena near San Francisco: it's called the "Cow Palace." 🐮🏰
The cow palace? I'll have to google that and have a look.... I'm sure our cow shed won't be that grand hahahah 😂
Hi guys from Bolton here in Lancashire, UK. Great start on your journey and I love the fact you know and had help from Theo & Bee. Love their channel too. I have an allotment here in Bolton which I thought was big at 110x45 foot! Lol. Get all your organic material, no matter what and put it in compost bins, preferably split it into 3 and rotate along to the end, 1 into 2, 2 into 3 etc after a few weeks in each. The more you turn, the quicker the compost but I realise this will be a huge task in itself. Or you can leave it all for 9-12 months. The deeper the better. Good luck on your journey and raise the roof. Lol
Ahhhh that's amazing info. Yeah a 3 bin system makes absolute sense. We're going to need It with all the horse poop we're going to have 😂😂😂😂
You are doing a great job.
Please be aware of the risk of Hantavirus found in rodent droppings. Please wear a respirator or at very least a very good mask. Good idea to look it up and get more info.
Thankyou so much we have masks and a respirator now, I didn't even know hantavirus existed until yourself and all the kind people ok here commented 😆😊😊😊
The roof on the cow shed looks like aspestous. I'd have that checked before you touch it
Thanks 🙏🙏🙏 yes we're going to get someone to come and remove it I think. I used to work with it in the UK. ☺️🙏🙏🙏
Portugal 🇵🇹 hi :)
Beautiful land
Thanks so much, it needs a lot of love and time but we have both to give it 😊😊😊
Amazing how much your filming has improved, and how much more organised you are. If you do a good job on the cow shed it could eventually become a let for friends or family.
Awwww thanks so much I've been really trying to read up on things to do .... It's all new to me but the fact you've noticed makes it all worthwhile!!!! Thankyou so much Jean. ☺️☺️☺️
Bit by bit we're getting closer ❤ love our little Waltie 🥰
He's such a gem isn't he ☺️
Really enjoying watching the start of your journey ❤
Thanks so much, it's comments like this that keep us going ☺️☺️☺️✨
What about adding a row of blocks around top of walls to add needed ceiling height if you are replacing roof??😊
We were seriously considering this but I think opting for galvanised steel beam and a different type of roof we can increase the internal height about 6 inches ☺️☺️☺️
My daughter and teen granddaughters manage 9 of our own horses and the eldest GD 17 others as a full time groom - hard physical work but they love it - we move our feed hay out to the field with a tractor and trailer now though and use shavings for bedding in the stables (much easier) - you very quickly learn straw beds are really hard work. I do wish you had not created duplicate work getting that hay from there to your compost though and it will be harder when wet so get it moved sharpish ideally with a trailer
I agree completely hay is HARD work ha. That's amazing though 9 horses!!!!! I was a bit lazy and left it by the door to rot down and let the U.V from the sun kill any nasties as there were quite a lot of rat droppings in it. Is shavings your preference? Trying to figure out what is best to use here, we want to find good suppliers of everything before we arrange a transporter ..... And we need to find out girl a friend so we want to rescue one over here ☺️ are you UK based ☺️☺️☺️
Good job
Thankyou! Lots more work to do! ☺️☺️☺️
There is probably someone in the village who could straighten the gate for you quite cheaply. Worthwhile if you plan to keep animals.
AHH yeah definitely as it's actually a nice useful gate. I will have a go myself first by cutting that one bent part out and then straighten it out and weld it back in. I think painted it could look nice ☺️🙏
Straw from cow shed would be a good start to your compost heap. Mice and rats might move in downstairs with all the straw down there...🤫🐁🐭🤢🤫
Ahhh good point I will clear it out tomorrow and put it all in a pile to rot down. Thankyou so much 😊😊😊
Love the vid. As you are taking the roof off you may consider raising the roof by adding another 1 or two brick layers on top of the walls and reusing the concrete beams which would not be susceptible to bores in the future as timber may be; just a thought....
Thanks so much. Initially before we came here I wanted to do everything in wood but I understand now why people opt for concrete and steel because the Beatles are quite relentless here. Thanks for taking the time to give us some advice we love it ☺️☺️☺️
Hopefully you have double checked that those roof panels aren’t asbestos.
Yeah we're not taking any risks with those any going to get someone to take them away, we've been told they may just be concrete but I'd rather just get someone to take them away and not take any risks ☺️
Well done guys, looks like a plan is coming together!
Thank you, little by little we're getting bits done now and really enjoying it too! ☺️👍👍👍🙏
Good progress guys. Small steps at first until you have a good base to work from. We also have javali ripping up our garden. 🙄
Thanks! We've seen a few packs of them running around and they seem so small and harmless but they sure do leave destruction in their path 😂😂😂
Have you checked the local planning laws on what you can do with a rural barn?
Yeah pretty much update and repair so we can change roofing and render the building etc but if we want to put windows in we will need to get some plans drawn up ☺️☺️☺️
Tenham atenção com as leis da Câmara Municipal ,a ideia das janelas é muito boa mas não sei se podem !!??
Yes we checked and we cannot put windows in unfortunately. We're going to be creative with the door to let in as much light as possible 😊😊😊
Talvez colocar uma janela na porta😊❤❤@@escapetothequinta
Exactly! Lots of glass 😆
Did orange juice follow rabbit stu 😂
Nooooooo. The orange juice wasn't quite ready too sour ha
Another amazing video guys! Continue the great content! :D
Thanks bud appreciate all the advice really it's been so useful 🙏☺️🤜
No problem at all! As always keep the good work and ask away if you need more advice!@@escapetothequinta
Absolute legend 💪
Never work with the trimmer without protection (eyes specially), in particular with the wire... and check the comment about the roof material.
Thanks for commenting, we have some ear defenders, eye protection, good strong gloves and respirators now so ready for anything haha. Are you based in Portugal too ☺️
Better to use them then :)
Yes. I'm Portuguese... I have a second place I'd like to be able to call "a home" someday and all these vlogs about people recovering homesteads have caught my attention.
I saw your reply to the other comment about the roof material. Knowing what we know about it today it's really better to have professional help on that...
Yeah for sure!!!! Where is your place in Portugal I can't wait to visit all of Portugal it is so beautiful ☺️☺️☺️
Roughly 190Km south of Lisbon, relatively close to the coast. Not habitable at the moment...
Oh wow, is that the Algarve then or alentejo. I have family in alentejo it's lovely 😊
Thoroughly enjoying watching your journey guys. Just one ask.... Could you add the date or even just the month to the footage? I'd love to get an idea of when you were filming vs when im watching. Wishing you both the best of luck with your adventure. Your friend, Shane O Mac 😉
Ahhh yeah great idea. The first few videos were set a few months back but now we are only 2 weeks ahead so it's all quite recent now but I will mention the month we are in when I can. Thanks so much for commenting and thanks for the luck ..... We could do with plenty of that hahaha
Hi i see your from Birmingham....I was born there but live in Worcester now and working on my own project...You may need planning permission to raise the height of the roof ? Also if it is asbestos you my need to to remove from site to the correct waste location....Advise that you hose it down and no grinding , wear proper safety gear.... Kevin
Ahhh nice Worcester is lovely I've worked a lot there! Yeah we're going to get a firm to come and take the asbestos I think. Thanks for commenting ☺️☺️🙏
It is not to be trifled with a builder in oz built a add on his daughter sat 15 foot away from dad cutting this no masks ,20 years later she full of cancer 😢
Yeah we're not messing with the roof panels at all, were going to get a firm to come and remove them safely. Really not worth the risk. ☺️
How many days would it take to finish all the messy trees on that large area of land?
I'm curious what the results will be like. I just subscribed and have only watched 6 of your videos from the start.
Currently it's growing faster then I can work but I'll catch up in winter I think hahah 😆
Could you recycle the hay for future use in your garden?
I wanted to do this as mulch but it ha quite a lot of rat poo in it so I was thinking it may be best not to use, not too sure I see a lot of mixed reviews on the internet. I bought an attachment to mulch up the brambles so I was thinking I could use some of that too ☺️
@@escapetothequinta the mulch from the brambles might take root I think. Not sure.
Oh no..... Brambles are insane aren't they..... They can root onto a brick 😂🙏
Wear ear protection when you use loud equipment
We had some of the little foam ones but I've got some ear defenders now..... Makes such a big difference. Thanks so much ☺️☺️☺️
Will it be possible to lower the floor in the barn with about 20-30 cm to create more space?
I thought this but it's solid concrete floor which is a shame as there is a floor below too. My fault for being tall haha ☺️😂
Booyes
Muito obrigado
Please don't do anything drastic about your "dead" olive tree until it's had a season or two of care & regular water. Olive tree root systems can be astonishingly hardy.
I think your right! It's not worth removing until we know for sure. We are definitely going to give it a season or 2 to see if anything pops up. I quite like the look of it so was thinking putting a few solar lights on it 🤔☺️☺️✨
You need to get some heavy-duty masks and goggles. Breathing in all that dust and dried mouse/rat droppings is very bad for your lungs and overall health. Love your videos and all the work you have put into your farm.
Thankyou we have a really cool mask now you will see it soon it has replaceable pads which is handy 😊😊😊
It pains me to see you one move, one pile of hay to another pile of hay, that Hass to be moved . I suggest you invest in a wheel barrel.
Haha I know what you mean I just needed it out to start as it STUNK!!! Got a little pull cart thing now. If I can get tractor working with a little trailer that would be the dream!!!!! If not maybe a quad bike could work? ☺️🙏
You desperately need some PPE!
Thankyou we have it all now, respirators and masks, good gloves, eye protection and esr defenders. Thanks for the advice ☺️
This is the second time you blasphemed if you wish Christians to follow you I suggest you watch what you say. Billy from South Africa
So sorry Billy it's not intentional but I am making a conscious effort to not say it again. Please forgive me I didn't mean any offence. Really appreciate you taking the time to help me 😊🙏✨