I really enjoy these talks that y'all have been posting . Very down to earth and well thought out and easy to understand . I wish I had your knack for explaining yourselves. I think maybe y'all are one of the best role models in here . Here's wishing you all the best .
I'm not off grid or a homesteader but can totally appreciate your thought process. If I buy something, how long will it last - I've got clothing over 10 years old! Another 10 years they'll be in style again!😁 I don't pay for haicuts either. Looking forward to solar videos as well as when you guys build your house👍
You guys do such a great job with these vlogs, very professional, super informative and no silly antics to get people to watch. The "do I really need that" approach is exactly how to save money... well done!
Awesome video guys . You guys kinda have the same mindset as me , I’m 42 an learned at a early age to put needs over wants . A tractor is always a good purchase for a homestead there’s lots of good used ones on the market
hi I am from Maine I am almost off grid,raise chickens,plant my food, and I have apple trees, berrys and hops,egyptian walking onion and I am a herblist and make homemade medicine like salves,creams ,tincures,soaps, and buckwheat and lavender neck pillows, I am trying to sell my place so I can pay off the debt get a piece of land for 6 months and go on the road,6 months, I am a avid couponer I shop for free, get paid to shop, I barter, sell and have a stock pile, I am trying to get debt paid so I can be debt free, I watch your videos so I can learn to invest
As always, good information. Have you considered wind power to supplement the solar power? I rarely see discussion on wind power. I found several 400w wind turbines for just over $400. That seems comparable to the cost of 400w solar. Biggest benefit is power at night.
Well I wish you the best on long term planning for old age. I'm already there and the financial climate has changed so much that a lot of us seniors are in trouble because our plans were not adequate for this day and age. Of course that could be part of poor planning on my part but Alexa says everything is fine LOL
Rental is another option. For example, I'll rent certain tools for my business vs buying them. Yes, it may seem expensive to rent, however, maintenance is on the company renting it, and if you don't use it everyday or frequently, big ticket tools are more cost effective to rent. Plus, you don't need to supply room to store in the non used times. Case in point, though not a tool, think of RV's. How many folks BUY vs rent an RV, us it 1 or 2 times a year, then pay for a rental slip at Billy Bob's Storage? I see back hoes in these same storage facilities. Money being spent, not bringing it in.
I like the well reasoned and patient tack you are making in the planning stage of developing the new homestead. Very wise. It is easy to spend money on things that we want, but more difficult to apportion the funds to meet the priorities for the long term. Thank you for sharing the process. Great channel.
Y'alls perspective and input is awesome. I really appreciate the time y'all take to share info with us all. Y'all don't have to...but choose to! That is truly generous💙
I wonder if you have looked at solar passive systems? they are inexpensive to build and will go a long way toward offsetting your energy costs. there are RUclips videos as well as passive solar forums where you can get specific advice. I think you will be pleasantly surprised at how much it could help. PS: love your vids
I bought an older massey ferguson 3 years ago ... and it has been a real workhorse for us. spent 4,000.00 on it ... came with a few attachments ... great price for what i got ..... maybe someday i'll get a new one .... but for now ... this works and i didn't go into any debt. love what you guys are doing and always look forward to your videos
As always, I love your logical approach. I was just listening to a talk given by a couple who wrote a book called the Independent Farmstead. I think you'd like it, if you get a chance. They are all about managing and creating a system that can eventually require little to no imports , while an exports are logically considered and if deemed necessary, how can those can support imports. The talk is on Living Web Farms on youtube.
Bartering heavy equipment with your neighbors is how we did it in the 60s & 70s. We also had house raising parties. Nobody had any spare money to speak of and honestly speaking >> has anything changed? We wait from year to year to see what we can afford by priority. Check out the 1970's design for an ENVELOPE HOUSE. It was the best cold climate house design I have seen to date.
Mirroring several other comments in that like I love the rational thought process. I disagree about one thing though, there is a lot to this video. Thanks for sharing the journey.
Sometimes you don't have the option to wait but you need a solution right now (which means you probably done something stupid to begin with and your in a bad spot), when that happens (quite often with me) I try to find a solution that covers just enough of what needs to be doing and try it to do it in such a way that it is easy expandable/movable if needs be. For a hypothetical example; if I need a waterpump but don't know yet where the best place is to put it, I would use couples that are easily de-coupled (even if they cost more) and I would not bury the pipes but would add insulation around them for unexpected cold spells. After a while you'll see what works and what not and then you can start digging in the pipes and perhaps build a pump station. Batteries for solar is another good one, personally I would go for standard lead-acid ones, but would use the cheaper standard car batteries, the only thing you have to keep in mind is that if you want to keep the those batteries in good condition is that you never discharge them more than half and that you reduce the charge cycles (by switching banks, so one bank is being used whilst another one is being charged). That is a lot of faf for batteries but often car batteries are a fraction of what deep cycle ones are, capacity wise think of it that you need 5 car batteries for the same kind of actual use as 3 deep cycle ones (assuming same ah rating).
Great vid. I can relate to everything you said. I am also a logical critical thinker. Sometimes I think it's a curse. LOL! Anyway, about the tractor. Don't buy new unless you can get a company to sponsor you and give you one! hahaha. At your stage of the game, this is a good time to be thinking about tractors. I have a big backhoe that is old but Very worth it to have. The only problem with a construction backhoe is that they aren't designed to change the implements and do "farm" work. If you get a farm tractor it's not as good at heavy construction work. If you can get a fairly big farm tractor with a removable backhoe, then you can also use post hole diggers, plows, trailers, etc. Definitely try to find something used. If you get a diesel, they will be more reliable if they sit around alot. They don't have carburetors to clog up. You could always get a big backhoe and do your site work, then sell it. Machines like that always sell and hold their value pretty good. Just be aware, if you own a big backhoe, you probably won't want to sell it... LOL! Good Luck!
Jeremy, you rock! This video is so important to show wanna be self sustainers (like myself) how much thought needs to go into every purchase and development on a property.
So sensible! It's a pleasure to listen to you discuss the different aspects in such practical terms. You didn't mention the word 'commitment' but I feel it was implied however, because making a commitment is an enormous money-saver!! If people would just stop dropping their interests to flit from one attraction to the next all the time! Making up your mind to go in a certain direction will save a person all kinds of agony & money.
This is an outstanding video and should be required watching for anyone considering homesteading and even people homesteading now and who are probably not doing it right. You are the calm voice of reason.
Well this was perfect timing. We are in this debate right now. We fill a tractor would be very Beneficial for starting our new homestead next month. I we revisit this video with hubby after dinner. Thanks for the insight
Hi, I would just add, that the cost of anything metal is going to skyrocket soon, so if you need fencing, buy it now and store it somewhere until you figure out where all your gonna put it.
You sound a little 'wonky' when discussing some concerns in your current life. Guess another term for wonky might be 'critical thinker'. Too bad more people aren't guilty of that. :) Speaking of wood chips, can you get them for free from a local tree service? Would it be cost effective to own your own chipper/shredder? I'm thinking of all the trimmed branches you'll generate once you start harvesting trees. You could also rent the chipper to neighbors, helping to pay for the chipper, and gas. Of course, it would be nice to have a tractor with a PTO attached chipper. You could fell and haul your own logs, make your own wood chips, haul and spread your chips. Then you could make $$$ helping the neighbors to do the same on their properties. Keep the ideas flowing!
I'd heard you mention something about not having septic system. I haven't seen any videos on what type system you currently have there. Compositing toilet i.e. ...... Thanks enjoy watching your videos.. I am in the workings of going off grid. Your videos have enlightened me on many things.
Life is life, there has to be some satisfaction and enjoyment that goes along with whatever you are doing, otherwise why bother. The tractor debate has been around forever you cannot put a realist value on everything you don't even know all that can be done with a tractor if you have never owned one or had the ability to use one as desired. If you are planning on building your own home, barn and outbuildings a tractor would be very useful, it was for me and all the things that I could do with the tractor was not known at the time. An old guy told me one time that Tractors are like Harleys they hold there value, so if push comes to shove you could sell it if you had too. I now have 4 tractors and a Harley so I am a little slanted but. It's incredible the amount of things you will use the tractors for but I was glad to have them building my homestead, home, barn and outbuildings, working the roads and trails cutting bushes and clearing land.
So out of curiosity. Are you guys going to make this homestead THE homestead or are you guys working towards simply making it more profitable for later down the road because i remember from a previous video you saying something about the property you buying maybe not being the one. When you were looking for property.
That is awesome!!! I thought so but I just wanted to be sure. I love your guys' videos. They are all so informative. (I apologize for any spelling mistakes i spell phonetically) I have always wanted to be self suficant ever since i was a kid. Thank you soooo much for putting your lives, mistakes, and your learning experiances on here. :)
Good advise. Everyone should consider bartering. And energy independence is in the top 3 for us. Debt free is number 1! Building a mortgage free home is second. Now our grandchildren have learned how to grow and raise food and like it. Each family has to decide if they are specters or engaged in life.
Very good video. Waiting a year before making changes on your property is excellent advice. This way you really know what your dealing with. We watched how the weather and season changes causes issues relating to water being close to the house. We needed to address this immediately. Having no debt is the best place to be, along with having an emergency fund. Thanks for sharing!
The fact you all could buckle down and get debt free shows perseverance, planning and discipline. I totally agree with your forward looking plans towards a self-running operation. You will succeed.
Lumber prices are quite good now since tanking with 2008 recession ... if your Loblollies are not ALL healthy, you might want to consider pushing a harvest ahead a bit ... especially if you see any clumps of die-off this year. Ardent follower of "give it a year" here ... very glad to see you aboard on that!
I have had the debate about heavy equipment with myself for a long time already and I don’t even have land yet! I have a chronic illness that causes chronic pain, and Paul Wheaton saying “DO YOUR EARTHWORK FIRST!” echoes through my head every time I think about it. And yet, heavy machinery is incredibly expensive-even when it’s used! That being said, for my context, heavy machinery will greatly aid in forming the land, building my home (I want to build an Oehler Structure home), and at least some farmwork thereafter. Since the earthworks and home-building process would likely take quite a lot of time, and I just plain don’t have the physical capability of a fully-abled person, at this point, a good condition used piece of equipment or two at a reasonable price would likely pay off for me in the end. But then, I won’t really know for sure until I get there! Thanks for sharing your thought process 💖Chelsea
Excellent video! Great information. My downfall could be the Click to Buy button on Amazon. Sometimes I think "What did I just do!" Think, think think. This is great advise for anyone to use.
We moved into a small town that is a close knit community... we had trouble meeting folks at first but after 7+ years I feel like we are finally blending in, and once you are in... most folks will do anything for you. We have done quite well without a tractor but we don't do things that require a tractor. For example, we don't buy the big round bales of hay & straw. We are limited to the square bales. Being debt free is hard work with a lot of discipline mixed in. Thank you for reminding us how important it is!
Batteries: I either read an article or salt a video where a guy harvested lithium batteries from wrecked electric cars for his power bank at the time he had just bought a new second set of batteries from a wreck for $2,500. He said that was a fraction of buying the same power in traditional solar batteries. Keep up the great work.
Great videos, thank you! I am not a homesteader, but I do retire in 7 years (I’ll be 55) and learn much from your lifestyle. I recently began beekeeping and will start a garden soon, hopefully next year will be chickens. Can’t wait for the next video!
I'm with the others, a tractor will change your perspective. Projects that you think that's beyond your physical abilities becomes doable with a tractor. Most importantly it will save your back and knees, moving 50lbs bags of cements around isn't that much fun, digging fence posts, moving logs/bolder, grading the road, getting stuck vehicles out of the mud, bush hogging the undergrowth, etc. And as other have stated, don't buy a new tractor, they are built to last, a used one will do just fine. Horse power is the most important factor in choosing a tractor, I say what you're looking to do, a 50hps is plenty enough power. And a good used 50hps tractor would be more around 20k. ...20k is a lot of money. Disregard my suggestion.
Guildbrook Farm - Off Grid Living I don't know Jeremy, it's very, very difficult to stand front & centre, no props, no project or job to explain and just speak. Especially as you have no prior experience, even actors and public speakers get nervous & flustered at times, but you look relaxed (even if you aren't) and confident (ditto) and it really doesn't matter if it takes a few takes because we don't see the fluffing of lines or forgetting where you're going with a sentence, although I'm really glad you let us see the fight with the rooster because that was hilarious! You & Jaime always have excellent content and your experience with promotional and educational videos shines through. We're all (I speak for ALL of your subscribers here, whether they like it or not 😅 & despite them not knowing 😂) so looking forward to seeing the property change through the Seasons with you. And looking forward to the buildings going up. You had a bit of a baptism of fire (or should that be Ice?😉) with the long harď Winter but you still managed to show us great episodes, so I'm thinking you should pat yourself on the back for a job well done, even though you'd rather be building something, or be behind not in front of the camera. 😎
Guildbrook Farm - Off Grid Living Am rehearsing my acceptance speech in the mirror. "I'd like to thank the Academy ......" 😂😂😤 Only wrote the truth guys, glad it it made you smile. 😘 Sharon xx ( The S in ess em )
That's the key to deciding whether to buy things like tractors...how often and how much will you actually use it? Is it more of a once a year thing, or an ongoing use? Same applies with any expense, especially if there is maintenance that will be ongoing in owing it. Hand tools are cheaper, and longer lasting, but take longer to do the work and more effort. Power tools require maintenance, fuel of some sort, and will spend at least part of the time sitting around being stored. Even things like canners for the home are something to apply that to, how often will you use it, how hard is it to maintain and or store, and will it save you time and money.
No need to spend $30 K on a tractor - you can get a good used, small loader tractor for around $7 K. Get a friend who knows tractors to help you look, and you're good to go!
We follow much of the same thought processes when we are thinking about sustainability into our elderly years. I highly respect the fact that you guys always state that you're not licensed experts and you're giving your opinion.
Great video! My husband and I are working on paying off our debt, so we can purchase our own property. It’s very helpful to hear your thought process for purchasing investments for the property
I 100% agree about waiting a year to get to know your land, the seasons, the wind, sun, etc. I have a couple years to go yet before I'm where you are, and it's killing me to wait, but I already eat, breathe, and sleep learning everything I can about where I want to go and what I"ll need when I get there. I was just watching another off-gridder earlier who's using lithium ion batteries with his solar array. I haven't had a chance to look up prices yet( he said they're very expensive), but he also said they last much longer than regular batteries. Just thought I'd throw it out there. Take care.
Thanks for the wise tips. Gives me a better perspective. Starting small and expanding is the best way to go. Thanks for all your help with these great videos!!
I don't know or there is anything alike where you live, but in my land we have a big online second hand market, where people can offer all their stuff that they want to get rid of, from cars to clothes, technology, just everything. I just bought 2 rugs for peanuts, and 2 brandnew sheep wool blankets for near nothing. I buy there since years, near everything I need. And if I need to get rid of something, I can sell it there too. It may save you tons too, if you try to buy second hand. Just a thought! Thank you for your video's, I love them! :)
RE: Tractors - Have you been to estate sales, or farm auctions? American Pickers like to drive around, and stop to check out 'yard art' (rusting farm equipment). That's a way to find functioning, or repairable equipment worth investing in. I don't know, but would be curious to see you make that video.
I spent months scouring Machinery Trader for the skid steer I need. It is a need, not a want, and I finally got a great deal on one. Start poking around and looking at the going rate for similar pieces of equipment so you can get a feel for the market.
There are plenty of funny vlogs that I view when I need a laugh. I come here for intelligent dialogue. Shop around didine256 to find what you are looking for.
Please reconsider limiting the harvesting of your trees to create a pasture. I am looking for land and have seen so many parcels for sale that have been ruined by harvesting of the trees sometimes just for tax money. Sorry, one of my pet peeves.
Proper forestry management is a key part of maintaining a sustainable ecosystem. As I said in the video we aren’t interested in just logging out the property for cash.
Hi, I would just add, that the cost of anything metal is going to skyrocket soon, so if you need fencing, buy it now and store it somewhere until you figure out where all your gonna put it.
To watch all the videos in the playlist Going Off Grid 101 Our Tips: goo.gl/JTngqy Thanks for watching!
I really enjoy these talks that y'all have been posting . Very down to earth and well thought out and easy to understand . I wish I had your knack for explaining yourselves. I think maybe y'all are one of the best role models in here . Here's wishing you all the best .
Aww thanks Allen! 👍🏻
I'm not off grid or a homesteader but can totally appreciate your thought process.
If I buy something, how long will it last - I've got clothing over 10 years old! Another 10 years they'll be in style again!😁
I don't pay for haicuts either.
Looking forward to solar videos as well as when you guys build your house👍
Complete series on the new solar install soon. Haven’t finished nailing down everything on the house build yet but stills working on it. 👍🏻
You guys do such a great job with these vlogs, very professional, super informative and no silly antics to get people to watch. The "do I really need that" approach is exactly how to save money... well done!
I also really appreciate the lack of antics, no loud lengthy intro or long "please subscribe" endings, makes 100% of the video worth watching!
Awesome video guys . You guys kinda have the same mindset as me , I’m 42 an learned at a early age to put needs over wants . A tractor is always a good purchase for a homestead there’s lots of good used ones on the market
hi I am from Maine I am almost off grid,raise chickens,plant my food, and I have apple trees, berrys and hops,egyptian walking onion and I am a herblist and make homemade medicine like salves,creams ,tincures,soaps, and buckwheat and lavender neck pillows, I am trying to sell my place so I can pay off the debt get a piece of land for 6 months and go on the road,6 months, I am a avid couponer I shop for free, get paid to shop, I barter, sell and have a stock pile, I am trying to get debt paid so I can be debt free, I watch your videos so I can learn to invest
As always, good information. Have you considered wind power to supplement the solar power? I rarely see discussion on wind power. I found several 400w wind turbines for just over $400. That seems comparable to the cost of 400w solar. Biggest benefit is power at night.
Well I wish you the best on long term planning for old age. I'm already there and the financial climate has changed so much that a lot of us seniors are in trouble because our plans were not adequate for this day and age.
Of course that could be part of poor planning on my part but Alexa says everything is fine LOL
I don’t think it was your planning, I think the thieves on Wall Street changed the rules as they saw fit and have gotten away with it.
Rental is another option. For example, I'll rent certain tools for my business vs buying them. Yes, it may seem expensive to rent, however, maintenance is on the company renting it, and if you don't use it everyday or frequently, big ticket tools are more cost effective to rent. Plus, you don't need to supply room to store in the non used times. Case in point, though not a tool, think of RV's. How many folks BUY vs rent an RV, us it 1 or 2 times a year, then pay for a rental slip at Billy Bob's Storage? I see back hoes in these same storage facilities. Money being spent, not bringing it in.
I like the well reasoned and patient tack you are making in the planning stage of developing the new homestead. Very wise. It is easy to spend money on things that we want, but more difficult to apportion the funds to meet the priorities for the long term. Thank you for sharing the process. Great channel.
I was wondering about y'all today, thanks for the update...
TRACTOR I love mine. So many attachments. This actually has more uses than you think. I vote tractor
Y'alls perspective and input is awesome. I really appreciate the time y'all take to share info with us all. Y'all don't have to...but choose to! That is truly generous💙
I wonder if you have looked at solar passive systems? they are inexpensive to build and will go a long way toward offsetting your energy costs. there are RUclips videos as well as passive solar forums where you can get specific advice. I think you will be pleasantly surprised at how much it could help.
PS: love your vids
You can never go wrong buying a tractor. I use mine at least once a week. It is a large purchase though.
I bought an older massey ferguson 3 years ago ... and it has been a real workhorse for us. spent 4,000.00 on it ... came with a few attachments ... great price for what i got ..... maybe someday i'll get a new one .... but for now ... this works and i didn't go into any debt. love what you guys are doing and always look forward to your videos
Knowledge+understanding+TIME=wisdom.
Great video J.
As always, I love your logical approach. I was just listening to a talk given by a couple who wrote a book called the Independent Farmstead. I think you'd like it, if you get a chance. They are all about managing and creating a system that can eventually require little to no imports , while an exports are logically considered and if deemed necessary, how can those can support imports. The talk is on Living Web Farms on youtube.
Bartering heavy equipment with your neighbors is how we did it in the 60s & 70s. We also had house raising parties. Nobody had any spare money to speak of and honestly speaking >> has anything changed? We wait from year to year to see what we can afford by priority. Check out the 1970's design for an ENVELOPE HOUSE. It was the best cold climate house design I have seen to date.
Nice video, always thought provoking, thanks.
I use square foot gardening with compost made from old broken down dried out leaves. Works well.
Thanks for the realistic approach to this topic. Great information. :)
Great point about patience and waiting - this is one thing that we did not do and as a result made a few mistakes we have to correct now. Nice video 👍
Good things to think about. Thanks for sharing ideas.
Mirroring several other comments in that like I love the rational thought process. I disagree about one thing though, there is a lot to this video.
Thanks for sharing the journey.
Sometimes you don't have the option to wait but you need a solution right now (which means you probably done something stupid to begin with and your in a bad spot), when that happens (quite often with me) I try to find a solution that covers just enough of what needs to be doing and try it to do it in such a way that it is easy expandable/movable if needs be. For a hypothetical example; if I need a waterpump but don't know yet where the best place is to put it, I would use couples that are easily de-coupled (even if they cost more) and I would not bury the pipes but would add insulation around them for unexpected cold spells. After a while you'll see what works and what not and then you can start digging in the pipes and perhaps build a pump station.
Batteries for solar is another good one, personally I would go for standard lead-acid ones, but would use the cheaper standard car batteries, the only thing you have to keep in mind is that if you want to keep the those batteries in good condition is that you never discharge them more than half and that you reduce the charge cycles (by switching banks, so one bank is being used whilst another one is being charged). That is a lot of faf for batteries but often car batteries are a fraction of what deep cycle ones are, capacity wise think of it that you need 5 car batteries for the same kind of actual use as 3 deep cycle ones (assuming same ah rating).
I am looking forward to your viedo on how found your land.
Great vid. I can relate to everything you said. I am also a logical critical thinker. Sometimes I think it's a curse. LOL! Anyway, about the tractor. Don't buy new unless you can get a company to sponsor you and give you one! hahaha. At your stage of the game, this is a good time to be thinking about tractors. I have a big backhoe that is old but Very worth it to have. The only problem with a construction backhoe is that they aren't designed to change the implements and do "farm" work. If you get a farm tractor it's not as good at heavy construction work. If you can get a fairly big farm tractor with a removable backhoe, then you can also use post hole diggers, plows, trailers, etc. Definitely try to find something used. If you get a diesel, they will be more reliable if they sit around alot. They don't have carburetors to clog up. You could always get a big backhoe and do your site work, then sell it. Machines like that always sell and hold their value pretty good. Just be aware, if you own a big backhoe, you probably won't want to sell it... LOL! Good Luck!
Jeremy, you rock! This video is so important to show wanna be self sustainers (like myself) how much thought needs to go into every purchase and development on a property.
You guys are definitely on the right path. Keep up the good work and thank you for sharing all of your experiences with us. :)
So sensible! It's a pleasure to listen to you discuss the different aspects in such practical terms. You didn't mention the word 'commitment' but I feel it was implied however, because making a commitment is an enormous money-saver!! If people would just stop dropping their interests to flit from one attraction to the next all the time! Making up your mind to go in a certain direction will save a person all kinds of agony & money.
This is an outstanding video and should be required watching for anyone considering homesteading and even people homesteading now and who are probably not doing it right. You are the calm voice of reason.
Agree. Even if people only adhere to principle of waiting a week to purchase anything over $100, they'd improve their finances!
Well this was perfect timing. We are in this debate right now. We fill a tractor would be very Beneficial for starting our new homestead next month. I we revisit this video with hubby after dinner. Thanks for the insight
Hi, I would just add, that the cost of anything metal is going to skyrocket soon, so if you need fencing, buy it now and store it somewhere until you figure out where all your gonna put it.
You sound a little 'wonky' when discussing some concerns in your current life. Guess another term for wonky might be 'critical thinker'. Too bad more people aren't guilty of that. :)
Speaking of wood chips, can you get them for free from a local tree service? Would it be cost effective to own your own chipper/shredder? I'm thinking of all the trimmed branches you'll generate once you start harvesting trees. You could also rent the chipper to neighbors, helping to pay for the chipper, and gas. Of course, it would be nice to have a tractor with a PTO attached chipper. You could fell and haul your own logs, make your own wood chips, haul and spread your chips. Then you could make $$$ helping the neighbors to do the same on their properties. Keep the ideas flowing!
Running way behind, but I'm here... LOL... Sorry... Enjoyed !
I'd heard you mention something about not having septic system. I haven't seen any videos on what type system you currently have there. Compositing toilet i.e. ...... Thanks enjoy watching your videos.. I am in the workings of going off grid. Your videos have enlightened me on many things.
Life is life, there has to be some satisfaction and enjoyment that goes along with whatever you are doing, otherwise why bother. The tractor debate has been around forever you cannot put a realist value on everything you don't even know all that can be done with a tractor if you have never owned one or had the ability to use one as desired. If you are planning on building your own home, barn and outbuildings a tractor would be very useful, it was for me and all the things that I could do with the tractor was not known at the time. An old guy told me one time that Tractors are like Harleys they hold there value, so if push comes to shove you could sell it if you had too. I now have 4 tractors and a Harley so I am a little slanted but. It's incredible the amount of things you will use the tractors for but I was glad to have them building my homestead, home, barn and outbuildings, working the roads and trails cutting bushes and clearing land.
So out of curiosity. Are you guys going to make this homestead THE homestead or are you guys working towards simply making it more profitable for later down the road because i remember from a previous video you saying something about the property you buying maybe not being the one. When you were looking for property.
Originally we were not planning on finding our forever homestead but we lucked out and yes this is THE one. 👍🏻
That is awesome!!! I thought so but I just wanted to be sure. I love your guys' videos. They are all so informative. (I apologize for any spelling mistakes i spell phonetically) I have always wanted to be self suficant ever since i was a kid. Thank you soooo much for putting your lives, mistakes, and your learning experiances on here. :)
I would buy my own tractor for sure , do all of the work my self to safe time and money , and you know its done right !!
Check out Lumnah Acres. His little tractor is a real work horse & he uses it for everything. Lot better than an expensive big tractor.
There was great content as always...
Awesome video. Really important to think like you do. Greetings from Andreas on Off Grid Sweden
Good advise. Everyone should consider bartering. And energy independence is in the top 3 for us. Debt free is number 1! Building a mortgage free home is second. Now our grandchildren have learned how to grow and raise food and like it. Each family has to decide if they are specters or engaged in life.
Very good video. Waiting a year before making changes on your property is excellent advice. This way you really know what your dealing with.
We watched how the weather and season changes causes issues relating to water being close to the house. We needed to address this immediately.
Having no debt is the best place to be, along with having an emergency fund.
Thanks for sharing!
The only good thing about 'Back to Eden' gardening is......you have cleared the area for raised garden beds....:)
it all sounds like good thinking
The fact you all could buckle down and get debt free shows perseverance, planning and discipline. I totally agree with your forward looking plans towards a self-running operation. You will succeed.
Wise man...
Could listen to your voice all day - so smooth and calming. Don’t know anything about video and audio but I really enjoy the quality of y’alls.
Lumber prices are quite good now since tanking with 2008 recession ... if your Loblollies are not ALL healthy, you might want to consider pushing a harvest ahead a bit ... especially if you see any clumps of die-off this year. Ardent follower of "give it a year" here ... very glad to see you aboard on that!
Interesting perspectives
I have had the debate about heavy equipment with myself for a long time already and I don’t even have land yet! I have a chronic illness that causes chronic pain, and Paul Wheaton saying “DO YOUR EARTHWORK FIRST!” echoes through my head every time I think about it. And yet, heavy machinery is incredibly expensive-even when it’s used! That being said, for my context, heavy machinery will greatly aid in forming the land, building my home (I want to build an Oehler Structure home), and at least some farmwork thereafter. Since the earthworks and home-building process would likely take quite a lot of time, and I just plain don’t have the physical capability of a fully-abled person, at this point, a good condition used piece of equipment or two at a reasonable price would likely pay off for me in the end. But then, I won’t really know for sure until I get there! Thanks for sharing your thought process 💖Chelsea
Awesome info..thanks for sharing
🌻Happy Monday and a have a fantastic tomorrow🌻
Excellent video! Great information. My downfall could be the Click to Buy button on Amazon. Sometimes I think "What did I just do!" Think, think think. This is great advise for anyone to use.
We moved into a small town that is a close knit community... we had trouble meeting folks at first but after 7+ years I feel like we are finally blending in, and once you are in... most folks will do anything for you. We have done quite well without a tractor but we don't do things that require a tractor. For example, we don't buy the big round bales of hay & straw. We are limited to the square bales. Being debt free is hard work with a lot of discipline mixed in. Thank you for reminding us how important it is!
Great advice, and things to think about
Great video. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Very responsible. Very smart. Great video!
Really enjoyed this video Jeremy. Sound decisions and advice.
Great thoughts and ideas, Jeremy, you are very wise!
Batteries: I either read an article or salt a video where a guy harvested lithium batteries from wrecked electric cars for his power bank at the time he had just bought a new second set of batteries from a wreck for $2,500. He said that was a fraction of buying the same power in traditional solar batteries.
Keep up the great work.
Excellent advise! Thank you!
Great videos, thank you! I am not a homesteader, but I do retire in 7 years (I’ll be 55) and learn much from your lifestyle. I recently began beekeeping and will start a garden soon, hopefully next year will be chickens. Can’t wait for the next video!
One day at a time 😉
check with a lumber broker, they can help thin out your lumber with stipulations.....
Very good planning Jeremy =) All of you keep up the good work and doing a wonderful job Jeremy, Jaime, Marina, and Ilaria =)
Buy a used tractor
I love following your family.
I'm with the others, a tractor will change your perspective. Projects that you think that's beyond your physical abilities becomes doable with a tractor. Most importantly it will save your back and knees, moving 50lbs bags of cements around isn't that much fun, digging fence posts, moving logs/bolder, grading the road, getting stuck vehicles out of the mud, bush hogging the undergrowth, etc.
And as other have stated, don't buy a new tractor, they are built to last, a used one will do just fine. Horse power is the most important factor in choosing a tractor, I say what you're looking to do, a 50hps is plenty enough power. And a good used 50hps tractor would be more around 20k.
...20k is a lot of money. Disregard my suggestion.
You're doing so well these days in your talks to camera. Relaxed, Concise yet Informative. 👍
Thanks. I am much better behind the camera but trying to get better in front.
Guildbrook Farm - Off Grid Living I don't know Jeremy, it's very, very difficult to stand front & centre, no props, no project or job to explain and just speak. Especially as you have no prior experience, even actors and public speakers get nervous & flustered at times, but you look relaxed (even if you aren't) and confident (ditto) and it really doesn't matter if it takes a few takes because we don't see the fluffing of lines or forgetting where you're going with a sentence, although I'm really glad you let us see the fight with the rooster because that was hilarious! You & Jaime always have excellent content and your experience with promotional and educational videos shines through. We're all (I speak for ALL of your subscribers here, whether they like it or not 😅 & despite them not knowing 😂) so looking forward to seeing the property change through the Seasons with you. And looking forward to the buildings going up. You had a bit of a baptism of fire (or should that be Ice?😉) with the long harď Winter but you still managed to show us great episodes, so I'm thinking you should pat yourself on the back for a job well done, even though you'd rather be building something, or be behind not in front of the camera. 😎
You win Subscriber of the Week. 😎❤️
Guildbrook Farm - Off Grid Living Am rehearsing my acceptance speech in the mirror. "I'd like to thank the Academy ......" 😂😂😤 Only wrote the truth guys, glad it it made you smile. 😘 Sharon xx ( The S in ess em )
Great video👍👍
That's the key to deciding whether to buy things like tractors...how often and how much will you actually use it? Is it more of a once a year thing, or an ongoing use? Same applies with any expense, especially if there is maintenance that will be ongoing in owing it. Hand tools are cheaper, and longer lasting, but take longer to do the work and more effort. Power tools require maintenance, fuel of some sort, and will spend at least part of the time sitting around being stored. Even things like canners for the home are something to apply that to, how often will you use it, how hard is it to maintain and or store, and will it save you time and money.
Exactly 👍🏻
No need to spend $30 K on a tractor - you can get a good used, small loader tractor for around $7 K. Get a friend who knows tractors to help you look, and you're good to go!
We follow much of the same thought processes when we are thinking about sustainability into our elderly years. I highly respect the fact that you guys always state that you're not licensed experts and you're giving your opinion.
Great video! My husband and I are working on paying off our debt, so we can purchase our own property. It’s very helpful to hear your thought process for purchasing investments for the property
great video,what are your plans for replanting the trees?
We won’t need to replant to regrow forest. That happens naturally. We will plant fruit and nut trees though.
I 100% agree about waiting a year to get to know your land, the seasons, the wind, sun, etc. I have a couple years to go yet before I'm where you are, and it's killing me to wait, but I already eat, breathe, and sleep learning everything I can about where I want to go and what I"ll need when I get there. I was just watching another off-gridder earlier who's using lithium ion batteries with his solar array. I haven't had a chance to look up prices yet( he said they're very expensive), but he also said they last much longer than regular batteries. Just thought I'd throw it out there. Take care.
Watch the video I posted today 😉
I just did! That's so ironic.
😂❤️
Good luck, and some experience go a long way. Hard work pays off too! Cheers.
I really appreciated your insight on this topic and this video. Grazie mille! :-)
Thanks for the wise tips. Gives me a better perspective. Starting small and expanding is the best way to go. Thanks for all your help with these great videos!!
👏👏👏
That was very insightful , thank you for sharing!
How about investing in a windmill you can sell the electric back to the power company!
Great video! Think twice, spend once is a great habit to get in. :-)
I don't know or there is anything alike where you live, but in my land we have a big online second hand market, where people can offer all their stuff that they want to get rid of, from cars to clothes, technology, just everything. I just bought 2 rugs for peanuts, and 2 brandnew sheep wool blankets for near nothing. I buy there since years, near everything I need. And if I need to get rid of something, I can sell it there too. It may save you tons too, if you try to buy second hand. Just a thought! Thank you for your video's, I love them! :)
Yes it’s called Craigslist and we use it all the time! 👍🏻
RE: Tractors - Have you been to estate sales, or farm auctions? American Pickers like to drive around, and stop to check out 'yard art' (rusting farm equipment). That's a way to find functioning, or repairable equipment worth investing in.
I don't know, but would be curious to see you make that video.
We will be checking auctions out for sure!
Love the video! y'all put out great info.
More people need to think like y’all! So meticulous and purposeful! Great job/great mindset!
❤️👍🏻
BUY FORD 8N
I went to the comments to say this exact thing. An 8n is cheap, and tough. Small but you can to a lot of work with it.
I spent months scouring Machinery Trader for the skid steer I need. It is a need, not a want, and I finally got a great deal on one. Start poking around and looking at the going rate for similar pieces of equipment so you can get a feel for the market.
Exactly 👍🏻
Get the tractor! I was watching another channel and the couple bought a Mahindra tractor and they were gettin' s**t done fast.
I’m just not in that big of a hurry 😉
Good info! TFS!
Another great video! Thanks!
Thanks for your insight
It's funnier when it's the lady in the video, she's more entertaining
Usually at least a dozen lol
There are plenty of funny vlogs that I view when I need a laugh. I come here for intelligent dialogue. Shop around didine256 to find what you are looking for.
Please reconsider limiting the harvesting of your trees to create a pasture. I am looking for land and have seen so many parcels for sale that have been ruined by harvesting of the trees sometimes just for tax money. Sorry, one of my pet peeves.
Proper forestry management is a key part of maintaining a sustainable ecosystem. As I said in the video we aren’t interested in just logging out the property for cash.
buy an old used tractor to old ones last forever
Your talking new go for used we spent $6,000 for a 656 Farmall. Also used attachments are not that expensive it does take some research but worth it.😎
Hi, I would just add, that the cost of anything metal is going to skyrocket soon, so if you need fencing, buy it now and store it somewhere until you figure out where all your gonna put it.