I normally don't get to comment on a lot of content. I usually watch RUclips on my Smart TV and it doesn't give me the option to comment. You sir however have truly impressed me and I have taken time to break out my phone download RUclips onto my phone and look up your sight here just to make the comment that I'm about to make. I'm going to start by saying that I am 54 years old and I've been facing a lot of health problems, not that I want anybody to feel sorry for me at all, just the opposite ! I have been pushing, and fighting for everything I'm worth, and I'm getting a lot of my health back. There have been a lot of struggles but like yourself I do not believe in giving up if something is worth fighting for its worth giving everything for. That being said I have been watching since you're very first video in this series. I happened to run onto the first episode because it was suggested to me through the algorithm. I have watched every single minute of your videos and I wait anxiously for the next one every week. I get to watch you, and I see your drive and determination and your willingness to put in any work no matter how hard to achieve the goal that you aim for. This I truly can relate to, and I have great respect for you and the accomplishments you have achieved through your hard work and determination. You have truly been an inspiration to me, and made it just a little bit easier to push through the challenges that life leaves before me. I am very grateful that I found your series. I feel that you're God's not only are there to help you, but are using you to help others like myself. I still have a ways to go before my health will be in good enough shape to do a lot of traveling or spend a lot of time outdoors in rougher country, but when that time comes I would really love to get the chance to meet you in person and share a good steak. I pray that your health and your success does nothing but continue to grow, and not only reach but exceed all of the goals in your life. In short I truly pray that you will maintain your attitude, and your focus throughout your life. I pray that your health stage great and your strength increases. I wish for nothing but health, wealth, and success for you and all of your life's ventures, and adventures. LOL May the gods continue to smile upon you.
SER James Alofs, Architect of the Northern Homestead, the First of His Name, Monarch of the Great Pines and Crimson Maples, Custodian of Ancient Viking Knowledge, Steward of Thor's Red Oak, the Phoenix Who Rose from the Tent Ashes, the Unburnt, the Aficionado of Berries and Cherries, the Master of Digestive Triumphs, the OOGA BOOGA Chieftain, Connoisseur of Café Infusé à Froid Noir, Commander of the Mid-Sized pickup Steed, Friend to Gundebad the Dwarf, Enthusiast of Wolf's Milk, Filler of Thunder Hole, Betrothed of Sophie Turner, Seeker of Wild Raspberries, Godfather to Sif's Red Oak, Lord of the Oakum Stuffing, Slayer of the Winged Hornet Menace, Comrade to Alex "The Thunder Hole" Nick Thank you for blessing us with another video
“COMMANDER OF THE MID SIZED PICKUP STEED” 🥲😂😂🤣🤣🤣 GOOD SER RAFAEL THESE COMMENTS NEVER FAIL TO BRING A SMILE TO MY FACE! MAY THE GODS BLESS YOU! BOTH THE OLD GODS AND THE NEW 🫡🤝⚡️🐺🌲
James, use the buckets of sawdust in the thunder hole. It helps with the flies, the smell and sawdust composts the material down much quicker making for a nice toilet!
Hello from the Space Coast of Florida! I thoroughly enjoy watching your channel as you build your cabin, prune the land, fish and plunge the river, give us wonderful history lessons and share the gorgeous scenic views of this incredible place that you now call home. I also laugh hysterically at your comedic shenanigans! Keep on keeping on James, and thanks for taking us along for the ride. Ooga Booga! Cherries and Berries rule!
Keeping to the Norse mythology I suggest Skadi for the name of the newly discovered oak tree. In Norse mythology, Skadi is a goddess whose dominion encompasses winter and pursuit of hunting. She is a fierce and self-reliant deity and therefore personifies the untamed and wild forces of nature. Your new oak tree had done just that; been fierce in growing up between several spruces, and is wild and untamed. Also Skadi is a member of the Jotun race, which I am sure you know are the titantic entities of the Nordic pantheon, and this oak tree is 'titan' compared to Thor & Sif. Not only is Skadi a Jotun, but she is also associated with the Aesir gods as she is married to Njord. Love your content - thank you for bringing us along on your journey! Hard Work & Dedication, Strength & Honour!
If you are going to catch and release the brook trout make sure you wet your hands in the river before picking them up. Trout have a protective slime that will come off on dry hands. If they lose the slime they are more likely to catch diseases. Have fun catching them brook trout are one of the prettiest fish on the planet.
@jessepierce6659 I haven't been able to eat any other kind of fish since I had trout. It's hands down the best in my book. Problem is I live in Illinois and hate frozen fish so no trout for me.
Sir James, when TREES get large, one of the first things to fail in a big storm is the seam where two trunks meet near the bottom of the twin trunk trees. The seam is not very strong. This winter (Jan - Feb) would be a good time to go ahead and cut the right trunk off flush where it meets the left more dominate trunk. The left more dominate trunk will then be a finer looking specimen, able to grow large and weather storms a lot better. Ooga Booga!!
Hi. I love your project! One thing caught my attention: If you have beavers near or upstream - please be very cautious with the water. Where there are beavers, there are what we call lamblia/ giardia in the water. If you get these into your digestion-system.... man you will feel bad for weeks. Even WITH medical treatment! Thanks for showing us the dream. Greetings from Germany, Chris
I agree--I personally think u should b careful dunking tour head in the river water every day. And what about moose fluke? Is that an issue in that locality as well?
James. Above the windows and doors you could add a piece of wood then foam and then cap it off another piece of wood. Would look so much better than just foam. Just an idea brother. Keep up the great videos. Stay safe
Ser James, I wish I didn't have to deliver this bad news, but two tree leaders (or trunks) usually creates big problems eventually. The following info is rather long, but is worth your time in reading. Trees with multiple trunks, also known as codominant stems, can have several problems, including: Splitting Trees with multiple trunks are more likely to split apart where the trunks meet, especially during storms. This is because the trunks compete for space and light, and one of them will eventually fail. Weakness Trees with multiple trunks are weaker than single-trunk trees, and this weakness is more pronounced during storms. Included bark As the stems grow larger, they can squish together, creating included bark, which indicates a poor attachment. Destabilization When one trunk fails, it can cause the other trunk to be uplifted, which can lead to both trunks failing. Potential hazard Trees with multiple trunks can be a potential hazard around structures. To reduce the risk of problems, you can prune young trees to establish a single leader. This involves selecting the strongest stem and pruning the others.
I would also add that this fall, prune Thor's red oak. Keep the bottom 2/3 free from branches each year (or up to the first major intersection). This will encourage growth at the top giving you a much more healthy tree down the road.
Hey James, I realize it's a bit late, but for future projects, consider using your Skill Saw for making plunge cuts on those window support channels. To do this, retract the blade guard, then carefully plunge the blade to make the vertical cuts. After that, you can use your battery-operated Stihl mini to clean out the remaining material.
Ser James might I suggest somewhat of a carport to place your sawmill and lumber pile under, so neither will get ruined by the rain when it comes. I'm loving your progress, it's absolutely beautiful; with that said let me be at least 1 person to say that I'm so proud of you for following, working towards and accomplishing your dream and vision for what you want your life to look like.
You have found you a gem 💎 of a neighbor. From the looks of the neighbors mill saw he has a lifetime of experience. He is a wealth of information. Pick his brain 🧠.
Hi there, myself and my 76 year old husband from Oxford England, watch you all the time and from day 1. My husband keeps asking me and I don’t know. Why when you put windows in you saw the logs and put a band in,then you put another binding piece of wood on top of that, and then you put a box frame in and then the window, in a box and then set the window in the space. Also why leave a gap above the window frame and fill it in with unsightly plastic foam. And then plug other gaps with that stuff. When you have taken so much care with building with natural logs and other sustainable material. And by the way I love how you are maternal with all the nature there. Anyway hubby just interested, because we just love and appreciate all you do. Olga booga love Ann and Neil intrepid followers 😊❤
I’m the furthest thing from an expert but my best guess is that the logs he’s using are fresh and will change drastically over time as they dry and temperature fluctuates. By creating several layers of framing around the window it should stay level even when the wall itself moves around it.
Loved the floating in Germany scene!! We watch you weekly. Since week 2. Love the show! I am missing Gundabad! I know we saw him last week but he was so cute!
Have you thought about getting a waterwheel or something you could put in the river to generate power and charge all your batteries? Then they could charge over night and during the winter when sunlight is scarce.
Mini chainsaw is pretty cool but you always need an extra battery with any battery powered tool. I used to use several different kinds of power tools now I just stick with Milwaukee so all the batteries work on all the tools I use for construction. I love the cabin build good work!
Worth noting that stainless steel will cause mild steel wool to corrode more quickly, and the iron leaching into the wood will cause it to rot (iron sickness) Just use stainless.
You will never regret picking up an Oscillating Multitool in 18V. It will readily become indispensable. Works great at cleaning up excess spray foam too.
I have one of those vibrating little saws and trust me you will find it so handy especially as you start the interior work. Yes get one, they are not that expensive
Long time viewer, first time commenter - may I beg my liege that you name the new oak tree Odin, the Allfather. I love how excited and protective you are over these glorious trees. You are so fortunate to live in such a beautiful area. I am enjoying watching your progress - your work ethic is exemplary.
As a recent resident of Wiesbaden, not far from Mainz, I feel compelled to point out that it is pronounced "Mines" versus "Maines" as you pronounced it. Your knowledge of the Vandals and others (to include the Goths, Visigoths, Ostrogoths etc.) is very impressive! Keep up the great work!
💯 True dat! Make sure to come to Mainz for the Christmas market. One of the most beautiful Christmas markets in Germany! … it’s even possible to cross the Rhine from Wiesbaden without an exceptionally cold winter ;)
I moved into my tent in the rainforest in Bali to build by wooden house at the same time as James moved into his tent to build his. He has kept me company all this time, he spent months in the snow whilst I was knee deep in the monsoon. We even put our rooves on finished the floor and got starlink at the same time. 😂 Thanks James for keeping me company all this time.
Tool recommended for notching window spline is a chain saw style blade for a 4.5 inch angle grinder. Lancelot tools used to make one. You will need to buy an angle grinder. Love your show.
The oak. How about Yggdrasil? An oak symbolises strength, endurance, power and ancient wisdom. You could name it Endurance since it endured being squeezed out by those pines for all those years, and yet grew big and strong. Very nice to see the windows going in.
Glad to see your buddy Alexander made it back home. What a cool dude to play along with your shenanigans. 😂. Would you ever consider doing a Q & A or a live stream??? Would be a cool way to interact with your subscribers. I know you would have to figure out a place with good wifi service. But it would be cool. Thanks for bringing us long & sharing this journey.
When using your chisel go from the outside edge in and you won’t crack the timber. Loving your channel and your lifestyle, I’m in Australia and if I wasn’t a paraplegic I could see myself living a life like yours. Take care mate
Suggestion: build a canoe dock and small pier on the homestead river..... love the content! Keep it up! Also: steel wool is a HUGE fire risk, it burns very easily.
Omg James, I just realized this episode was nearly an hour long so THANK YOU!!! I look forward to your show every week!! I want to build my own cabin too!!! I love you man!!! Kimberly from Nee Hampshire, USA!
Never reacted to your questions before, but this one, I needed to. I worked in a sawmill yard for some time, and the one thing that always happened was that there was not enough room and time to clean up after the milling. So, guess what will happen when you need to keep that middle space clear for your truck to go through ... daily. Not gone happen. 😉 Keep it up. Enjoying the content tremendously from day one. Cheers.
GOOD SIR HILT! RIGHT! SAGE SAGE ADVICE. YES THAT WILL ONLY BE A TEMPORARY PAD SO I CAN MILL THE REMAINING 10 OR SO GIANT RED PINE LOGS NEAR THE DRIVEWAY….AFTER THAT WILL BE MOVING THE SAWMILL BACK TO A DEDICATED SITE IN THE MEADOW. THANKS FOR THIS. STRENGTH AND HONOUR TO YOU 🫡🤝⚡️🐺🌲
James, for hand work in chiseling out the spline channels, you would want to use gouges sharpened to a razors edge struck with a wooden mallet. A round gouge would take out the bulk of the material in the middle, and then a corner gouge would clean up the edges. You’ll also want to invest in the sharpening equipment and spend some time learning to sharpen them. Lee Valley sells them if you’re ever interested in going the manual route, but be warned it’s extremely time consuming and has given me a deep respect for the labourers of the past. I’ve heard it said that if there were chainsaws in the 1800s, there wouldn’t be a tree left standing in North America. Those guys were machines.
GOOD SIR BOAT, GOUGES! RIGHT OK. YES I’D LIKE TO ACQUIRE SOME OF THESE SO I CAN USE THEM THE NEXT TIME I RUN INTO A TIGHT SPACE. THE MINI-CHAINSAW WAS A GOOD BUT FINICKY TOOL. MAY THE GODS BLESS! 🫡🤝⚡️🐺🌲
My friend blessing you from the gods. I am not the sharpest tool in the toolbox, that being said. I hope the. Bottom of the window sill and door , are tilted outwards.
Another great video lord James I was glad to see Alexander made it home lol You have definitely found found a piece of heaven on earth. I look forward to your videos every week it just takes to long lol
Hello Sir James! First, thanks for having a new video every week. It is always great to see the progress that you make each week. As for the new oak tree, congratulations, but you will need to remove one of the trunks as it will not grow as strong as it should. As for the name, may I suggest Heimdall's Oak since he is a guardian. This also, is in the hopes that you will eventually find a larger oak that you can gift the name of Oden.
Looking forward to seeing your log mill. Next homestead will go faster/better/easier with milled lumber. Start stacking and you should be good to go soon after this current log cabin is finished.
I absolutely adore these videos, you make me want to buy a piece of land and do this myself, for now I will live vicariously through you it’s become part of my Sunday morning routine
You should call the new oak Silvanus, meaning "of the woods" in Latin. He was a Roman tutelary deity of woods and uncultivated lands. And protector of the forest.
James, a sharp chain saw chain will have very crisp angles on each tooth not a slightly rounded tooth. When you are sharpening your saw, if you hold the saw in your lap, you are going to round the tooth some when the saw rocks in your lap as you try to push the sharpener. Put the saw on the floor of your cabin close to the door and sharpen there. You'll get sharper teeth. Ooga Booga!
You get so much amazing sunlight! Many similar channels have cabins tight in the trees, which seems great, but will make for TONS more bugs and dreary winters. Well planned, good sir!
James you art to take the cutting from the windows and doors & make tables and chairs & other furniture with. Like always you make me smile. Your doing good
Hey James! Your channel is awesome! I just wanted to say I'm enjoying the series and all your hard work. This is by far the most underrated documentation of a cabin build by far. U are living my dream brother. Much love and respect!
Here in Florida, owls famously attack squirrels at night and only eat the head...they love the brains. My guess with your headless mice is an owl victim.
YES GOOD SER WILSEY, THE CONCERN WITH RAIN BARRELS AND (I IMAGINE THE GUTTERS FUNNELLING WATER TO THEM) IS THAT THE GUTTERS WILL PREVENT A NON-TRIVIAL AMOUNT OF SNOW FROM SLIDING OFF THE 12X12 STEEP PITCH ROOF. MOST OF MY NEIGHBOURS IN THE AREA DO NOT PUT GUTTERS ON THEIR STEEP ROOFS FOR THIS REASON. ALTHOUGH PERHAPS THERE IS A WAY TO ONE DAY FASTEN REMOVABLE GUTTERS TO TAKE OFF IN THE FALL? STRENGTH AND HONOUR TO YOU! 🫡🤝⚡️🐺🌲
Wow! I thought you and Alex were joking last week, so glad he made it home. He was very lucky and you too, when you bathe. I’m not sure how far up river crocodiles get in Canada, just keep a look out. Here in Siberia, we use a ‘croc swat’. It’s similar to a fly swat, but obviously bigger. You might wanna invest.
Hey James love the series and I always look forward to Saturday morning where I can enjoy a wild homestead video, I can’t wait for my time to start going off grid!! OOGA BOOGA
You’re living the dream my off grid brother. I’ve watched your skills continuously improve and you’re well on your way to establishing a functional and thriving homestead. Looking forward to seeing how you confront the challenge of the shower / bathroom addition and water.
Sir James, you fail to disappoint, once again! 🥰 My husband was getting jealous of my Saturday morning commitment to @wildhomestead so, this morning, I made him wake up early to join the official viewing on the Isle of Mistress (which is our reclining sofa) and now you have an additional fan/subscriber in him! 😊 We're binge-watching from the start so that he can catch up!! On a separate note, Alexander is officially a Wild Homestead Legend!! Way to cap off his hilarious exit without a paddle!🤣 I was so pleased to see you seal up the floor and ground crevices - my pest-entry fears have settled down ☺️ I'm partial to the name Freyja for the new Oak, for obvious reasons!! 😎 Can't wait for the interiors to commence!! Strength and Honor!!! 💪🤘💜👑🏠🌲
Saturday Mornings…. Coffee, James and a history lesson! My father’s family is from Ingelheim (those Hessians) and he has told me the story of how the barbarians started to take back the land in what is now Mainz. His family eventually became the “hall watchers” for Charlemagne at his summer home in Ingelheim. The ruins of their original home are right next to Charlemagne’s castle ruins. Anyhow, thank you for the history lesson! Love the new windows. Idea for the name of your large oak- Thorfinn’s Red Oak. He was a Viking… full name Thorfinn Skull-Splitter. He was an earl, or Jarl, of Orkney.
Hi James, You shouldn't be letting your window rest on the bottom sill without a gap. You will not have room for spray foam. I usually place a 3/8"( min)of scrap plywood or shims, for the window to rest on, cut ply about 1.5" wide and keep in few inches from sides, since your sill is level, you do not need shims here, you will on the sides though. Again, min 3/8" per side and top around perimeter of the window. If you do not, there will be drafts and ice build-up at the sill. It's important to have this gap or no insulating value will be achieved at each envelope penetration.
Hey James. Spray foam is a fantastic product. Don't worry about offgassing or fumes after it has cured. Spray foam is used in aquariums and vivariums for many species of amphibians fish and reptiles. If it's safe for them to live inside of and swim around. it's safe for us
I was born in Hanau and my parents lived in Erlensee, Germany. On the Rhine-Main River. The Limes Germanicus are still there and in Erlensee is a Roman bath. Also there are Roman ruins in Taunus Mountains called Römerkastell Saalburg.
You always leave a gap around door and window installs…use shims to square things up. If you have ANY movement in your building and you install these too tightly they can jam or worse yet, windows can break! The low expansion foam can be used to seal everything up.
I truly love Wild Homestead! I just binge watched your entire story from episode 1. Took me about a week, but never the less a good way to do it. Shout out from San Antonio! You are totally living the best version of you! OOGA BOOGA!
With your new Red Oak - what you can do is twine the two trunks together (like rope is twined) while they are still flexible - this will eventually lead to the twined trunks becoming one trunk over time and making a much stronger tree. I have successfully done this with fruit trees.
Odin's oak sounds like a great name for that tree My name is Cody. My wife and I live in South Carolina in the states. We love your post and was lucky enough to come across you just as you started. Your story is great. We are Norse pagan ourselves so we love the things you and that apply to that. Keep up the great job and please be safe.
Hey buddy. You are doing amazing. I know how tough it is to be doing a project alone and for the first time. Plus in the middle of the woods. Keep on trucking my friend.
It's definitely an owl jacking up those mice. Another youtuber named Flair has the same problem with his chickens. So he filmed them and exposed the owls hahaha
Good morning James. Love the video as always. For the splines I would recommend a plunge router with a straight cutting bit. You should be able to get the 1.5” you need to fit the spline in. It won’t get all the way to the edges but you can always use your circular saw as well. In fact you could use the circular saw and then finish off with your new trim saw. The limited battery along with the circular saw should get the job done.
One tip I have. When installing the windows with the rough opening make sure you use 2 spacers at the bottom. I use carpenter pencils from Home Depot. Makes it where you can foam all around it after install.
James, I seriously have no idea how you get the work done when there are so amazing views on your property. Being in such a beautiful surrounding like that I would just sit there admiring the view. Another busy week.
We use steel wool at our cottage in Michigan to keep rodents out. After awhile moisture gets on it and it rusts. Be prepared to replace it. It does work.
The new oak should be called Loki's due to the split trunk symbolizing both its good and mischievous natures. I am enjoying the history lessons and work on the homestead, I was glad to see you include your oops with the chainsaw cut on the bottom sill of the window you had to shim, it is totally something I would do. You don't get frustrated (at least on camera) and are very adaptable to your mistakes. Thanks for taking us on this journey.
Love your channel. Especially watching it with my morning coffee. Reminder don't get river lake water in your system, nasty stuff could getya. Betcha that cold water feels great on sore muscles.
I normally don't get to comment on a lot of content. I usually watch RUclips on my Smart TV and it doesn't give me the option to comment. You sir however have truly impressed me and I have taken time to break out my phone download RUclips onto my phone and look up your sight here just to make the comment that I'm about to make.
I'm going to start by saying that I am 54 years old and I've been facing a lot of health problems, not that I want anybody to feel sorry for me at all, just the opposite ! I have been pushing, and fighting for everything I'm worth, and I'm getting a lot of my health back. There have been a lot of struggles but like yourself I do not believe in giving up if something is worth fighting for its worth giving everything for. That being said I have been watching since you're very first video in this series. I happened to run onto the first episode because it was suggested to me through the algorithm. I have watched every single minute of your videos and I wait anxiously for the next one every week. I get to watch you, and I see your drive and determination and your willingness to put in any work no matter how hard to achieve the goal that you aim for. This I truly can relate to, and I have great respect for you and the accomplishments you have achieved through your hard work and determination. You have truly been an inspiration to me, and made it just a little bit easier to push through the challenges that life leaves before me. I am very grateful that I found your series. I feel that you're God's not only are there to help you, but are using you to help others like myself.
I still have a ways to go before my health will be in good enough shape to do a lot of traveling or spend a lot of time outdoors in rougher country, but when that time comes I would really love to get the chance to meet you in person and share a good steak. I pray that your health and your success does nothing but continue to grow, and not only reach but exceed all of the goals in your life.
In short I truly pray that you will maintain your attitude, and your focus throughout your life. I pray that your health stage great and your strength increases. I wish for nothing but health, wealth, and success for you and all of your life's ventures, and adventures. LOL May the gods continue to smile upon you.
Bro! The scene of him floating in Germany may be one of the most predictable yet subtlety iconic moments in history!
Im just surprised he made it with poor directions, no paddle , no map & thats a long ways . Lol thats some perseverance...
I‘m glad that my pain and danger has contributed to you feeling entertained 😏
Next time I’ll do it with a paddle but without a boat!
@@IamAlexNick 😂🤣😂
I always thought the Elbe was larger than on the video but then again I was 4 years old when I saw it.
@@carollewis5468it wasnt the elbe actually, it was the eisbach in munich
SER James Alofs, Architect of the Northern Homestead, the First of His Name, Monarch of the Great Pines and Crimson Maples, Custodian of Ancient Viking Knowledge, Steward of Thor's Red Oak, the Phoenix Who Rose from the Tent Ashes, the Unburnt, the Aficionado of Berries and Cherries, the Master of Digestive Triumphs, the OOGA BOOGA Chieftain, Connoisseur of Café Infusé à Froid Noir, Commander of the Mid-Sized pickup Steed, Friend to Gundebad the Dwarf, Enthusiast of Wolf's Milk, Filler of Thunder Hole, Betrothed of Sophie Turner, Seeker of Wild Raspberries, Godfather to Sif's Red Oak, Lord of the Oakum Stuffing, Slayer of the Winged Hornet Menace, Comrade to Alex "The Thunder Hole" Nick
Thank you for blessing us with another video
“COMMANDER OF THE MID SIZED PICKUP STEED” 🥲😂😂🤣🤣🤣 GOOD SER RAFAEL THESE COMMENTS NEVER FAIL TO BRING A SMILE TO MY FACE! MAY THE GODS BLESS YOU! BOTH THE OLD GODS AND THE NEW 🫡🤝⚡️🐺🌲
Wow! That's some prose right there.
I preferably think the milliwake hacksaw is better for those things
How did manage to feed thousands of troops? This has always baffled me. Thanks for your history lessons.
@RafaelW8 I think Enger Freund is more appropriate than Comrade given Alex's German heritage 😉.
James, use the buckets of sawdust in the thunder hole. It helps with the flies, the smell and sawdust composts the material down much quicker making for a nice toilet!
The logs you’re cutting out for the windows would make nice legs for furniture… a bed, end table etc
Hello from the Space Coast of Florida! I thoroughly enjoy watching your channel as you build your cabin, prune the land, fish and plunge the river, give us wonderful history lessons and share the gorgeous scenic views of this incredible place that you now call home. I also laugh hysterically at your comedic shenanigans! Keep on keeping on James, and thanks for taking us along for the ride. Ooga Booga! Cherries and Berries rule!
Keeping to the Norse mythology I suggest Skadi for the name of the newly discovered oak tree. In Norse mythology, Skadi is a goddess whose dominion encompasses winter and pursuit of hunting. She is a fierce and self-reliant deity and therefore personifies the untamed and wild forces of nature. Your new oak tree had done just that; been fierce in growing up between several spruces, and is wild and untamed. Also Skadi is a member of the Jotun race, which I am sure you know are the titantic entities of the Nordic pantheon, and this oak tree is 'titan' compared to Thor & Sif. Not only is Skadi a Jotun, but she is also associated with the Aesir gods as she is married to Njord.
Love your content - thank you for bringing us along on your journey! Hard Work & Dedication, Strength & Honour!
Our dog is called Skadi
Born in July (midwinter in Australia)
If you are going to catch and release the brook trout make sure you wet your hands in the river before picking them up. Trout have a protective slime that will come off on dry hands. If they lose the slime they are more likely to catch diseases. Have fun catching them brook trout are one of the prettiest fish on the planet.
@jessepierce6659 I haven't been able to eat any other kind of fish since I had trout. It's hands down the best in my book. Problem is I live in Illinois and hate frozen fish so no trout for me.
The little German dog worrying about the man in the river 😂 glad he made it safely home!
Sir James, when TREES get large, one of the first things to fail in a big storm is the seam where two trunks meet near the bottom of the twin trunk trees. The seam is not very strong. This winter (Jan - Feb) would be a good time to go ahead and cut the right trunk off flush where it meets the left more dominate trunk. The left more dominate trunk will then be a finer looking specimen, able to grow large and weather storms a lot better. Ooga Booga!!
Hi. I love your project! One thing caught my attention: If you have beavers near or upstream - please be very cautious with the water. Where there are beavers, there are what we call lamblia/ giardia in the water. If you get these into your digestion-system.... man you will feel bad for weeks. Even WITH medical treatment! Thanks for showing us the dream. Greetings from Germany, Chris
Also known as beaver fever :D
I agree--I personally think u should b careful dunking tour head in the river water every day. And what about moose fluke? Is that an issue in that locality as well?
@@Xenodarr Hi. Thanks, I didn´t know that word. Chris
Fact. Caught beaver fever a couple years ago. Was bad for about 6 weeks, didn't go away for 6 months though
@@tylerrobdavis Uff - that is really bad. Good that you are well again! Chris
James. Above the windows and doors you could add a piece of wood then foam and then cap it off another piece of wood. Would look so much better than just foam. Just an idea brother. Keep up the great videos. Stay safe
Ser James, I wish I didn't have to deliver this bad news, but two tree leaders (or trunks) usually creates big problems eventually. The following info is rather long, but is worth your time in reading.
Trees with multiple trunks, also known as codominant stems, can have several problems, including:
Splitting
Trees with multiple trunks are more likely to split apart where the trunks meet, especially during storms. This is because the trunks compete for space and light, and one of them will eventually fail.
Weakness
Trees with multiple trunks are weaker than single-trunk trees, and this weakness is more pronounced during storms.
Included bark
As the stems grow larger, they can squish together, creating included bark, which indicates a poor attachment.
Destabilization
When one trunk fails, it can cause the other trunk to be uplifted, which can lead to both trunks failing.
Potential hazard
Trees with multiple trunks can be a potential hazard around structures.
To reduce the risk of problems, you can prune young trees to establish a single leader. This involves selecting the strongest stem and pruning the others.
You are perfectly correct sir. I would have commented this if I hadn't read your comment. Glad you were on the ball.
Too much junk in the trunk if you know what I mean. Hope this makes you smile
@@mkp3747yep 😂😂
I would also add that this fall, prune Thor's red oak. Keep the bottom 2/3 free from branches each year (or up to the first major intersection). This will encourage growth at the top giving you a much more healthy tree down the road.
Hey James,
I realize it's a bit late, but for future projects, consider using your Skill Saw for making plunge cuts on those window support channels. To do this, retract the blade guard, then carefully plunge the blade to make the vertical cuts. After that, you can use your battery-operated Stihl mini to clean out the remaining material.
Ser James might I suggest somewhat of a carport to place your sawmill and lumber pile under, so neither will get ruined by the rain when it comes.
I'm loving your progress, it's absolutely beautiful; with that said let me be at least 1 person to say that I'm so proud of you for following, working towards and accomplishing your dream and vision for what you want your life to look like.
You have found you a gem 💎 of a neighbor. From the looks of the neighbors mill saw he has a lifetime of experience. He is a wealth of information. Pick his brain 🧠.
Hi there, myself and my 76 year old husband from Oxford England, watch you all the time and from day 1.
My husband keeps asking me and I don’t know.
Why when you put windows in you saw the logs and put a band in,then you put another binding piece of wood on top of that, and then you put a box frame in and then the window, in a box and then set the window in the space.
Also why leave a gap above the window frame and fill it in with unsightly plastic foam. And then plug other gaps with that stuff.
When you have taken so much care with building with natural logs and other sustainable material.
And by the way I love how you are maternal with all the nature there.
Anyway hubby just interested, because we just love and appreciate all you do. Olga booga love Ann and Neil intrepid followers 😊❤
I’m the furthest thing from an expert but my best guess is that the logs he’s using are fresh and will change drastically over time as they dry and temperature fluctuates. By creating several layers of framing around the window it should stay level even when the wall itself moves around it.
@@conorholmes4796 thanks that makes sense 😃
Loved the floating in Germany scene!! We watch you weekly. Since week 2. Love the show! I am missing Gundabad! I know we saw him last week but he was so cute!
My name suggestions for the Oak you saved is Loki because he was hiding!
Have you thought about getting a waterwheel or something you could put in the river to generate power and charge all your batteries? Then they could charge over night and during the winter when sunlight is scarce.
This is a cool idea
Mini chainsaw is pretty cool but you always need an extra battery with any battery powered tool. I used to use several different kinds of power tools now I just stick with Milwaukee so all the batteries work on all the tools I use for construction. I love the cabin build good work!
I laughed out loud when James was grinding his coffee beans. James you are hilarious.
I did as well, glad to see I was not the only one!
Stay safe, need to start stacking firewood soon. Winter will be early this year.
This is my favorite show of the week by a country mile
For those in the USA, if you're interested in Lepage products, our closest brand would be Loctite. They are owned by the same parent company.
Happy Alex made it safely home🤗minus a few articles of clothing 🙏💜
I also may have lost James‘ boat 😅
Worth noting that stainless steel will cause mild steel wool to corrode more quickly, and the iron leaching into the wood will cause it to rot (iron sickness)
Just use stainless.
You will never regret picking up an Oscillating Multitool in 18V. It will readily become indispensable. Works great at cleaning up excess spray foam too.
I have one of those vibrating little saws and trust me you will find it so handy especially as you start the interior work. Yes get one, they are not that expensive
Long time viewer, first time commenter - may I beg my liege that you name the new oak tree Odin, the Allfather. I love how excited and protective you are over these glorious trees. You are so fortunate to live in such a beautiful area. I am enjoying watching your progress - your work ethic is exemplary.
As a recent resident of Wiesbaden, not far from Mainz, I feel compelled to point out that it is pronounced "Mines" versus "Maines" as you pronounced it. Your knowledge of the Vandals and others (to include the Goths, Visigoths, Ostrogoths etc.) is very impressive! Keep up the great work!
💯 True dat!
Make sure to come to Mainz for the Christmas market. One of the most beautiful Christmas markets in Germany!
… it’s even possible to cross the Rhine from Wiesbaden without an exceptionally cold winter ;)
I moved into my tent in the rainforest in Bali to build by wooden house at the same time as James moved into his tent to build his. He has kept me company all this time, he spent months in the snow whilst I was knee deep in the monsoon. We even put our rooves on finished the floor and got starlink at the same time. 😂 Thanks James for keeping me company all this time.
Congrats on your build and being dialed in with James!
Always excited for a Saturday mornings episode with you sir….
GOOD LADY LUPIN, HONOURED TO BE JOINED BY YOU ON SATURDAY MORNINGS! MAY THE GODS BLESS YOU. BOTH THE OLD GODS AND THE NEW 🫡🤝⚡️🐺🌲
Tool recommended for notching window spline is a chain saw style blade for a 4.5 inch angle grinder. Lancelot tools used to make one. You will need to buy an angle grinder. Love your show.
Although these have been banned in the UK as they are, let's be honest, a bit of a "risk"...
The oak. How about Yggdrasil? An oak symbolises strength, endurance, power and ancient wisdom. You could name it Endurance since it endured being squeezed out by those pines for all those years, and yet grew big and strong. Very nice to see the windows going in.
Can’t wait to see your saw mill in action! Also looking forward to when you put your wood stove in the house and heat it for the first time.
I really enjoy this channel for the off grid building but the short historical stories is the real treat.
Glad to see your buddy Alexander made it back home. What a cool dude to play along with your shenanigans. 😂. Would you ever consider doing a Q & A or a live stream??? Would be a cool way to interact with your subscribers. I know you would have to figure out a place with good wifi service. But it would be cool. Thanks for bringing us long & sharing this journey.
When using your chisel go from the outside edge in and you won’t crack the timber. Loving your channel and your lifestyle, I’m in Australia and if I wasn’t a paraplegic I could see myself living a life like yours. Take care mate
Thanks for posting. That's hugely inspirational. I wish you well.
Your German friend is awesome, love the humor with him in your videos. I think you should name that new oak tree you found after him.
Suggestion: build a canoe dock and small pier on the homestead river..... love the content! Keep it up!
Also: steel wool is a HUGE fire risk, it burns very easily.
Omg James, I just realized this episode was nearly an hour long so THANK YOU!!! I look forward to your show every week!! I want to build my own cabin too!!! I love you man!!! Kimberly from Nee Hampshire, USA!
for the inside cut on the window you can cut multiple channels with a skill saw/ circular saw, getting the rest out will then be way easier
Never reacted to your questions before, but this one, I needed to. I worked in a sawmill yard for some time, and the one thing that always happened was that there was not enough room and time to clean up after the milling. So, guess what will happen when you need to keep that middle space clear for your truck to go through ... daily. Not gone happen. 😉
Keep it up. Enjoying the content tremendously from day one.
Cheers.
GOOD SIR HILT! RIGHT! SAGE SAGE ADVICE. YES THAT WILL ONLY BE A TEMPORARY PAD SO I CAN MILL THE REMAINING 10 OR SO GIANT RED PINE LOGS NEAR THE DRIVEWAY….AFTER THAT WILL BE MOVING THE SAWMILL BACK TO A DEDICATED SITE IN THE MEADOW. THANKS FOR THIS. STRENGTH AND HONOUR TO YOU 🫡🤝⚡️🐺🌲
James, for hand work in chiseling out the spline channels, you would want to use gouges sharpened to a razors edge struck with a wooden mallet. A round gouge would take out the bulk of the material in the middle, and then a corner gouge would clean up the edges. You’ll also want to invest in the sharpening equipment and spend some time learning to sharpen them. Lee Valley sells them if you’re ever interested in going the manual route, but be warned it’s extremely time consuming and has given me a deep respect for the labourers of the past.
I’ve heard it said that if there were chainsaws in the 1800s, there wouldn’t be a tree left standing in North America. Those guys were machines.
GOOD SIR BOAT, GOUGES! RIGHT OK. YES I’D LIKE TO ACQUIRE SOME OF THESE SO I CAN USE THEM THE NEXT TIME I RUN INTO A TIGHT SPACE. THE MINI-CHAINSAW WAS A GOOD BUT FINICKY TOOL. MAY THE GODS BLESS! 🫡🤝⚡️🐺🌲
@@wildhomesteadI’d have a look at a Milwaukee router for this a lot less labour intensive and a better more accurate finish in my worthless opinion
A router is by far the best choice here. You’ll need to drill a hole to get started, from there you have control over the depth of the cut.
My friend blessing you from the gods. I am not the sharpest tool in the toolbox, that being said. I hope the. Bottom of the window sill and door , are tilted outwards.
Tree Name Suggestion:
Red Vandal - An homage to the story you shared about the Rhine River freezing over.
Cheers from Nebraska
Another great video lord James I was glad to see Alexander made it home lol
You have definitely found found a piece of heaven on earth.
I look forward to your videos every week it just takes to long lol
Oh my god James,
I come from Mainz-Marienborn, only 5km from Nick's town.
The world is small.
Greetings from Sydney, NS
Hello Sir James! First, thanks for having a new video every week. It is always great to see the progress that you make each week. As for the new oak tree, congratulations, but you will need to remove one of the trunks as it will not grow as strong as it should. As for the name, may I suggest Heimdall's Oak since he is a guardian. This also, is in the hopes that you will eventually find a larger oak that you can gift the name of Oden.
Hilarious swim scene in Germany!
Swimming? „Holding breath“ scene 😉
Good morning James, try a "Forstner Bit" in a drill to hog out wood material. Theyre cheap and very useful.
Looking forward to seeing your log mill. Next homestead will go faster/better/easier with milled lumber. Start stacking and you should be good to go soon after this current log cabin is finished.
Thank you for taking the time to make these videoes. I’m just a small city boy in Denmark, but I do enjoy your videos. They calm my mind.
I absolutely adore these videos, you make me want to buy a piece of land and do this myself, for now I will live vicariously through you it’s become part of my Sunday morning routine
You should call the new oak Silvanus, meaning "of the woods" in Latin. He was a Roman tutelary deity of woods and uncultivated lands. And protector of the forest.
Great job looking good and coming along nicely. I think your next build before winter comes should be a shed for the ATV and all your tools.
James, a sharp chain saw chain will have very crisp angles on each tooth not a slightly rounded tooth. When you are sharpening your saw, if you hold the saw in your lap, you are going to round the tooth some when the saw rocks in your lap as you try to push the sharpener. Put the saw on the floor of your cabin close to the door and sharpen there. You'll get sharper teeth. Ooga Booga!
You get so much amazing sunlight! Many similar channels have cabins tight in the trees, which seems great, but will make for TONS more bugs and dreary winters. Well planned, good sir!
James you art to take the cutting from the windows and doors & make tables and chairs & other furniture with. Like always you make me smile. Your doing good
Winter in coming!!! ❄️ ☃️
Saturday AM: eyes open, coffee poured, WILD HOMESTEAD. Love what you are doing, man, and dreaming. You're doing amazing things!
Hey James! Your channel is awesome! I just wanted to say I'm enjoying the series and all your hard work. This is by far the most underrated documentation of a cabin build by far. U are living my dream brother. Much love and respect!
Suggest to Store your lumber level to avoid bending the wooden blanks 1X8 etc.
think i learned more about history watching this channel then in history class love it
Was just goofing around mindlessly, and saw this episode releasead a couple seconds ago. The gods are kind
The beheaded mouse offerings seem to be working indeed. May you receive many blessings and live a life of good fortune.
Here in Florida, owls famously attack squirrels at night and only eat the head...they love the brains. My guess with your headless mice is an owl victim.
Gutters and rain barrels and you can water Thor's Oak from the sky.
YES GOOD SER WILSEY, THE CONCERN WITH RAIN BARRELS AND (I IMAGINE THE GUTTERS FUNNELLING WATER TO THEM) IS THAT THE GUTTERS WILL PREVENT A NON-TRIVIAL AMOUNT OF SNOW FROM SLIDING OFF THE 12X12 STEEP PITCH ROOF. MOST OF MY NEIGHBOURS IN THE AREA DO NOT PUT GUTTERS ON THEIR STEEP ROOFS FOR THIS REASON. ALTHOUGH PERHAPS THERE IS A WAY TO ONE DAY FASTEN REMOVABLE GUTTERS TO TAKE OFF IN THE FALL? STRENGTH AND HONOUR TO YOU! 🫡🤝⚡️🐺🌲
Wow! I thought you and Alex were joking last week, so glad he made it home. He was very lucky and you too, when you bathe. I’m not sure how far up river crocodiles get in Canada, just keep a look out. Here in Siberia, we use a ‘croc swat’. It’s similar to a fly swat, but obviously bigger. You might wanna invest.
Hey James love the series and I always look forward to Saturday morning where I can enjoy a wild homestead video, I can’t wait for my time to start going off grid!! OOGA BOOGA
Add Surviving Ringworm. You'll love it.
You’re living the dream my off grid brother. I’ve watched your skills continuously improve and you’re well on your way to establishing a functional and thriving homestead.
Looking forward to seeing how you confront the challenge of the shower / bathroom addition and water.
Sir James, you fail to disappoint, once again! 🥰
My husband was getting jealous of my Saturday morning commitment to @wildhomestead so, this morning, I made him wake up early to join the official viewing on the Isle of Mistress (which is our reclining sofa) and now you have an additional fan/subscriber in him! 😊 We're binge-watching from the start so that he can catch up!!
On a separate note, Alexander is officially a Wild Homestead Legend!! Way to cap off his hilarious exit without a paddle!🤣
I was so pleased to see you seal up the floor and ground crevices - my pest-entry fears have settled down ☺️
I'm partial to the name Freyja for the new Oak, for obvious reasons!! 😎
Can't wait for the interiors to commence!!
Strength and Honor!!! 💪🤘💜👑🏠🌲
I am so envious of you James. The adventure you are on is amazing
Saturday Mornings…. Coffee, James and a history lesson!
My father’s family is from Ingelheim (those Hessians) and he has told me the story of how the barbarians started to take back the land in what is now Mainz. His family eventually became the “hall watchers” for Charlemagne at his summer home in Ingelheim. The ruins of their original home are right next to Charlemagne’s castle ruins.
Anyhow, thank you for the history lesson! Love the new windows. Idea for the name of your large oak- Thorfinn’s Red Oak. He was a Viking… full name Thorfinn Skull-Splitter. He was an earl, or Jarl, of Orkney.
Hi James,
You shouldn't be letting your window rest on the bottom sill without a gap. You will not have room for spray foam.
I usually place a 3/8"( min)of scrap plywood or shims, for the window to rest on, cut ply about 1.5" wide and keep in few inches from sides, since your sill is level, you do not need shims here, you will on the sides though. Again, min 3/8" per side and top around perimeter of the window.
If you do not, there will be drafts and ice build-up at the sill. It's important to have this gap or no insulating value will be achieved at each envelope penetration.
Hey James. Spray foam is a fantastic product. Don't worry about offgassing or fumes after it has cured. Spray foam is used in aquariums and vivariums for many species of amphibians fish and reptiles. If it's safe for them to live inside of and swim around. it's safe for us
Great Stuff or Lepage like you got is perfect.
You should prepare some jam from all that blackberry's that you have on your property, is good for winter.
I was born in Hanau and my parents lived in Erlensee, Germany. On the Rhine-Main River. The Limes Germanicus are still there and in Erlensee is a Roman bath. Also there are Roman ruins in Taunus Mountains called Römerkastell Saalburg.
You always leave a gap around door and window installs…use shims to square things up. If you have ANY movement in your building and you install these too tightly they can jam or worse yet, windows can break! The low expansion foam can be used to seal everything up.
Saturday morning cartoon for adults ❤
I truly love Wild Homestead! I just binge watched your entire story from episode 1. Took me about a week, but never the less a good way to do it. Shout out from San Antonio! You are totally living the best version of you! OOGA BOOGA!
Super show. Best on all media rn. Take care. Amazing stuff. 👏
With your new Red Oak - what you can do is twine the two trunks together (like rope is twined) while they are still flexible - this will eventually lead to the twined trunks becoming one trunk over time and making a much stronger tree. I have successfully done this with fruit trees.
laughing out loud watching Alex floating in the river 😆
same. god bless youtube and this channel. *chef's kiss* 🤌
Trust me, that water in Germany was even colder than that swim in Canada!
Stihl make a smaller bar for your electric chain saw. That's all you need, shorter bar and a new chain...easy!
Odin's oak sounds like a great name for that tree My name is Cody. My wife and I live in South Carolina in the states. We love your post and was lucky enough to come across you just as you started. Your story is great. We are Norse pagan ourselves so we love the things you and that apply to that. Keep up the great job and please be safe.
I enjoy your history lessons. Thank you for sharing.
It’s getting really exciting now. Can’t wait for you to move in.
Hey buddy. You are doing amazing. I know how tough it is to be doing a project alone and for the first time. Plus in the middle of the woods. Keep on trucking my friend.
It's definitely an owl jacking up those mice. Another youtuber named Flair has the same problem with his chickens. So he filmed them and exposed the owls hahaha
i agree i live in rural michigan and have seen this out side my barn a few times
I think this is right. We live with barred owls. They are amazing.
Owl, for sure, they will take the heads off. Possibly dropped it in flight.
I came here to say this.
Good morning James. Love the video as always. For the splines I would recommend a plunge router with a straight cutting bit. You should be able to get the 1.5” you need to fit the spline in. It won’t get all the way to the edges but you can always use your circular saw as well. In fact you could use the circular saw and then finish off with your new trim saw. The limited battery along with the circular saw should get the job done.
One tip I have. When installing the windows with the rough opening make sure you use 2 spacers at the bottom. I use carpenter pencils from Home Depot. Makes it where you can foam all around it after install.
Hope ur keeping those pieces ur cutting out for bed posts or a bench or couch. Enjoying watching every week!
Nice found within 32 seconds of posting. Love watching from Australia
Hi there, myself and my 76 year old husband from Oxford England, watch you all the time and from day 1.
My husband keeps
Well done, fine Sir! Home Hardware is the way to go! 🙌
Beaming you all the blessings!🙏🎶🌟🐺🥛🍁
James, I seriously have no idea how you get the work done when there are so amazing views on your property. Being in such a beautiful surrounding like that I would just sit there admiring the view. Another busy week.
We use steel wool at our cottage in Michigan to keep rodents out. After awhile moisture gets on it and it rusts. Be prepared to replace it. It does work.
The new oak should be called Loki's due to the split trunk symbolizing both its good and mischievous natures. I am enjoying the history lessons and work on the homestead, I was glad to see you include your oops with the chainsaw cut on the bottom sill of the window you had to shim, it is totally something I would do. You don't get frustrated (at least on camera) and are very adaptable to your mistakes. Thanks for taking us on this journey.
Love your channel. Especially watching it with my morning coffee. Reminder don't get river lake water in your system, nasty stuff could getya. Betcha that cold water feels great on sore muscles.
Thankyou Mr .Alofts 😊
❤his return to Germany clip may have beaten his entrance to Canada ❤ made me laugh for the 1st time of the day, ty❤