If think it's a simple life you have no clue. The amount of skills required are huge. The time investment to live life off grid is enormous. I've been doing it for 20 years. Started with raw land and have invested over two hundred thousand land well power vehicles equipment home shops fencing for livestock and more time than I could calculate. I love it but it's not for the faint of heart or someone who thinks it's simple or easy.
@@MarkJones-fw3mo Simple and easy are different concepts. You're arguing that it's not easy. I didn't say it was. Five minutes watching this video demonstrates that you don't need $200k to live off grid, just as building shops and raising livestock are not required.
Hey I've lived off grid 35 years. I save rain water for my water source. I run it through a Berkey water filtration system I didn't mind spending the money considering it takes out all the crap. So my water is free. I have constant water I have a 270 gallon tank in a small building it's like a lean-to it's closed off from the Sun. So I filter my water through the Berkey. I solar panels for my power. I live on a fixed income. I'm still able to save money for emergencies.
That's awesome. I had a Big Berkey once also. Sold it before I moved off grid because I rarely used it. Now I wish I hadn't!!! Guess I'll end up buying a new one or maybe just buying the filters and making my own.
6 years off grid , I bought 5 accers of forest land in west Arkansas. Howdy naibor . Bought a used RV lived in until my cabin was built . Summers are hell here . I have done it without A/C , I do have a window unit , but very seldom use it . I have fans , cold well water , My cabin is modern fram built on concrete slab . Solar power , generator backup, lpgas for cooking and bathroom heat in winter during showers . Woodstove main heat in winter . Well and septic .deep freezer for fridge , So.i have a working bathroom and a washing machine . FlushToilet , shower . Ive worked hard to build this myself , Done everthing except slab myself . Very comfterble cabin . My 5 accers was 17,500. Cash and the RV was 7,500 . Sold now .to pay for septic system , I lost track of all expenses, but shes all paid for . If i had to guess , total About 40k . Land , tools ,cabin ,all mentooned.. thats 6 years to get here . Paid cash as I went . I love this life . Planting fruit trees and working on garden . Simi retired now .pick up odd jobs from time to time . The hard part is over now . I enjoy my financial freedom ,my country life . I do what I want , when I want . So can you .
Like so many other "offgriders", I admire you for making the change to this lifestyle...it's much simpler, and in time much cheaper. All that said...paying $9,000 for a half acre with no utilities and not with a year round creek or natural spring is way too high. One can find land for $2,500 to $4,000 an acre if you're just patient and look for it. And as for the Derkson structure....NEVER buy it on a rent to own deal. If you figure the money spent when it's paid for...a $5,400 shed will be close to $13,000 after only 4 -5 years of payments....which is absolutely ridiculous!! And I'd buy one with a loft, and without the porch. A loft gives you more usable space...as will a full 12 × 24( or 14 × 28, or 16 × 32, etc.) shed...you can build your own porch for very little. I bought a lightly used 14 × 28 with a loft at both ends for $6,500 cash two years ago. I know building prices have gone up...but still, look for bargains. And ALWAYS try to find a piece of land that has a water source....whether it's a year round creek, a natural spring, a well or a pond. You can get by without being hooked up to electricity or natural gas grids...you can use solar, generators, propane or burn wood. But you don't want to rely on hauling water or collecting rain water if you can avoid it. IF you have to...have a well drilled when you can afford it. But preferably...buy land that has an available water source. Anyway...best of luck to you. I'm 64, and looking for the right property to do offgrid living myself....whether here in Arkansas, in the upper peninsula of Michigan or wherever I'm able.
In my area an acre is 45,000 so it depends where you are of course. As far as the cabin. If you are renting an apartment you literally throw the whole rent payment away. He pays whatever per month for it at least he has something to keep. Of course rent to own is not the best option but at least it’s better than just renting
August 2023 n just stumbled across ur channel. Wanted to say thanks for the open window into ur cool off grid life. Hope n pray ur still trucking bro. Keep it up n eventually this will pay off. People need down to earth entertainment and u r the ticket. Not only entertaining but also informative. Thanks again
Im 66 and lived in a 1976 30ft fifth wheel from 02 till 2022 with only gas appliances. I ran the little solar lights inside and left the panel outside for my lighting. I hunted and canned everything including fish. Id find on sale produce at the farmers market next to Asheville and can that also. A well close by gave me water and the owner didn't care as long as i only used the hydrant next to the well. It was some of the happiest days of my life. I live on my inheritance now and have a small cabin of 280sq ft. I still can and i also work part time for the extra income. I haven't had television for over 30 years now and don't miss it at all, i don't even own a PC or an in home radio. My life is simple and that's how i like it. Great video brother!
3 years off grid here. It is so romanticized - but it is soooooo hard. There are so many things to think about and costs unexpected. Costs: solar, charge controller, inverter, solar generator, gas/propane generator, wood burning stove, stove pipe, insulation, dry wall, eeelectrical, bathroom, kitchen, AC - split mini is best, chain saw, woods, water catchment and/or well, propane tanks and fittings, gravel, labor costs for what you can not do. Costs and labor and never ending. Then, there is the insects and wildlife. And the never ending parade of snakes. Mice somehow seem to find a way to sneak into my cabin all year round. And the humidity can be overwhelming so make sure you have a good split mini air conditioning unit. I run my Split mini off of 1400 W solar and two 200 amp hour lithium batteries. On days where there is a heat wave I have to supplement my solar with my generator. In the winter, it can get so cold at -35 chill that water literally freezes if it spills on the floor inside my cabin. That is only the first 10 inches or so from the floor up and above that the wood-burning stove keeps the cabin around 70 to 80°. Wood-burning stove is supplemented with propane Dickinson heater. I don’t think it’s wise to run the Mr. buddy heater inside a closed area. If you do not have $15,000 or more and 3 to 12 months to wait for a while to get put in then water catchment is probably a good idea and there’s another good bit of labor and cost to setting that up. And then there’s the filtration system to think about. Also, if you want to keep your food in a root cellar, there is a huge cost involved in that. I know there are hacks for everything too. Having said that, I have no regrets and there is no going back to city dwelling after living off grid in the woods.
What do you think about buying some land, pour a concrete slab, put a small cabin on it, set up solar panels, put in a well. I also think a wood privacy fence around the cabin would be nice too.
a concrete slab might be problematic for local regulations. you can use used tyres and fill the inside with gravel or similar to do the base (foundations). do rows of tyres every x feet (2 meters) to ensure the base is well supported.
We found our Missouri property from a doctor who bought up land all around here at land auctions. Everyone else bypassed this acreage because of the tree situation…they didn’t want to remove trees so the owner offered to finance. I put a nice downpayment towards the property, bought an old, used camper from 1989, fixed it up to suit me, cleared just enough trees to back into a shady spot and went from there. Three years later and I am now ready to set up a campsite for workaway’ers to come help me carve a beautiful hiking trail. I have the county’s blessing for this venture, now on to the state for my llc not-for-profit business. Our cabin was around $7k, I have to fetch water but I am used to it, and we bought kayaks to float around on the pond and clear it of algae. We stocked it. I have a few hens and rabbits and this year a very sweet, no-till garden! I fell in love with native plants and taught myself to make medicine. We are thriving here and now I wish to give back. Can hardly wait for the workaway’ers to camp here! I love life here!!!
You did Great! I'm impressed! We are 57 & 64 yrs old. Bought a "shell" a.ka off grid 1500 foot cabin on 9 acres in Calif. Cost: 87k. Remodel $48k = $135k total. Al lis new inside so nothing will break down in our lifetime, hopefully. We cook outside half the year+use the outdoor bath/shower sometimes. Sleep outside when possible to stay cool. Free Springwater. A Greenhouse was built in the fenced backyard w/ dwarf fruit trees inside which should start producing soon. *Our Monthly Expenses are $1450 a month and his Social Security income is $1710 + $300 food stamps* I don't have a Drivers License due to eyesight. Hubby's body was wearing out doing construction and he is on a breathing assist device at night so took Social Security early and we retired. We E-Bike it 3x a week for 1.5 hrs to sorta stay fitter than we otherwise would be.. Our area is small, almost no jobs here and the public bus only goes into the larger town of 17k 1x a week. About 15 min away is a fantastic health food store, 2 active Community centers, our wonderful bible church, 2 tiny gas stations, a Cafe, library, 2 rivers & one Park. We just canned for the first time about 10 jars of blackberry jam, we picked the blackberries. Our life consists of cycling, gardening, bible study, church, socializing at the community center & volunteering.
Same thing man I smell the freedom and stress free coming. I’d rather worry about getting wood for a wood stove then this 1650$ rent plus all the utilities.
Very good video bro sorry it's been so long I just seen this but I got a question for you can you tell me what can get ahold of to find me some land like that I love that that would set my whole life complete please let me know I really appreciate you thank you sir
@1acrehomesteader43 - 1 quick question..what are you doing for heat?? I am using Mr buddy but it's barely worth the effort. And not worth the cost..I was thinking wood burning stove but am worried about fires..no running water lol.
We bought a piece of land like this in Missouri out among the Amish. 5 years ago. 5.5 acres with a pond, cost $1,000 down and $275 a month Total $29,000. We ended up bringing an old mobile home 14 x 80 3 bed 2 bath on it that we bought for $500.00 did a remodel on the mobile as we could afford it. PAID IT ALL OFF within 2 years - by paying extra. Now we have a great place now for
We bought 13 acres while still working on land contract and paid as we went along to build a cabin and add well and septic. Then we retired and finished the cabin and built a greenhouse and wellhouse that is a good size as well and moved. We live off our retirement social security. We paid off the six acres the cabin is on and paying on the second 7 acres now. It is the best decision we ever made. I garden and preserve. He chops wood. I would still be working full time to pay the mortgage on the big house. It is a blessed life
@@1acrehomesteader43 it is a relief to know I only have to come up with annual taxes and I have a roof over my head. I don't need much at all in my life. be blessed
What’s the square footage of your cabin? I’m looking to build an 800 sq ft cabin, selling my 1400 sq ft house when I retire and downsize on my mother’s land.
That's roughing it. For sure. Respect. Water is 100% a must so a hand pump and rain collection should be your priority. I'm going solar with battery 🔋 for sure, to run my freezer and A/C unit. Shower will be inside the cabin, and use a hand pump pressure shower 🚿. Will put in wood stove and have outside fire grill to cook with. Outhouse is cheap, but a lug-a-bull loo is cheap with plastic bags, have to have a burn barrel and their are several kinds. Do a raised garden but I have years worth of rice, beans, pasta, oats in mylar in buckets if need be, and a creek near by, but I'll mostly hunt with the rounds I have to stock meat. Clothes washing can be done by hand. Lots of things to think out, and need money to accomplish.
Put a solar attic fan in one window and run it off a car battery. Mine was 169.00 on hawaii, must be cheaper there. Get a used RV 3 way fridge and run it off a car battery & back up with 5 gal propane tank Go to the wineries/brewery's and ask for recycled ingredients containers. They are blue food grade 20 gallon containers, I catch the water from the roof.
Hey, from a fellow Oklahoman. I did this same thing in 2016 and loved it but due to family issues I couldn’t finish my cabin 16x40, and had to leave. I’m glad to find your channel and do this again !!!
Wow #1 most inspirational alt-living off grid video ive ever seen. Take note youtubers, the harder you show off the more un-relateable you are to MORE people. Side note i bet there isn’t any affordable way to do this in my state, hint im neighboring Mordor on the Potomac .
How much is the gas per week running that generator? Also, how do you get water? Does the county let you do this without permits? Most counties across the country, dont allow off grid living without lots of permits and architectural drawings, etc, etc.. Im almost over grid, but for our living space (a shipping container home), we HAD to get plans drawn up (over $1000), peemits, (over $1000)... We HAD to get a power pole put in (its required by state law and cost us $500 to put in), and the list goes on and on... So for most people even IF they wanted to do off gridz its gonna cost well over $10,000 after every thing is said and done.
In the Summer, I run my window A/C around 16 hours a day. It runs about 10 to 12 hours per gallon. In the Winter. 5 gallons of gas might last me weeks as I don't need to run it very much. Solar is on the way which will probably eliminate the need for a generator most of the time unless I'm running an electric intense machine like a table saw or something. As for the cost of living off grid, there is almost always options for getting around stupid regulations initiated by the clueless. Even if that option is to MOVE to a place less restrictive!
I have 600 watts of solar with 6 - 100 amp hour batteries, 1500 watt inverter and an MPPT charge controller. About $1400. I also recommend Worx 40 volt battery chainsaw. Not as rugged as gas chainsaws so you kinda have to be gentle with it but I can cut up a tree wherever I find it. No air conditioner (central Texas) but there are work arounds since I can freeze ice. Wouldn't trade it for the world.
I'm wanted to tell ya...damn I thought I was the only one nutty enough to go completely off grid😊. I am so glad you're doing this too!!! I'm in tn but be mindful of govt telling ya you can't do it though..God Bless
I'm glad to see there are cheaper options to buy land and some easy payment options because I don't have much money. Thank you for putting these videos up and I'm excited to see what you do with the land. I'm a new subscriber also
Great video, Bubba. I think a lot of city people like the idea of Off Grid, Little House on Prairie lifestyle but dont understand the hardships and work that go into it. My hunting camp has been this in our group for 60 years. Haul in water, no electricity, no plumbing cut wood for heat, gas lights/stove. Even in UP MI its too hot in the summer to spend any time there and its nicer when its cold so the insects arent out.
I found my land through a Craigslist add. But I see lots of places on FB marketplace as well. At the time I moved out here, I had a handyman business. Now I'm a truck driver and gone most of the week.
@@1acrehomesteader43I hope you got title insurance. Since you bought the property with owner financing, you're having a so called naked title. Be extremely careful to keep up with the payments, the seller can foreclose extremely quickly and you lose everything you put into it. Make sure once you finish paying that you get the title conveyed in your name and please get title insurance.
We bought a cabin for $97k ($3,000 down $620 a month mortgage) so much cheaper than average rent per month, and the exact amount of the average deposit, 1st and last months in the U.S. It already had solar and 2x 1200 gallon cisterns. (Buried, gravity fed to the cabin) Because of the drastic savings in housing costs, we are able to buy upgrades often. We now have Bio-Gas instead of propane. We catch water instead of paying, and have started growing food. We added a wood burner for heat instead of propane. Our bills are 0$ a month outside of internet/phone and roku and our housing costs $620 a month to own instead of rent. Best decision we ever made. 20 years ago, being OG wasn't this easy. In 2023, ANYONE can do it.❤
Congrats on being enlightened! You are also right about everyone can do this. They just have to have the "want to" and be fed up with what society tells them they have to have to be "successful".
Back in 2001 I got .68 of a acre and down the road another .58 of a acre both for 1000.00 I wanted to live on the .68 and keep the other for my kids or grand kids, there were no jobs out here paying more than 10.00 hr lol yeah so changed careers as truckers can live anywhere I piddled around till 2008 where I got my place cleared and settled for mobile home back there their wasn’t a big movement on shed conversion took me till 2021 to pay my place off and come off the OTR trucking , so wish I had gotten a shell home and finished it out but I was single and I didn’t know how to build anything , glad you was able to see your dream come to fruition alot cheaper than I did 😊
Thank you for your comment! I appreciate it. The important thing is, you got there! Would I like a larger place, sure! But I just don't want the hassle/expense/stress of a larger place!
I lived on 3 acres of land ( in a fairly nice house ) alone ( with my dog ) on a mountain in Costa Rica for a year. Very secluded, quiet, peaceful and absolutely beautiful. I did see people on occasion when I’d hike a couple of miles to get supplies but 80% of the time I was alone, managing/working on the property… it was one of the greatest experience’s of my life!
@@TheBobriss I was lucky enough to have a high school acquaintance that was selling the property that I was on. My job was to maintain the property and show it to perspective buyer’s… That said, just find out what type of land you’d like to homestead ( there’s a ton of affordable properties out there in the US, Mexico, Nicaragua, Chile etc. ) and go for it!
@@TheBobrissMany people are "waking up" and looking for this as a lifedream. Don't worry, if you search, you'll find. Idk about your spiritual beliefs but I recommend you to look for esoteric/free mind partners, specially related to the light side of magic.
Hey brother if u have the extra funds get yourself a solar generator system with a battery bank & a 500-1,000 gallon water tank with rain catchment via the rain gutters, it would change the whole experience for you. And I was typing u mentioned raised beds. It’s honestly better to go with raised beds anyway for several reasons minus the cost to initially get um going
Thank you for the video. I appreciate it. You're a smart man with a good vision. I wish others could see so clearly. I'm am wanting to buy a home stead.
How’s internet for off grid living. Yeah yeah. I can feel the comments already haha. I just really wanna live like this and discover the essentials of life while being able to have decent internet.
Internet off grid is not a certain thing. It all depends on where you live. Right now, starlink is the big thing. I've used Verizon data off of my phone and in location, it sucked due to a poor signal. Boost mobile is decent where I live. I have their WiFi device. I recently bought a AT&T phone and the hotspot off of that gives me a decent signal where I live. Otherwise, I just wait until I go into town to use a hotspot.
Starlink, ViaSat or other satellite services are available. I cannot afford those lol. I went with ATT hotspot though Verizon and T-Mobile have plans too. ATT has an unlimited plan for self employed/business owners. Internet is doable. I run my hotspot on a small 600 watt solar generator.
Of grid just means not connected to utilities such as gas , electric ,sewer ,water. Now to gridders on meth and roids it means living with nothing. My internet is my cell. I'M OFF GRID. NO PUBLIC UTILITIES.
I hope/wish the nest for you, you gotta watch some states bc if its a manufactured home there are laws especially Tenn....But glad it wrked for you, and i hope the Tonarders stay clear of you🤞
I like your video as I think seriously about moving off the grid. The problem is, I don't know where, and I am all alone. Probably Colorado, but some people said that it is not the best place, that is why lands are so cheap. Is Zillow the right site to find a land on? You are lucky in having found your home. Thanks for this video, it helps.
Just about any state will have some land that is less desirable. That land will be the cheapest. You need to determine what you want to do with the land. You simply want a place to live and maybe have a small garden? Then just about any land will do. But if you want to graze animals or do some small scale farming, that land will be more expensive because it's in higher demand.
Hey, thanks for sharing. I’ll be doing something like this when I retire but it’s gonna be a little bit bigger but nothing that can’t be heated with one woodstove.
So many questions. Your generator is great but what if there is no gas available. What about a water source for drinking, washing, etc. What about bathroom needs???
No gas? That's why you have solar! As for the water sources, you can get that from a rain catchment system. I also have a small stream just down the hill from my cabin. I often use that water for things such as construction and cleaning. It wouldn't take much to make it drinkable. Bathroom needs are taken care of with a composting toilet. No water needed!
The only problem is you still dont own it. What was the total cost if you had paid for it? What are the monthly payments and how long before its yours? Thats important to know for people struggling needing to do what youre doing.
Cool video! I was thinking about getting some land, putting up a small cabin, solar panels, put in a well. That way I would have no utilities. Also would like to garden, fish, hunt and forage as well. I wonder how far 20 t0 40k would get me? Thanks for sharing!
So is this land unrestricted because you’re supposed to have permits for damn near everything these days what was the zoning because in North Carolina there, are not many tiny home approved pieces of land even if it’s on restricted, they still have permits for everything and inspections
Omg! How much are you actually paying for the 1/2 acre? That's crazy man. God bless you. I have 2 now on a lake and trying to get 24 more. You'd have to really use every drop of your property to live off a 1/2 acre. God bless you sir. I hope you aren't paying more than $2k for the land.
Water meter is $1350. To get power, I'd have to have a power pole set on my property with an electrical box, have the cabin pre wired and an "inspection" before they would hook up the electric. A lil over $2000 for all that. Not to mention, then you'd be beholding to them every month to pay the "Minimum" for their service. Yes, even if you don't use one iota of electricity, you "owe" them a minimum payment each month. Thanks but no thanks!
I still use a portable shower when I'm here. In the Winter, when I go into town to wash my clothes and dry them (in the Summer I just wash them and bring them home and hang them out to dry) I get the clothes going and run down to the truck stop to take a shower. By the time I'm done and get back to the laundromat (about 1.5 miles away) they're done. Sometimes I will do laundry and shower all at the Truck Stop, but I don't care for their washing machines, they're small!
He travels a lot because hes a truck driver now.. so most of his time is not living off grid... He's using his land / cabin for times when hes not at home, and he's single, so that drops his needs a LOT... I'M sure he doesnt have a shower there, but most truck stops do, so water for him, isnt really a problem.. Hes "lucky" in the sense that he only has hinself and the small dog to take care of and can do this on the cheap.
You're right on several points. But even before I went OTR, I lived here full time, 24/7/365. As for the shower, I use a portable shower until I get the outhouse/shower built.
To be honest, even with careful planning and knowledge, off-grid living in the end still doesn't work for everyone and the reality is that is ok. If someone really tried to make it work and it ends up causing more unwanted stress, then people have the right to leave it. My husband and I lived rurally and for us, it was miserable. Although we are happy with each other's company and we don't trust anyone except to trust the Lord (as God advises), we realized that being outdoors wasn't really interesting for either of us, especially when we became homeless. Then it REALLY hit home how much we were isolated. We then realized that we still enjoy being around other people who share our like-minded views. Now here, though, my husband and I share different processes on how to deal with it - my husband prefers small town living (which is fine) but I realized I missed the city and going to the opera, concerts, ballet, theater, eating exotic food that I couldn't grow in my yard, etc. So we decided that it was okay to not be off-grid and we live technically in a small town which has access to the city. Every once in a while, my husband joins me and we get to go to the opera again and we go to dance classes. In fact, while we are working to build our natural house, we realized - why don't we work to build our own dance and music room as well as mini-home stage/theater. It works for us. Those who judge us because its not THEIR way of choosing to build a natural house - well... you ethically do what works for you. If you like being more outdoors and being around animals and in the dirt, go ahead! I have no animosity towards those who like to rough it for themselves. What I don't care for are the self-righteous hypocrites who get mad because our living environment is not what they would do for themselves. In the end of the day, I try to treat those people like God commands and I mind my own business. We don't mandate for everyone to do what works for us. As for those who falsely and hypocritically judge or accuse us, because they either don't agree with our living environment or because we don't fit their ideal of people to be around, then I simply leave those people to God if they decide that they don't like us because we don't fit their ideal way of living. It is their loss. However, if they ever repent and are willing to be friends and come back or if we find rural off-gridders who can also put aside their opinions on where and how our houses will be, then I'm like - Hey! Welcome back, ol' friend! That's cool! No harm, no foul. If we can find some other interests/common ground, then you are welcome to visit and hang out and have a cup of tea and bowl of soup with bread at our table. ^_^ You do what works for you and your family. I don't care if you live in the woods, desert, ocean on a boat, etc. As long as we can respect each other's living environments which work for every individual, cheers to you! As for my husband and I, we have found the rewarding environment which works for us. Praise Yeshua!
Wow Emily, thank you for such a heart felt and well thought out response! And you're exactly right. People should live the way they want and stop worrying about how other people live (as long as it does not infringe on their way of life), what other people eat, what they drive, etc. Yes, living off grid only works for a small percentage of the population. My wish is that those who want to try it would go ahead and do it and stop waiting for the "perfect time" or until they find the "perfect piece of land", because chances are it will never happen for them. Just go do it and it's okay if it isn't for you. Just be happy!
I think there are seasons in people's lives and there's times when you want to be more social and enjoy city life and then there's times when you may want to be more rural. Best of both worlds would be to find a small town that's not too far from a city....but then there's always a tradeoff. Since these areas are closer to a city, they're going to cost more money and you won't have as much space or privacy. It's about striking a balance of all the factors that work for the lifestyle you want for yourself and that you can afford.
Would have Been WAY Less if you would have Built and Not Bought.. YES, I understand Most people don't know how to build BUT it's a Great Time to Learn... I want a 16 x 24 Size Place and Buying one will cost over $25,000 BUT Building It can be Done just under $5,000... That is Just the Shell... Still other things you have to do and I understand that also. But You are also Just Buying The Shell... That $20,000 You Save Building Can go Into what needs to be Done and NOT $25,000Plus another $20,000 and costing you $45,000.... EVEN IF yo Have it Built For You.. It Still Can Be Built for Under $10,000 Including Labor... So you have $15,000 to put into it...
hey brother I'm a big fan of your show and I have a good question for you I'm 37 years old I work 6 days of the week I pay $2,000 of month of rent plus food light gas and water. I have a piece of land in Kentucky that I bought I only pay $162 a month and I owe and that property $19,000 do you recommend or if it was you alone would you move in and find a job near?
For me, it would depend. Am I happy living where I am and paying $2k per month? If I was, I'd stay. Would I be happier living on my land and having minimal bills and probably a job where I earn less? If I think I'd be happier, I'd give it a try. Maybe start small and go for a few weekends and/or a week's vacation. Get to know the local area. Will you be happy around those folks when you have to go into town? I'm all about being happy with my life with as little stress as possible.
@@1acrehomesteader43 thank you writing back to me my brother. Well to be honest I'm not happy at all everybody has an agenda making more money especially living here in Miami is a fast paced life. Do not get me wrong I'm a hard worker but back in the day I used to hunt and now I don't even have time to go hunting fishing or camping. So to your answer is no I'm not happy at all where I'm at. No if I'm going to be happy making less money it's only one way to find out
@@easyoutgrid I know where you're coming from! I lived in Houston for 10 years and had a very successful business. But man did it take a toll on me! The bad thing is, I never realized how much stress I was under until a few months after I left and suddenly I realized a lot of my health issues that had plagued me were gone! I could make a heckuva lot more money back in Houston, but I prefer this slower way of life, even if it does pay a lot less!
Tell us you didn't watch the entire video without telling us you didn't watch the entire video 😃 Clearly explained those didn't run to my house but hey, why let facts stand in the way of a troll comment ey? 😆
Could you run a power bank or hook solar up and get a ac or dc freezer plug ins and just plug it into the power bank and charge it off like 12v they make the small ones to keep stuff frozen like meats and all just wondering what else could do thanks
Navy Vet here I haven’t done well being back around lots of people since over been out and I’ve been looking into buying a small part of land like this. What state are you from if you don’t mind me asking? And maybe set up a way I can contact your realtor to get a similar deal?
I'm in Oklahoma. But deals like this are in just about every state. As for the building rights, it varies by county. You'll need to check with them. Some counties have no permit system while others may dictate what you can and cannot build. You don't need a Realtor to find off grid property. Just some time searching sites like LandsofAmerica.com or Zillow in the state you want to live in.
how did you do all this legally? like getting around codes and city regulations and restrictions and all that. i want to do the same thing- a shed conversion… but i don’t know anything about the legal process
For beginners, you choose a place where there are no restrictions or codes! Then you can do whatever you would like! There are lot of places across the U.S. where you can find unrestricted land very reasonable.
This kind of simple, low-stress living should be encouraged, instead of shamed. It's not too far from the way our great grandparents lived.
I agree! But I understand it's not for everyone. But your right, it should not be shamed!
It’s only shamed until the power goes out or grocery stores close. Spoiled children will be just that until reality sets in…..”help!”
I hope it gets shamed so fewer do it and the outback doesn’t get crowded
If think it's a simple life you have no clue. The amount of skills required are huge. The time investment to live life off grid is enormous. I've been doing it for 20 years. Started with raw land and have invested over two hundred thousand land well power vehicles equipment home shops fencing for livestock and more time than I could calculate. I love it but it's not for the faint of heart or someone who thinks it's simple or easy.
@@MarkJones-fw3mo
Simple and easy are different concepts. You're arguing that it's not easy. I didn't say it was. Five minutes watching this video demonstrates that you don't need $200k to live off grid, just as building shops and raising livestock are not required.
Hey I've lived off grid 35 years. I save rain water for my water source. I run it through a Berkey water filtration system I didn't mind spending the money considering it takes out all the crap. So my water is free. I have constant water I have a 270 gallon tank in a small building it's like a lean-to it's closed off from the Sun. So I filter my water through the Berkey. I solar panels for my power. I live on a fixed income. I'm still able to save money for emergencies.
That's awesome. I had a Big Berkey once also. Sold it before I moved off grid because I rarely used it. Now I wish I hadn't!!! Guess I'll end up buying a new one or maybe just buying the filters and making my own.
What if it doesnt rain for a while? Can you fully trust rain water as your only source? Also, what do you use to catch the water?
What battery bank/generator do you use for your solar? Thanks !
6 years off grid , I bought 5 accers of forest land in west Arkansas.
Howdy naibor . Bought a used RV lived in until my cabin was built .
Summers are hell here . I have done it without A/C , I do have a window unit , but very seldom use it . I have fans , cold well water ,
My cabin is modern fram built on concrete slab . Solar power , generator backup, lpgas for cooking and bathroom heat in winter during showers . Woodstove main heat in winter . Well and septic .deep freezer for fridge , So.i have a working bathroom and a washing machine . FlushToilet , shower .
Ive worked hard to build this myself ,
Done everthing except slab myself .
Very comfterble cabin .
My 5 accers was 17,500. Cash and the RV was 7,500 . Sold now .to pay for septic system ,
I lost track of all expenses, but shes all paid for . If i had to guess , total
About 40k . Land , tools ,cabin ,all mentooned.. thats 6 years to get here . Paid cash as I went .
I love this life . Planting fruit trees and working on garden .
Simi retired now .pick up odd jobs from time to time .
The hard part is over now .
I enjoy my financial freedom ,my country life . I do what I want , when I want . So can you .
How big is your cabin? You built it yourself minus the slab/concrete?
Like so many other "offgriders", I admire you for making the change to this lifestyle...it's much simpler, and in time much cheaper. All that said...paying $9,000 for a half acre with no utilities and not with a year round creek or natural spring is way too high. One can find land for $2,500 to $4,000 an acre if you're just patient and look for it. And as for the Derkson structure....NEVER buy it on a rent to own deal. If you figure the money spent when it's paid for...a $5,400 shed will be close to $13,000 after only 4 -5 years of payments....which is absolutely ridiculous!! And I'd buy one with a loft, and without the porch. A loft gives you more usable space...as will a full 12 × 24( or 14 × 28, or 16 × 32, etc.) shed...you can build your own porch for very little. I bought a lightly used 14 × 28 with a loft at both ends for $6,500 cash two years ago. I know building prices have gone up...but still, look for bargains.
And ALWAYS try to find a piece of land that has a water source....whether it's a year round creek, a natural spring, a well or a pond. You can get by without being hooked up to electricity or natural gas grids...you can use solar, generators, propane or burn wood. But you don't want to rely on hauling water or collecting rain water if you can avoid it. IF you have to...have a well drilled when you can afford it. But preferably...buy land that has an available water source.
Anyway...best of luck to you. I'm 64, and looking for the right property to do offgrid living myself....whether here in Arkansas, in the upper peninsula of Michigan or wherever I'm able.
Your definitely well educated best of luck to you on your journey
Hey I’m a 19-59er, female and looking to do the same! So excited but definitely looking for those bargains!
What? Have you seen land prices lately? 9k is good for half acre
In my state no matter how far I go out it’s still 30k for half an acre
In my area an acre is 45,000 so it depends where you are of course. As far as the cabin. If you are renting an apartment you literally throw the whole rent payment away. He pays whatever per month for it at least he has something to keep. Of course rent to own is not the best option but at least it’s better than just renting
@@TheSaltySpitoon69that’s what I’m seeing. Even in the boonies I can’t find anything under about 15,000
August 2023 n just stumbled across ur channel. Wanted to say thanks for the open window into ur cool off grid life. Hope n pray ur still trucking bro. Keep it up n eventually this will pay off. People need down to earth entertainment and u r the ticket. Not only entertaining but also informative. Thanks again
Im 66 and lived in a 1976 30ft fifth wheel from 02 till 2022 with only gas appliances. I ran the little solar lights inside and left the panel outside for my lighting. I hunted and canned everything including fish. Id find on sale produce at the farmers market next to Asheville and can that also. A well close by gave me water and the owner didn't care as long as i only used the hydrant next to the well. It was some of the happiest days of my life. I live on my inheritance now and have a small cabin of 280sq ft. I still can and i also work part time for the extra income. I haven't had television for over 30 years now and don't miss it at all, i don't even own a PC or an in home radio. My life is simple and that's how i like it. Great video brother!
3 years off grid here. It is so romanticized - but it is soooooo hard. There are so many things to think about and costs unexpected. Costs: solar, charge controller, inverter, solar generator, gas/propane generator, wood burning stove, stove pipe, insulation, dry wall, eeelectrical, bathroom, kitchen, AC - split mini is best, chain saw, woods, water catchment and/or well, propane tanks and fittings, gravel, labor costs for what you can not do. Costs and labor and never ending.
Then, there is the insects and wildlife. And the never ending parade of snakes. Mice somehow seem to find a way to sneak into my cabin all year round. And the humidity can be overwhelming so make sure you have a good split mini air conditioning unit. I run my Split mini off of 1400 W solar and two 200 amp hour lithium batteries. On days where there is a heat wave I have to supplement my solar with my generator. In the winter, it can get so cold at -35 chill that water literally freezes if it spills on the floor inside my cabin. That is only the first 10 inches or so from the floor up and above that the wood-burning stove keeps the cabin around 70 to 80°. Wood-burning stove is supplemented with propane Dickinson heater. I don’t think it’s wise to run the Mr. buddy heater inside a closed area. If you do not have $15,000 or more and 3 to 12 months to wait for a while to get put in then water catchment is probably a good idea and there’s another good bit of labor and cost to setting that up. And then there’s the filtration system to think about. Also, if you want to keep your food in a root cellar, there is a huge cost involved in that. I know there are hacks for everything too.
Having said that, I have no regrets and there is no going back to city dwelling after living off grid in the woods.
What do you think about buying some land, pour a concrete slab, put a small cabin on it, set up solar panels, put in a well. I also think a wood privacy fence around the cabin would be nice too.
a concrete slab might be problematic for local regulations. you can use used tyres and fill the inside with gravel or similar to do the base (foundations). do rows of tyres every x feet (2 meters) to ensure the base is well supported.
those are mostly start-up costs.
Snakes and mice problem easy fix. Cats.
I got $800k in equity, pension of $3200 a month. I should be able to thrive offgrid, right?
We found our Missouri property from a doctor who bought up land all around here at land auctions. Everyone else bypassed this acreage because of the tree situation…they didn’t want to remove trees so the owner offered to finance. I put a nice downpayment towards the property, bought an old, used camper from 1989, fixed it up to suit me, cleared just enough trees to back into a shady spot and went from there. Three years later and I am now ready to set up a campsite for workaway’ers to come help me carve a beautiful hiking trail. I have the county’s blessing for this venture, now on to the state for my llc not-for-profit business. Our cabin was around $7k, I have to fetch water but I am used to it, and we bought kayaks to float around on the pond and clear it of algae. We stocked it. I have a few hens and rabbits and this year a very sweet, no-till garden! I fell in love with native plants and taught myself to make medicine. We are thriving here and now I wish to give back. Can hardly wait for the workaway’ers to camp here! I love life here!!!
What are workawayers ?
@@denisestarr2314 you can Google “Workaway”. 😊 Its pretty cool.
I’d love to workaway on your land. How can I reserve?
You did Great! I'm impressed! We are 57 & 64 yrs old. Bought a "shell" a.ka off grid 1500 foot cabin on 9 acres in Calif. Cost: 87k. Remodel $48k = $135k total. Al lis new inside so nothing will break down in our lifetime, hopefully. We cook outside half the year+use the outdoor bath/shower sometimes. Sleep outside when possible to stay cool. Free Springwater. A Greenhouse was built in the fenced backyard w/ dwarf fruit trees inside which should start producing soon. *Our Monthly Expenses are $1450 a month and his Social Security income is $1710 + $300 food stamps* I don't have a Drivers License due to eyesight. Hubby's body was wearing out doing construction and he is on a breathing assist device at night so took Social Security early and we retired. We E-Bike it 3x a week for 1.5 hrs to sorta stay fitter than we otherwise would be.. Our area is small, almost no jobs here and the public bus only goes into the larger town of 17k 1x a week. About 15 min away is a fantastic health food store, 2 active Community centers, our wonderful bible church, 2 tiny gas stations, a Cafe, library, 2 rivers & one Park. We just canned for the first time about 10 jars of blackberry jam, we picked the blackberries. Our life consists of cycling, gardening, bible study, church, socializing at the community center & volunteering.
Sounds like y'all are killin' it! Congrats, it is a fulfilling way of life!
I want to do this so bad. Looking into buying land now. Cool video thanks for making it.
You're welcome! Thanks for taking the time to comment!
Yess tired of the rat race. Me too
Same thing man I smell the freedom and stress free coming. I’d rather worry about getting wood for a wood stove then this 1650$ rent plus all the utilities.
Very good video bro sorry it's been so long I just seen this but I got a question for you can you tell me what can get ahold of to find me some land like that I love that that would set my whole life complete please let me know I really appreciate you thank you sir
@1acrehomesteader43 - 1 quick question..what are you doing for heat?? I am using Mr buddy but it's barely worth the effort. And not worth the cost..I was thinking wood burning stove but am worried about fires..no running water lol.
We bought a piece of land like this in Missouri out among the Amish. 5 years ago. 5.5 acres with a pond, cost $1,000 down and $275 a month Total $29,000. We ended up bringing an old mobile home 14 x 80 3 bed 2 bath on it that we bought for $500.00 did a remodel on the mobile as we could afford it. PAID IT ALL OFF within 2 years - by paying extra. Now we have a great place now for
We bought 13 acres while still working on land contract and paid as we went along to build a cabin and add well and septic. Then we retired and finished the cabin and built a greenhouse and wellhouse that is a good size as well and moved. We live off our retirement social security. We paid off the six acres the cabin is on and paying on the second 7 acres now. It is the best decision we ever made. I garden and preserve. He chops wood. I would still be working full time to pay the mortgage on the big house. It is a blessed life
Congratulations! Isn't it a great feeling to know you own your own land and home?
@@1acrehomesteader43 it is a relief to know I only have to come up with annual taxes and I have a roof over my head. I don't need much at all in my life. be blessed
What’s the square footage of your cabin? I’m looking to build an 800 sq ft cabin, selling my 1400 sq ft house when I retire and downsize on my mother’s land.
384 sq feet @@ClassicRoyal
That's roughing it. For sure. Respect. Water is 100% a must so a hand pump and rain collection should be your priority. I'm going solar with battery 🔋 for sure, to run my freezer and A/C unit. Shower will be inside the cabin, and use a hand pump pressure shower 🚿. Will put in wood stove and have outside fire grill to cook with. Outhouse is cheap, but a lug-a-bull loo is cheap with plastic bags, have to have a burn barrel and their are several kinds. Do a raised garden but I have years worth of rice, beans, pasta, oats in mylar in buckets if need be, and a creek near by, but I'll mostly hunt with the rounds I have to stock meat. Clothes washing can be done by hand. Lots of things to think out, and need money to accomplish.
Put a solar attic fan in one window and run it off a car battery. Mine was 169.00 on hawaii, must be cheaper there.
Get a used RV 3 way fridge and run it off a car battery & back up with 5 gal propane tank
Go to the wineries/brewery's and ask for recycled ingredients containers. They are blue food grade 20 gallon containers, I catch the water from the roof.
Hey, from a fellow Oklahoman. I did this same thing in 2016 and loved it but due to family issues I couldn’t finish my cabin 16x40, and had to leave. I’m glad to find your channel and do this again !!!
Welcome and thanks for stopping by!
I Love your story. I need to find a place like yours. So inexpensive yet peaceful.
Lots of places all around the U.S. You just have to make sacrifices and know you're not going to get prime farm ground for pennies! You can do this!
Wow #1 most inspirational alt-living off grid video ive ever seen. Take note youtubers, the harder you show off the more un-relateable you are to MORE people. Side note i bet there isn’t any affordable way to do this in my state, hint im neighboring Mordor on the Potomac .
How much is the gas per week running that generator?
Also, how do you get water?
Does the county let you do this without permits?
Most counties across the country, dont allow off grid living without lots of permits and architectural drawings, etc, etc..
Im almost over grid, but for our living space (a shipping container home), we HAD to get plans drawn up (over $1000), peemits, (over $1000)...
We HAD to get a power pole put in (its required by state law and cost us $500 to put in), and the list goes on and on...
So for most people even IF they wanted to do off gridz its gonna cost well over $10,000 after every thing is said and done.
In the Summer, I run my window A/C around 16 hours a day. It runs about 10 to 12 hours per gallon. In the Winter. 5 gallons of gas might last me weeks as I don't need to run it very much. Solar is on the way which will probably eliminate the need for a generator most of the time unless I'm running an electric intense machine like a table saw or something. As for the cost of living off grid, there is almost always options for getting around stupid regulations initiated by the clueless. Even if that option is to MOVE to a place less restrictive!
I have 600 watts of solar with 6 - 100 amp hour batteries, 1500 watt inverter and an MPPT charge controller. About $1400. I also recommend Worx 40 volt battery chainsaw. Not as rugged as gas chainsaws so you kinda have to be gentle with it but I can cut up a tree wherever I find it. No air conditioner (central Texas) but there are work arounds since I can freeze ice. Wouldn't trade it for the world.
I'm wanted to tell ya...damn I thought I was the only one nutty enough to go completely off grid😊. I am so glad you're doing this too!!! I'm in tn but be mindful of govt telling ya you can't do it though..God Bless
Thank you. Yep, Government likes to be up in everyones business!
I had a good chuckle when you kissed that AC unit! I feel the same way! Great video with a lot of good information!
Thanks! I need to do an update video. Looks like I might need a new one!
I'm glad to see there are cheaper options to buy land and some easy payment options because I don't have much money. Thank you for putting these videos up and I'm excited to see what you do with the land. I'm a new subscriber also
Great video. Thank you for sharing how you started off grid.
Thank you for making this, you seem like a chill dude. Best wishes to you
Thanks LuLu! I only get intense when I don't have coffee ;)
Great video, Bubba. I think a lot of city people like the idea of Off Grid, Little House on Prairie lifestyle but dont understand the hardships and work that go into it. My hunting camp has been this in our group for 60 years. Haul in water, no electricity, no plumbing cut wood for heat, gas lights/stove. Even in UP MI its too hot in the summer to spend any time there and its nicer when its cold so the insects arent out.
You're living the dream! Good luck with your adventures 🚀🙏🙌❤️
Thank you. 4 years and counting!
Questions: How did you find your land? What websites or resources are good to use?
What do you do for work/ business?
And that is the cutest dog!!
I found my land through a Craigslist add. But I see lots of places on FB marketplace as well. At the time I moved out here, I had a handyman business. Now I'm a truck driver and gone most of the week.
@@1acrehomesteader43 thank you kindly! We are beginning our look to go from suburban to rural. Your videos are awesome, very inspiring 👏
@@Sarai_Anna_bornagain Thank you! I appreciate the kind words. Good luck on your journey and keep us informed!
@@1acrehomesteader43I hope you got title insurance. Since you bought the property with owner financing, you're having a so called naked title. Be extremely careful to keep up with the payments, the seller can foreclose extremely quickly and you lose everything you put into it. Make sure once you finish paying that you get the title conveyed in your name and please get title insurance.
Hello Good afternoon, Could you please explain the Process of Title Insurance as it pertains to the Owner Finance issue ? Thank you,
We bought a cabin for $97k ($3,000 down $620 a month mortgage) so much cheaper than average rent per month, and the exact amount of the average deposit, 1st and last months in the U.S.
It already had solar and 2x 1200 gallon cisterns. (Buried, gravity fed to the cabin)
Because of the drastic savings in housing costs, we are able to buy upgrades often.
We now have Bio-Gas instead of propane.
We catch water instead of paying, and have started growing food.
We added a wood burner for heat instead of propane.
Our bills are 0$ a month outside of internet/phone and roku and our housing costs $620 a month to own instead of rent.
Best decision we ever made.
20 years ago, being OG wasn't this easy.
In 2023, ANYONE can do it.❤
Congrats on being enlightened! You are also right about everyone can do this. They just have to have the "want to" and be fed up with what society tells them they have to have to be "successful".
We get asked a lot about our Solar Power system and how much the install costs. Great vlog! -Ali 😍🌲
Thanks, I'm getting around to buying the components for my system. Fortunately, I don't need a lot of power, so I'll have a basic system.
Back in 2001 I got .68 of a acre and down the road another .58 of a acre both for 1000.00 I wanted to live on the .68 and keep the other for my kids or grand kids, there were no jobs out here paying more than 10.00 hr lol yeah so changed careers as truckers can live anywhere I piddled around till 2008 where I got my place cleared and settled for mobile home back there their wasn’t a big movement on shed conversion took me till 2021 to pay my place off and come off the OTR trucking , so wish I had gotten a shell home and finished it out but I was single and I didn’t know how to build anything , glad you was able to see your dream come to fruition alot cheaper than I did 😊
Thank you for your comment! I appreciate it. The important thing is, you got there! Would I like a larger place, sure! But I just don't want the hassle/expense/stress of a larger place!
I can't wait to start living off grid again. Miss it bad
I lived on 3 acres of land ( in a fairly nice house ) alone ( with my dog ) on a mountain in Costa Rica for a year. Very secluded, quiet, peaceful and absolutely beautiful. I did see people on occasion when I’d hike a couple of miles to get supplies but 80% of the time I was alone, managing/working on the property… it was one of the greatest experience’s of my life!
Wow, that does sound nice!
Nice. How can I find this. I am interested in doing this and maybe with a group of likeminded people, and form a village.
@@TheBobriss I was lucky enough to have a high school acquaintance that was selling the property that I was on. My job was to maintain the property and show it to perspective buyer’s… That said, just find out what type of land you’d like to homestead ( there’s a ton of affordable properties out there in the US, Mexico, Nicaragua, Chile etc. ) and go for it!
@@TheBobrissMany people are "waking up" and looking for this as a lifedream. Don't worry, if you search, you'll find. Idk about your spiritual beliefs but I recommend you to look for esoteric/free mind partners, specially related to the light side of magic.
@@xlgablx I love Mexico!
Hey brother if u have the extra funds get yourself a solar generator system with a battery bank & a 500-1,000 gallon water tank with rain catchment via the rain gutters, it would change the whole experience for you. And I was typing u mentioned raised beds. It’s honestly better to go with raised beds anyway for several reasons minus the cost to initially get um going
Thank you for the video. I appreciate it. You're a smart man with a good vision. I wish others could see so clearly. I'm am wanting to buy a home stead.
I live in Missouri and I am looking to do this now
$1800 is really good. We spent about $18,000 for building+land and various similar things that you purchased.
I was just trying to off-grid as cheaply as possible!
It's what i always wanted but dont know where to start! Very inspiring video.
Thank you. I wish you all the best in your adventure!
Do it!
@@kennethhudson8013 I guess I'm scared to do so! How about u! Did u do it?
@@ingridr4374 start with buying some land. 1/2 Acre is plenty to start with
@@kennethhudson8013 I guess I'm going to have to take the leap and do so if I ever want to make my dream a reality.
Wal-Mart sells a countertop ice maker machine.
How’s internet for off grid living. Yeah yeah. I can feel the comments already haha. I just really wanna live like this and discover the essentials of life while being able to have decent internet.
Internet off grid is not a certain thing. It all depends on where you live. Right now, starlink is the big thing. I've used Verizon data off of my phone and in location, it sucked due to a poor signal. Boost mobile is decent where I live. I have their WiFi device. I recently bought a AT&T phone and the hotspot off of that gives me a decent signal where I live. Otherwise, I just wait until I go into town to use a hotspot.
Hahahahaha. Funniest comment. Same here man.
Starlink, ViaSat or other satellite services are available. I cannot afford those lol. I went with ATT hotspot though Verizon and T-Mobile have plans too. ATT has an unlimited plan for self employed/business owners. Internet is doable. I run my hotspot on a small 600 watt solar generator.
Elon musk launched his internet from space deal for $600 a year . I found out about it recently
Of grid just means not connected to utilities such as gas , electric ,sewer ,water. Now to gridders on meth and roids it means living with nothing. My internet is my cell. I'M OFF GRID. NO PUBLIC UTILITIES.
I hope/wish the nest for you, you gotta watch some states bc if its a manufactured home there are laws especially Tenn....But glad it wrked for you, and i hope the Tonarders stay clear of you🤞
True! Some states make it a hassle to just live. They want it that way!
Watch video on how to dig a shallow water well.
There's no digging a shallow water well around here, way to many rocks!
I like your video as I think seriously about moving off the grid. The problem is, I don't know where, and I am all alone. Probably Colorado, but some people said that it is not the best place, that is why lands are so cheap. Is Zillow the right site to find a land on? You are lucky in having found your home. Thanks for this video, it helps.
Just about any state will have some land that is less desirable. That land will be the cheapest. You need to determine what you want to do with the land. You simply want a place to live and maybe have a small garden? Then just about any land will do. But if you want to graze animals or do some small scale farming, that land will be more expensive because it's in higher demand.
Hey, thanks for sharing. I’ll be doing something like this when I retire but it’s gonna be a little bit bigger but nothing that can’t be heated with one woodstove.
Your channel is a gold mine
First time here 👋 congrats 🎉 God bless you and thanks for the info. Excellent 👍
You are welcome. Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment. I appreciate it. Hope you find some of my other videos informative!
So happy for you!! New Mexico has super cheap off grid land.
crime infested wasteland...have at it though if you like that kind of thing
@@savannahsmiles1797 modern day sodom and gomorrah isn't much better
So many questions. Your generator is great but what if there is no gas available. What about a water source for drinking, washing, etc. What about bathroom needs???
No gas? That's why you have solar! As for the water sources, you can get that from a rain catchment system. I also have a small stream just down the hill from my cabin. I often use that water for things such as construction and cleaning. It wouldn't take much to make it drinkable. Bathroom needs are taken care of with a composting toilet. No water needed!
I’ll be doing this in five years myself in Idaho
Hello I will be buying land next month in the Ozarks thank you for your videos
You're welcome and congratulations. It's a lot of hard work, but I think it is rewarding!
This is so helpful, thank you so much for sharing 🙏
Thanks for the information. I lived in Oklahoma. I will look into the Homesteads
The only problem is you still dont own it. What was the total cost if you had paid for it? What are the monthly payments and how long before its yours? Thats important to know for people struggling needing to do what youre doing.
Just add $8,600 to the total, can you do math?
Guess Id have to watch again, its been a year.. yea "sarge" math no problem. Maybe I missed something.@drillsergeant623
I recommend getting at least 5 acres if ur like me and don't want any future neighbors
I just need 2 more lots for that. State land butts up against me.
Heading into this lifestyle. Great video, sir.
Very informative, thnx so much
You're welcome, glad you found it helpful. I appreciate you taking the time to let me know!
Great survival video . Thank you . Right to the point and covered the basic essentials .
Great video man definitely helpful thank you
You're welcome! Glad you found it helpful and thank you for taking a moment out of your day to leave a comment, I appreciate it!
Thanks for the video. Encouraging & knowledgeable. Best wishes and many blessings to you.
Looks good fine job and The Price is Right
Cool video! I was thinking about getting some land, putting up a small cabin, solar panels, put in a well. That way I would have no utilities. Also would like to garden, fish, hunt and forage as well. I wonder how far 20 t0 40k would get me? Thanks for sharing!
I am in mid Michigan on no zoning .51 acre. Nice video but I'd like to see the inside of your cabin.
Thank you for this video! It's very encouraging as I'm looking to do something similar.
So is this land unrestricted because you’re supposed to have permits for damn near everything these days what was the zoning because in North Carolina there, are not many tiny home approved pieces of land even if it’s on restricted, they still have permits for everything and inspections
Kentucky has a new law if you live off-grid you must have a septic tank its law
Dang.......🤨
Excellent video 😊
Thank you very much!
Omg! How much are you actually paying for the 1/2 acre? That's crazy man. God bless you. I have 2 now on a lake and trying to get 24 more. You'd have to really use every drop of your property to live off a 1/2 acre. God bless you sir. I hope you aren't paying more than $2k for the land.
You know, there are several areas of my land I still do not get to regularly. Now if I had a garden or animals, yes, I'd need every square inch of it!
You got a power pole sitting right there it would’ve costed you less than $450 for your generator to get hooked up
Water meter is $1350. To get power, I'd have to have a power pole set on my property with an electrical box, have the cabin pre wired and an "inspection" before they would hook up the electric. A lil over $2000 for all that. Not to mention, then you'd be beholding to them every month to pay the "Minimum" for their service. Yes, even if you don't use one iota of electricity, you "owe" them a minimum payment each month. Thanks but no thanks!
Where did you buy the cabin? Did they charge for delivery? What tools did you need to assemble it?
you can tell a good hearted guy real quick sometimes
My family and i would love to move off grid, we live in the city right now and HATE it. Neighbors are so nosey lol
What about shower or bath. Especially in the winter
I still use a portable shower when I'm here. In the Winter, when I go into town to wash my clothes and dry them (in the Summer I just wash them and bring them home and hang them out to dry) I get the clothes going and run down to the truck stop to take a shower. By the time I'm done and get back to the laundromat (about 1.5 miles away) they're done. Sometimes I will do laundry and shower all at the Truck Stop, but I don't care for their washing machines, they're small!
I LUV your Yorkshire Terrier!
He travels a lot because hes a truck driver now.. so most of his time is not living off grid... He's using his land / cabin for times when hes not at home, and he's single, so that drops his needs a LOT...
I'M sure he doesnt have a shower there, but most truck stops do, so water for him, isnt really a problem..
Hes "lucky" in the sense that he only has hinself and the small dog to take care of and can do this on the cheap.
You're right on several points. But even before I went OTR, I lived here full time, 24/7/365. As for the shower, I use a portable shower until I get the outhouse/shower built.
$5700 for cabin! Month to deliver.
Yep, they will tell you they will deliver it in 4 to 7 days, but be prepared to wait.
what state is it that you resign in? I want to get a lot for a shed
I live in Oklahoma, but I've done a video about finding reasonably priced off-grid property in just about any state.
Finding a place where the government will leave you alone is the problem
Make another video about off grid life.
WOW... That's insane for 1/2 AC.
Maybe, but I would have paid double that price for this little slice of paradise!
@@1acrehomesteader43 What state?
@@bradjenkins932 Brad did you WATCH the video...he said OK....
To be honest, even with careful planning and knowledge, off-grid living in the end still doesn't work for everyone and the reality is that is ok. If someone really tried to make it work and it ends up causing more unwanted stress, then people have the right to leave it. My husband and I lived rurally and for us, it was miserable. Although we are happy with each other's company and we don't trust anyone except to trust the Lord (as God advises), we realized that being outdoors wasn't really interesting for either of us, especially when we became homeless. Then it REALLY hit home how much we were isolated. We then realized that we still enjoy being around other people who share our like-minded views. Now here, though, my husband and I share different processes on how to deal with it - my husband prefers small town living (which is fine) but I realized I missed the city and going to the opera, concerts, ballet, theater, eating exotic food that I couldn't grow in my yard, etc. So we decided that it was okay to not be off-grid and we live technically in a small town which has access to the city. Every once in a while, my husband joins me and we get to go to the opera again and we go to dance classes. In fact, while we are working to build our natural house, we realized - why don't we work to build our own dance and music room as well as mini-home stage/theater. It works for us. Those who judge us because its not THEIR way of choosing to build a natural house - well... you ethically do what works for you. If you like being more outdoors and being around animals and in the dirt, go ahead! I have no animosity towards those who like to rough it for themselves. What I don't care for are the self-righteous hypocrites who get mad because our living environment is not what they would do for themselves. In the end of the day, I try to treat those people like God commands and I mind my own business. We don't mandate for everyone to do what works for us. As for those who falsely and hypocritically judge or accuse us, because they either don't agree with our living environment or because we don't fit their ideal of people to be around, then I simply leave those people to God if they decide that they don't like us because we don't fit their ideal way of living. It is their loss. However, if they ever repent and are willing to be friends and come back or if we find rural off-gridders who can also put aside their opinions on where and how our houses will be, then I'm like - Hey! Welcome back, ol' friend! That's cool! No harm, no foul. If we can find some other interests/common ground, then you are welcome to visit and hang out and have a cup of tea and bowl of soup with bread at our table. ^_^ You do what works for you and your family. I don't care if you live in the woods, desert, ocean on a boat, etc. As long as we can respect each other's living environments which work for every individual, cheers to you! As for my husband and I, we have found the rewarding environment which works for us. Praise Yeshua!
Wow Emily, thank you for such a heart felt and well thought out response! And you're exactly right. People should live the way they want and stop worrying about how other people live (as long as it does not infringe on their way of life), what other people eat, what they drive, etc. Yes, living off grid only works for a small percentage of the population. My wish is that those who want to try it would go ahead and do it and stop waiting for the "perfect time" or until they find the "perfect piece of land", because chances are it will never happen for them. Just go do it and it's okay if it isn't for you. Just be happy!
I think there are seasons in people's lives and there's times when you want to be more social and enjoy city life and then there's times when you may want to be more rural. Best of both worlds would be to find a small town that's not too far from a city....but then there's always a tradeoff. Since these areas are closer to a city, they're going to cost more money and you won't have as much space or privacy. It's about striking a balance of all the factors that work for the lifestyle you want for yourself and that you can afford.
Thanks for the info.
$400 down! What a deal!
What kind of insulation did you use? I used Rockwool insulation in my cabin because it is fireproof.
Great breakdown!
New sub 👍
Thank you and welcome to the circus! lol
What's your monthly payments look like?
I keep coming back to this vid and a cpl others for the good feels. I want this guy for a neighbor. ☝️😏💨☕️
Hello fellow okie... God bless ya. ❤
Would have Been WAY Less if you would have Built and Not Bought.. YES, I understand Most people don't know how to build BUT it's a Great Time to Learn... I want a 16 x 24 Size Place and Buying one will cost over $25,000 BUT Building It can be Done just under $5,000... That is Just the Shell... Still other things you have to do and I understand that also. But You are also Just Buying The Shell... That $20,000 You Save Building Can go Into what needs to be Done and NOT $25,000Plus another $20,000 and costing you $45,000....
EVEN IF yo Have it Built For You.. It Still Can Be Built for Under $10,000 Including Labor... So you have $15,000 to put into it...
9k for less than an acre is up there
Depends on where it's at and what you're willing to pay. It's all mine now!
Awesome video
hey brother I'm a big fan of your show and I have a good question for you I'm 37 years old I work 6 days of the week I pay $2,000 of month of rent plus food light gas and water. I have a piece of land in Kentucky that I bought I only pay $162 a month and I owe and that property $19,000 do you recommend or if it was you alone would you move in and find a job near?
For me, it would depend. Am I happy living where I am and paying $2k per month? If I was, I'd stay. Would I be happier living on my land and having minimal bills and probably a job where I earn less? If I think I'd be happier, I'd give it a try. Maybe start small and go for a few weekends and/or a week's vacation. Get to know the local area. Will you be happy around those folks when you have to go into town? I'm all about being happy with my life with as little stress as possible.
@@1acrehomesteader43 thank you writing back to me my brother. Well to be honest I'm not happy at all everybody has an agenda making more money especially living here in Miami is a fast paced life. Do not get me wrong I'm a hard worker but back in the day I used to hunt and now I don't even have time to go hunting fishing or camping. So to your answer is no I'm not happy at all where I'm at. No if I'm going to be happy making less money it's only one way to find out
@@easyoutgrid I know where you're coming from! I lived in Houston for 10 years and had a very successful business. But man did it take a toll on me! The bad thing is, I never realized how much stress I was under until a few months after I left and suddenly I realized a lot of my health issues that had plagued me were gone! I could make a heckuva lot more money back in Houston, but I prefer this slower way of life, even if it does pay a lot less!
Thank you so much for your video. Very informative. What do you think is better living in a cabin or an RV what are your thoughts?
Get both
depends on your needs. Talk to folks where you want to be, the community is the best resource on what works and why
@@Plantingbetterseeds awesome that was I was thinking ;)
How much was the property and what size is the property?
13: to 13:19 talking off grid with a power pole and transformer in the background????? Off grid to you maybe!!🤣🤣😂😂🙂🙂🙃🙃😜🤪😝
Tell us you didn't watch the entire video without telling us you didn't watch the entire video 😃 Clearly explained those didn't run to my house but hey, why let facts stand in the way of a troll comment ey? 😆
Could you run a power bank or hook solar up and get a ac or dc freezer plug ins and just plug it into the power bank and charge it off like 12v they make the small ones to keep stuff frozen like meats and all just wondering what else could do thanks
Do you have a refrigerator or freezer and if so how do you power it
You need a solar set up. What do you do for going to the bathroom?
where did you buy the cabin for $5700? thanks .
Navy Vet here I haven’t done well being back around lots of people since over been out and I’ve been looking into buying a small part of land like this. What state are you from if you don’t mind me asking? And maybe set up a way I can contact your realtor to get a similar deal?
Also what’re the building rights? Can you build as you please?
I'm in Oklahoma. But deals like this are in just about every state. As for the building rights, it varies by county. You'll need to check with them. Some counties have no permit system while others may dictate what you can and cannot build. You don't need a Realtor to find off grid property. Just some time searching sites like LandsofAmerica.com or Zillow in the state you want to live in.
how did you do all this legally? like getting around codes and city regulations and restrictions and all that. i want to do the same thing- a shed conversion… but i don’t know anything about the legal process
For beginners, you choose a place where there are no restrictions or codes! Then you can do whatever you would like! There are lot of places across the U.S. where you can find unrestricted land very reasonable.