21st Century Bushwoman Talkin'

The Filmmaker describes how she built her 20 foot diameter stackwall house out of local resources and lives off grid in the Yukon wilderness. This film was the first that Sally shot and edited in a mere 48 hours, as part of the 2013 Yukon Film Society's Yukon 48 Film Festival. It's International debut was in Dawson City International Short Film Festival in 2013.

[@joeworden825]

I am in awe of people that can truly chase their dreams. Most of us watch them from a distance......very few live them.

[@janjbowman]

You inspire me. Your an amazing woman. I am 59 years old and still have dreams of living off the grid. I have some friends around my age that are going to make it happen for us all. An off grid community is what we have in mind.

[@sworiginals]

How exciting Janice! With the LED, battery and solar advancement in the past 5 years you can even go "off grid" in some pretty populated areas. It is the responsible management of waste that can be a challenge in highly populated areas. I have a simple 6 foot deep outhouse (lasts 10 years), with Insulated seat, reading material and nice view. I have a wood fired sauna to get clean and if I have plenty of rainwater on hand, I have a wood fired outdoor bathtub. I recycle or reuse practically everything, as far as I can tell, the only garbage I make is mixed materials like candy wrappers. Fortunately, the closest community has an extensive recycling center. My compost heap is small so I don't attract grizzly bears. I used to wish I could have a big garden, it was a struggle with the ground squirrels and field mice and my harvests were small. But since I have learned that I can eat dandelions, fireweed and chickweed all summer and sprout lentils in the winter. I can even eat spruce needles for vitamin C and crush the bark to flavour my popcorn! I don't need a garden, I just need to take care of the existing forest (garden) around me. I suggest you look at plants that grow wild in your area and learn how to eat them and you will find your medicine.

[@paulrudd1063]

What a lovely portrait of an independent and self-directed woman.

[@sworiginals]

Thank you. I'm glad the film still holds up.

[@sworiginals]

Dear Butch Mazza, Thank you for posting the first comment on my channel and inspiring me to learn how to respond. I am pleased to hear that you are choosing a low impact, creative and peaceful lifestyle. It is so important to be resilient, low-carbon and hopeful. I have to admit, though, I sure love living this way, it has proven good for my mental health and easy on my wallet.

[@robsrelics1]

Hi Sally, great job! My wife and i are not off grid but we downsized to a small cottage on a lake in Wisconsin, we use a wood stove for half or more of our heat in the winter and grow a garden in the summer for fresh veggies and to preserve for the winter

[@missmaryh6932]

How BEAUTIFUL your Home is. Good to see how carefully you use your resources. Thank you for sharing,insights to your world.

[@badapple65]

What an incredible short film. If it were 16 hours long I would have watched it as well. Your home is a work of art. Your way of living, also an art. Thank you for sharing.

[@sworiginals]

Hi Greg, What in the film do you like? Why 16 hours? Thank you for your compliments of my choice of art making.

[@thepincushionman7063]

Thank you for sharing this with the rest of us Sally. Very awesome!

[@loisaustin6200]

I love everything about your beautiful home and your lifestyle. Much respect for all you have accomplished in finding your own special happiness.

[@jacqueline7118]

What a wonderful house and a wonderful way of life. It is fantastic that you are living your dream and can appreciate it all the more because of the hard work you put into it. Thanks for sharing!

[@paulw1824]

Wow ! Truly a work of art ! Glad that house worked out as planned .

[@sandhollowhomestead6972]

Hi Sally! You inspire me! Living close to our earth feels natural and it seems the most peaceful way to live. I am collecting building materials to build a greenhouse at the north end of my garden this year. I also want to build a HHO generator to power our generators so we can run on water. I'm on the grid but I think by doing what we already know we can do it will greatly reduce the grid demand on our homestead and give is back resources to build other earth-friendly projects. Yep, small steps lead to mountains! Love your videos and hope to see more!

[@geraldfrank1630]

The ring of truth in the Heart is coming thru loud & clear here, hear. 👌👏🙏👏 Bravo!

[@paulw1824]

Wow. You are truly living the dream ! That house looks great !

[@sworiginals]

It is. The design is quite simple and I think it would work for many urban people who want to live amongst trees. Why do people have to drive right to their houses?

[@edwardblejan5764]

Very nice! A good inspiration for everyone out there. Thank you for sharing.

[@mistygroves3503]

What an absolutely charming video! I am glad I "accidentally" stumbled across this tonight. Your house is beautiful, Sally.

[@sworiginals]

I really love my home. It is warm when I need it to be and cool in the height of summer. The bottle logs are incredible. They really glow, all with solar energy. I am now thinking of the wind energy potential of the location, and of course, storage.

[@abrahamrm5356]

Awesome Sally.I am resting after 3 days of chainsawmilling in the mountains of northern Spain. Now, I will tune and clean my chainsaw and tomorrow continue,more motivated even ,after watching this video. What a beautiful home and place.Cheers :)

[@robertmcnew9381]

Beautiful house , amazing the work done for this house.

[@rhart367]

I'm impressed with what you've accomplished, it gives others hope beyond measure. Peace.

[@joharmon2148]

Your home reflects your talent it is gorgeous. Thank You for sharing with us

[@sworiginals]

Thank you. I hope my home inspires you to take action, to live a simpler, low carbon life, and to work with others to create a better future for all of Earth's living beings.

[@brnvxn]

My dream life. I would love to visit!! What an amazing gift, you are truly blessed! xoxo

[@sworiginals]

Thank you. The house has taught me the importance on living with-in your means. I believe that many people, given the land and opportunity for simple training can build their own homes. It should be taught in highschool.

[@permaculturedandfree2448]

G'Day from Australia and congratulations on finding what most are looking for...peace on earth ✌

[@sworiginals]

Dear Johnny from Australia, Peace is a state of mind that is simple to attain when you are surrounded by trees, our oldest neighbours. In the past few years I have learned more about eating local trees, plants and seeds. This is a journey of learning that I have had the honour of receiving from the Indigenous people of my region. I urge all people to learn how to live within the means of their immediate surroundings. Indigenous people the world over have lived on solar energy, local food and cultural wealth for thousands of years before the Colonial era that Columbus triggered. Also, the end of the age of oil is at hand. Science has illustrated that it only took 150 years of industrial burning of oil products to trigger catastrophic Climate Change. Conservative rhetoric aside, I know humans do love their children enough to work towards a low carbon future. Science also has shown us that the Oil industry's economic model was dependant on externalizing the cost of that waste. Now that the jigs up, the banning of the internal combustion engine alone (which wastes 80% of it's energy through heat), will transform our world. I have yet to be able to afford the electric vehicle that I desire, but I do see hopeful signs that the low carbon options in the transportation sector are becoming more realistic.

[@permaculturedandfree2448]

Sally Wright Been living the life myself!...was kinda born into it..I live in the Tasmanian bushland and like you I found my site early..(17)..I teach/guide others Who want to try living with the land etc. Hope you are well and that you can reach others to share your knowledge. John

[@alfbittner6489]

Hey John I grew up in Devonport in the 60's just found a few acres in the Huon Valley like to get some essential tips.

[@jjjccc3036]

Johnny Smith /I would like to converse with you, I've always been fascinated with yout country. Please friend me as I have just learned, 3 weeks ago, how to do Facebook and messenger.

[@0110bound]

Matthew Seven b

[@lloydnielsen8035]

Thanks for sharing your life in the bush with us. What a beautiful lake. Our waters where I live are all muddy from. Hydro projects I like the idea of a round home. Yours is really nice. No wasted space. Anyways. Take care and God bless

[@hansb.8]

Thanks for sharing this experience and way of living.

[@sworiginals]

Thank you Hans. It is important to share that there are other ways to do things. Especially with our changing climate.

[@pamcolechadwell1302]

I'm in love with your home! I have always wanted a cord wood home. I love the way you live, wish I could live that way!!!

[@rodneywager2142]

A true artist, well done.

[@sworiginals]

Thank you. The film still stands up after 7 years. Much has ripened and burnished since.

[@therealgirlinthewoods]

Your home is delightful!

[@Caintuckee64]

@ Girl in the Woods AKA Brooke ~ Fancy meeting you here! Say hello to Dave and pet that Collie for me... your friend, Cain tuckee64! :)

[@soulvaccination8679]

You guys have it made.peace and love

[@disco07]

Fascinating!

[@MsMOLLYKINS]

That must be the most precious life. Living simply well done xo

[@carmendawnallan8871]

Looks Amazing,And Very Good Craftmanship on the House. Would Love,To Be Living Like Yourselfs. 😊. Glad I found, Your Page.

[@carmendawnallan8871]

Hi Sally . ♡ Txs for Reply 😊

[@meganalien1106]

This is a beautiful house. Your voice sounds like Melissa McCarthy. I'm jealous.

[@scottlavoie5405]

Amazing!

[@mongofriend3478]

Well done. Awesome house! I have always wanted a round room with a fireplace in the middle of it. Looking out over water. Not very efficient with heat for the fireplace, but always thought it would be cool looking.

[@sworiginals]

Try building a 20 foot diameter yurt! If well insulated, you will only need a small fireplace to heat it year round.

[@carolynsilvers9999]

You are living my fantasy. I enjoyed this.

[@sworiginals]

Much of my day to day is about fantasy. I have an extensive library, so I have a lot of good writers to help me dream big. What brought me to this place was the inspiration of a book. It is just that simple. What I have learned is; that building a home is like a mantra. Something you are conscious every moment of every day. You can make your nest anywhere, and it's your heart that makes it home, even in downtown Toronto. What I find so sad about Canada's chronic homelessness crisis, is that our institutions reject sensible ideas like people getting access to land to build their own simple home out of the building materials on hand. The Snailhouse is proof that anyone can build a home out of wood, broken glass, styro-foam, fiberglass, lime and cement. It is heated with wood and is powered with solar. My biggest dream is that everyone, who wants to, gets the opportunity to build their own home and live on renewable energy for their needs.

[@elainesnyder6307]

How neat. Beautiful

[@garygillis5104]

Nice video ! Very Canadiana, cheers from Northern Ontario .

[@sworiginals]

I am so pleased you consider this a Canadian story. At times I can feel that the rest of Canada, like Calgary or Halifax, are just so distant from my life choices. I do hear other Canadians on CBC radio that fully engage in pro-active, poetic, practical environmentalism. It is heartening.

[@ladeene06]

Beautiful. You were VERY fortunate to have began your journey at the under-ripe (haha) age of 20! I know this video is 2 years old, but it would be nice if you could share more of your story. I personally dream of having a water source that doesn't require filtration. That part of this video actually made me drink a large glass of water....strange that. 😊 Love this video. Thanks for sharing it!

[@sworiginals]

Thank you. I am considering posting an updated version of this film because I've discovered and integrated some new technology like a cordless electric chainsaw!!! Alas, no electric car yet.

[@debbiefromillinois532]

Well done! 👍🏻

[@josephthistle7026]

Very enjoyable video

[@sworiginals]

Thank you.

[@skepticalmechanic]

Smart and resourceful woman... ♥️

[@sworiginals]

Thank you.

[@diloo1861]

Love it!!!

[@hiyutoday]

you guys are great. one thing i could suggest is a outside vented sealed battery box. because the fumes should not be in youre inspiring home. i love it all, thanks for sharing, Roy in Idaho

[@sworiginals]

Hi Roy, Thank you for your concern about the battery venting, it is a serious health concern for people who run renewable energy systems. In our case, the batteries that we now use (different than the ones highlighted in the film 5 years ago) are Absorbed Glass Matrix (AGM) batteries which are sealed and designed to handle cold and low winter light. We also a have a vent behind the woodstove that has worked well for fumes. The house is so small and the circular/spiral design up into the loft vent makes the clean air exchange in the house quite simple. You have given me yet another reason to do a revision to this film. It has been 10 years since I built it and 5 years since I made the film. Much has changed, matured and crystalized with the house. It is way more beautiful to live in than I could've ever imagined. Sincerely, Sally

[@timklassen421]

beautiful home well done woman

[@RangerKooky]

Ty for the share

[@ShlisaShell]

Pretty cool little video. : )

[@indiana146]

Your amazing you made it happen well done

[@KIMI-xt4eb]

very real and awesome......

[@gmxxgoose_ttv2830]

I too recently started my channel! Very nice video, good luck on future endeavors

[@sworiginals]

Congratulations. Thank you . I am a somewhat cautious participator in KZbin since I have no Internet at home. I hope to have an updated version of 21st Century Bushwoman in the New Year.

[@sheshnarayansharma6257]

Very nice

[@ColetteMalette1]

Living in a round house can be entertaining when someone asks may I use the restroom and you reply yes just pre in the corner 😄ohhh that was bad lol. Lovely home your building for yourself!

[@katchup1528]

AWESOME

[@gregoryzoebisch7792]

I love this. Good going! I did have to laugh a little when the guy you gave the water to hesitated. Was it me or did he look around to see if he could see Beaver lodges?? lol.....I'm sure that water is good though....he looked nervous though ...a little...

[@sworiginals]

That guy is my husband, and he has no hesitation when drinking the Lake water. His nerves come from his shyness and also the importance of what he is trying to convey. His words are the essence of our work together, protecting the water, the fish and the living biomes. We want to tell the KZbin audience that we can live on renewable energy for all of our needs, indeed we must, from now on.

[@gregoryzoebisch7792]

@@sworiginals Oh I loved the video! I thought he was one of the videographers! lol Cheers!

[@sworiginals]

@@gregoryzoebisch7792 My husband and I produced this film in 2013 and he did all the heavy lifting on the 48 hour production. We only had a cold weekend in February to shoot, edit and submit our completed 10 minute film. It was a lot of work in sub-zero temperatures and you'll notice that all the times lapses were recorded during the day of the shoot. We drove 220 km back into Whitehorse that night to edit and post the film before 9pm Sunday night. I'm exhausted just thinking about it now. Good memories.

[@gregoryzoebisch7792]

@@sworiginals I loved it. We used to live in Alaska. Upper South Central Alaska. We eventually got electric but we were in a dry cabin for years. Good video!

[@alancooper5386]

building small is the way to go, wish i knew this 40 years ago,i have a big house and large yard and alot of STUFF

[@Driftwoodgeorge]

Nice.

[@semco72057]

It must be nice to live in an area like that without the worries of modern living. Stress is the biggest problem we have living and one reason I am glad that I live in the rural area of Arkansas. After years of working in government I am glad to be retired and living a rural environment.

[@medic173]

Nice video

[@meegreenland6510]

Can we get an updated you have done great here

[@beer1for2break3fast4]

Just wondering how the light gets through the styrofoam to light up the bottles embedded on the inner walls. Love that concept with the styrofoam in the middle by the way. That is brilliant.

[@sworiginals]

I cut holes through the Styrofoam to accommodate the bottle logs. At the 6 minute mark, you can see the hole above the kitchen window. I also show a slide of the bottle logs on the bench. It is actually two bottles, one clear, one coloured held together by a metal cylinder sealed with silicone. They are like light tubes with big jube-jubes on the wall. Cheapest stain glass windows ever!

[@carls.6746]

For more efficiency and cleaner burn look into how to make a secondary burn stove.

[@sworiginals]

Asura, You are correct. I am stuck with the stove I have because I got it for free. Dead wood is plentiful where I live so I haven't been motivated to update the stove. I am looking into now, and thanks for reminding me. Sincerely, Sally Wright.

[@actanonverba91]

Thanks xxxx

[@actanonverba91]

I am doing this in Tasmania Australia and I like you Sally. I am a 23 year old woman who quit uni and lives in the bush and catch and grow all my food and meat. It's freedom

[@sworiginals]

@@actanonverba91 So good to hear you can find a good bush life in Tasmania. Sorry it took so long to respond, as you probably know, bush life doesn't include updating KZbin very often. I am thinking of updating my film to show how life and the house continues to give me the passion to fight for solutions to Climate Change. The weather isn't going to get better.

[@actanonverba91]

@@sworiginals Hi... And what a year. I am here at Geeveston Tasmania. The fires are dying down and I am pregnant.. What a year so far!! 🙆..

[@actanonverba91]

@@sworiginals sorry... Yes please do.. I am editing the last 5 years worth of footage. Permaculture life is the best possible way for me to live

[@sworiginals]

@@actanonverba91 good for you. Canada's fire season has exploded from Climate Change. At one point in August 2018, all of British Columbia, which is many times larger than Tasmania, was covered with thick smoke. Permaculture is very important, thank you.

[@ShivaKumar-ls2pl]

Nice

[@glenbrown4408]

very Beautiful

[@sanjeevmishra2960]

Nice place

[@tlahuicolexiii2844]

Someday i will be living my dream as well!

[@stevesoutsideadventures]

That's the fun part , tearing stuff down :-)

[@andywhite3333]

Beautiful! Have you written a book by any chance? If not, seems to me you should.

[@sworiginals]

Thank you. Hum. As you can tell by the film, my writing is extensive and ongoing, but not compiled and only spottily published in the form of letters to the Editor of the Whitehorse Star. I am to busy living my life to reflect at this moment. The film still stands as a basic expression of my outlook. Other than updating my Cordless Electric Chainsaw, and the increased accessibility to electric vehicles, design-wise the building is state of the art when it comes to stackwall, zero waste and energy efficiency. Thanks for the encouragement to publish. I have kept diaries since I was 14 years old and they are now safely stowed at the Yukon Archives, so if I never get around to it, my nieces and nephews will have the fun time sorting it all out.

[@unsilencedman1070]

Love from Alberta. Just have to sub and like this. This is how people are meant to live, not sitting behind this stupid computer. Just wish I knew how to go about this. Don't think it's even possible here, land is just too much. God bless and carry on.

[@jaredf5000]

hey man Im from Alberta and relocated to the Okanagan last summer. land out here is more expensive then back home in the sense that the prices are jacked up since millionaires buy the land and build million dollar vacation homes. I lived in southern Alberta and was approved for mortages. Out here I cant afford a house and property mortage in a town, will not be approved. But I can get one for uncleared land rurally. In Alberta you have to live further from the citys than I do in BC to get the same effect, but thats the whole point of doing it. Im saving to buy land, not deep in the bush, but half hour away from my current town is in the bush, just enough a distance away from the citys for it to be affordable and because utilites stop at the highway and the land is not cleared. If I can do it, you can too, you might just have to relocate further from your town/city than I will, technically, because I did leave Alberta to do this very goal. But Its not unattainable!

[@briankleinkopf8557]

awesome.... all ill say

[@pressplay1072]

What i wouldnt give to live remotely. I was born 150 years too late in life. Im happy for ya!!!

[@sworiginals]

Thank you. I don't get into town much, and the Internet is like the wild west without grace. I hope you can find in a little chunk of forest wherever you live. When I am in Town, I keep my sanity by taking long walks or skis in the forest. Most of the trees that surround you are over 150 years old. They have grown where they stand, patiently while we humans scurry around. If you want to feel true peace, hug a tree.

[@darrelldamon2745]

Intelligent woman, on the funny side she reminds me of that lady in home alone two.

[@sworiginals]

Thank you Darrell. I haven't seen that film, I will look out for it.

[@miffoivan]

Ohh! ski-doo Tundra!

[@sworiginals]

Kluane Lake, Yukon, Canada.

[@torpedohost]

why doesnt she go to the store i seen a walmart over the hills just turn left at the big tree

[@chrissmith2921]

Should I drywall the outside of my cabin to keep the water out?

[@sworiginals]

A long overhang of your roof should protect the outside wall. The Snailhouse roof hangs four feet over. This overhang is a great sheltered place to walk outside during rain and snow. You want the overhang to be enough to keep the drip away from the foot of the wall.

[@steveontiveros5425]

Nice cabin , what type of material did you use for the ceiling ? When I was young( 27) I lived like you in a hunters cabin in Oregon,no electricity or running water . At 58 I bought a cabin near Springfield, Missouri it’s on a well and have a year round creek an pond . It’s a huge 4 br 2 bath place built in 2009 . One of my granddaughters with her family lived on it to take care of it till I retired , rent free . I had to practically bribed them to move out there, they were terrified ,they never been in the woods .Their dad ( my oldest son ) never took them fishing , camping ,etc . I could of kicked him . They’re in their mid twenties and never been to the Bass Pro-shop in their town . I thought everyone in Missouri was country lol , these guys never even eaten biscuits and gravy lol . I took care of all that . When I told my granddaughter she could move now because I was retiring and their obligation was over , she and her kids literally broke down crying , they said they loved living in the woods in the country . I was planning on living by myself since I was living alone since my boys got married. So they stayed and now besides the raised garden , pig pen, goat pen and chicken coop ...there’s a trampoline, swing set, pool , tree house , and a small cleared area with a large fire ring where the rest of my boys and their kids come over to stay the night in their tents and cook hotdogs and s’mores. Sometimes I don’t know who’s the loudest the birds and frogs or the kids lol ! 👍

[@sworiginals]

What a beautiful story. We all need nature nurture to be whole. Thanks to you, your grand and great- grandkids will have a healthy, happy childhood in the woods. Every human needs a place of peace in Nature to escape to.

[@sworiginals]

Oh Yes. The ceiling was the single most expensive part of the build. Blow foam. I had a foam contractor drive 60 km to do a 30 minute job. The great bonus of using this expensive foam is it made the roof much more rigid and the tricky issue of vapour barrier on a round roof was resolved. I taped the ceiling beams so I could carve them out of the foam to expose them. It is holding up beautifully.

[@steveontiveros5425]

Sally Wright thank you for answering back . Wow foam great idea , light weight and great insulator too . Looks great !

[@steveontiveros5425]

Sally Wright you are so right . My granddaughter that lives out there use to smoke , she has since quit. She said she was stressed out living in the city . She was like a Yorky nervous all the time , her and her family has changed so much . Her dad never cared for the outdoors even as a kid , he spends his free time playing video games and yes it took a toll on his marriage unfortunately. Now he’s missing out so much of his kids and grandkids lives . I’m so glad the kids go fishing and camping every chance they get .

[@sworiginals]

There are many young men who have wasted their youth mesmerized by computer gaming. It is a fierce addiction that is not taken seriously enough. Many survive to have productive lives, but there is a massive cohort of children born since 1990 that have failed to launch due to having easy access to massively addictive games all their lives. They are like vegetables attached to their devices. I know of a young man who got an abscess at the base of his spine. Sorry to be gross but, it had to be drained of a cup of pus to start, because he sat at his computer gaming too much. It is called Gamer's Butt. Sad really, he should have been out on the land learning how to hunt, fish and play. I'm glad you've had the opportunity to help your family recover from the loss of your son's fatherhood, through Nature.

[@robertmcnew9381]

I often wonder about burning the dry pine, is that what most people use as firewood to beat. Wow three hour drive for groceries .

[@sworiginals]

When burning wood as a heating source I suggest using the dead wood that is most abundant in your region. I burn almost all White Spruce killed by a beetle outbreak in the 1990s , because that is the only conifer species within 50 km of my home. I also burn dead willow in my sauna and hot tub, it is small but very hot burning.

[@robertmcnew9381]

@@sworiginals ok thanks for reply . Love your video . Oh I bet the sauna is nice during the winter up there. Nice to see how people live way up north , I live in ohio nowhere near as cold here.

[@iriswigle]

Doing two layers was very smart. I love it. What would I have done differently. I would have done two layers around the center pole. Why? Earthquakes, termites? I know earthquakes? Like...huh? I love the bottles. I would want a window made up of bottles for my Goblin House. We had a well at my grandfather's log cabin where I lived for acouple of years. It was merely a hole dug down several feet and I would skim the mosquito larvae away. Another, huh? Saw a well in the Hailburton area ions ago. It was a small stream that passed under the house and the owner had an old fashion hand pump to bring water up to the sink. Very tricky. I think I would be tempted to put pipes along the fireplace to run up to the roof to melt the snow for drinking and use a pond pump. Stupid and tricky. By the way, I always said that one day I would go back to Shangrila...northern Ontario. Why? Cause they have men living up there to 115 and well, he is still alive. Saw him last year and he looked and walked like he was 80. It must have been the avoidance of city water filled with bleach to keep those larvae away. Thanks for sharing.

[@sworiginals]

Iris, thanks for the insight into the Snailhouse's design. I live on a high seismic area, so we have earthquakes all the time. In the spring we had a 6.4 and 6.3 two hours apart. Many Yukon people were knocked out of bed! The Snailhouse was unaffected, just as most Yukon buildings that are made predominantly of wood. No termites up here, but there are carpenter ants. We live in peaceful co-existence. It is such a small house and the acoustics are so good, that I can be aware of insect visitors straight away. Your point about water health is important. As I say in the film, having a clean source of drinking water is beneficial to my economy and my health. Without my good health I would be dependant on an already overwhelmed health care system. When I take care of my own needs by building my own home and keeping my environment free of toxins then I can trust the water, plants and animals that I eat to be healthy.

[@rhart367]

Is it okay to use that fungus wood in a wood stove? Would you die from it if you breath it in?

[@sworiginals]

The dead dry fungus burns like wood. Not harmless, but not additionally bad, as long as the wood is dry.

[@k.h.1756]

Wont you please, wont you please, please could I be,,, your neighbor. (smile)

[@dbcooper692]

up here wear i live in northeastern California we have bark beetle and more and more of our trees are dying bark beetle thrive because of drought

[@sworiginals]

In our Yukon wilderness the warmer winters are allowing the bark beetles to survive over multiple winters for prolonged infestations not seen before. The forest that I live in is ancient white spruce and when the bark beetle numbers exploded in 1992, the beetles had 1000's of square kms of virgin forest feasting. If you flew over, the forest appeared red at first and now grey. The human community was devastated because the whole forest looked dead. I live in the middle of it, so I saw the rapid regrowth and the smaller, younger trees that were able to expel the bark beetles with sap and sprout up once the big old Mother Spruces had died and opened up the forest canopy. Climate Change has given us warmer winters, and increased snowfall which insulates the base of the tree where the beetles over winter. The experts said this particular infestation went on for 15 years. Like I say in the film, I am still harvesting standing dead trees that were killed 20 years ago. What was a traumatic event at the time, has taught me how resilient and ever changing the forest is. I have lived here for 33 years, most of my life, and that is but a childhood for a tree. I have cut down trees that were over 500 years old, and the amount of soil that supported it was probably 1000 years of accumulation. It is quite humbling.

[@jameslane2667]

Truman Lake very beautiful blog I thought that you said something about Bic lighters though if you didn't I'm sorry

[@sworiginals]

James Lane, thank you. Yes, I didn't say anything about bic lighters in the film. I have many bic lighters in my life and I use them daily. If they could be re-filled with a non-carbon based fuel I'd be over the moon.

[@Caintuckee64]

Snide remarks and attempts at trolling show much about a persons intellectual maturity, and lack thereof, I like your spirit and honesty. Respect is earned, you and your husband have mine! I liked and sub'd hope you make lots of videos! Liked' sub'd and rang the bell!

[@sworiginals]

Thank you Cain. Thankfully I am not on the internet enough to care about trolls. There are way more positive people and encouraging comments out in the big wide world. I'll focus on you fine people.

[@bilginozceliker4645]

👍👍👍👍

[@dicktipton5912]

whats the "foam" looking stuff on the underside of the roof??

[@dicktipton5912]

im so jealous. i dont fit in with society and wish to do this someday soon. Im 30 and if life doesnt get better for me by 35 im going to disappear into the wilderness. im an avid outdoorsman but am still wary of all the dangerous outcomes that could arise.

[@sworiginals]

Blow foam. The most expensive and toxic procedure in the house. I had a contractor drive out 440 km. roundtrip to run a 5kw foam machine, and a fantastic team of foam artists to help me. I had to cover all the inside walls with tarps and tape. That blow foam stuff is really sticky when first applied. I was thankful that the colour the contractor offered was a nice salmon colour. I can paint it with primer and latex if I want to change the ceiling up in the future. On the day of the installation it was November and a snow storm. The foam boys were done within an hour and it was fully off-gassed within 24 hours. I had covered the roof beams with painting tape, so once the foam had set and off-gassed, I spent a week in my now cozy house and continued snow storm, carving the beams. The benefits of this technique and material for a hot-roof have proven it's worth. The foam has made the 3/8" plywood roof rigid, R60 (bit of a thermal bridge on the beams, but my choice is esthetics), and no UV degradation in the 9 years I've lived in the house.

[@dicktipton5912]

Sally Wright that's kinda what I thought, very cool, it would be awesome to make it look like copper somehow. Just my opinion. Great videos and glad to see you're happy. Take care.

[@globe255]

It costs a lot of money to make such a house with that equipment.

[@sworiginals]

It wasn't expensive equipment at all. The Snailhouse cost about $8000 for materials. I borrowed my neighbour's cement mixer for one day. I did all the mortaring with a wheelbarrow, a hoe and a pointing tool. What I really liked about the stackwall technique is how little equipment I needed. It took me 5 summers, 368 wheelbarrow loads and patience.

[@veefriend4201]

Amazing home, Sally. Nice that you have a partner in your life. Please let me know the approximate cost of a solar system such as yours, including the inverter? Thank you in advance. I'll search online as well. I'm 70, living on my own, and I'm in the process of hoping to buy a property in the Creston Valley: 2 1/2 acres with a small cabin and wood heat. I'm not the least daunted by the prospect; I'm strong and healthy, know how to run chain saw and bake wonderful sourdough bread. If this dream comes to pass, I'll be getting a dog, a cat, and chickens.

[@sworiginals]

Thank you Vee Friend . I have many different solar systems on each of my buildings. My original 1986 system was $900 for a 45 watt self regulating panel. It still produces the same output, 30 years later. The system on the Snailhouse is from the late 1990's, twice the output for half the price. That system has a $200 voltage regulator and a 1500 watt inverter bought from Canadian Tire on sale for about $100. Batteries are the weak link. It took us years to find the right kind of batteries that could handle the cold and low winter sunlight of the Yukon. I know there is now system kits (does not include batteries) at Canadian Tire now but they are kind of expensive for the convenience, also no one at CT understands about living off the grid. The best bet is to look around your neighbourhood and see what others are doing. In Whitehorse, there are now a lot of on grid solar installers. They could order you 3 to start. It is good to support your local solar panel provider because you want to learn all you can about the system. You'll probably find other people in Creston who have solar systems. From my experience, people who love solar will share all the info they have to help you enjoy its beauty too.

[@veefriend4201]

Much appreciated, Sally. Thank you for your time. Best regards, Vee

[@davidriley8590]

am I right in saying that you don't need any medication at this point I would love to live like that but I have some medical problems that require medication how would you go on?

[@sworiginals]

Hi David Riley, thank you for your question. Firstly, I have to say I am very thankful to live in Canada, which has an extensive health care system. The closest nursing station is 60 km away and if I do have prescriptions I can fill them there. If my health becomes more complicated as I age, I will have to adapt to that reality, we all do. I'm no doctor, but I have taken wilderness first aide courses and I have a library with many well researched books on the human body, human nature and herbal books about proper nutrition. Most importantly, I have Indigenous neighbours who have lived in good health, upon unpolluted wilderness from the beginning of time. They are my greatest teachers about keeping healthy. There is an excellent book written by my dear Yukon friend, Beverly Gray, called "The Boreal Herbal" . I think you might be surprised that the medicine you require might be found in the forest. There is Indigenous peoples across the world, their spiritual and healing practices, using the plants that have been their "Allies", throughout their cultural practises. Look in your own community, for the Indigenous peoples, they can introduce you to the wild plants that naturally grow in your region, in little pockets, that could help you with your condition.

[@ericpelletier3384]

hi Sally I was planning on going to live off the land trapping, hunting, fishing on a lease piece of land in the Yukon but people tell me you can't find off grid lease anymore is that true ???

[@sworiginals]

Hi Eric, The best people to talk to about what you can do where, is the Yukon Territorial Government Lands Branch. Traplines are a whole different deal and the Yukon can help you with identifying the opportunities. The Trappers Association might be able to help as well.

[@ericpelletier3384]

@@sworiginals they only answer to residents Non resident the have a delay of 9 months to get an answer

[@sworiginals]

@@ericpelletier3384 I guess it's like having a baby, you just have to wait and follow the rules that are set before you once they give you a chance to apply. It took me 12 years to put together the land title that I have now. The Yukon has 14 self-governing First Nations with ground-breaking modern Treaties, the process of land selection is quite complex. Raw land to develop is very rare now, unless you intent to farm. A better route would be to buy a privately owned property, and there a lot of fixer-uppers, on grid and off. But you pretty well have to come up to find them.

[@ericpelletier3384]

@@sworiginals thanks for your time before i go i wanna remind you that only 8% of the Canadian territory is occupied thats right 92% is provincial or crown free land yep thats Canada Have a nice spring again thanks for your time

[@sworiginals]

@@ericpelletier3384 You bring up an interesting concept. What is it that humans do to occupy land? Most First Nations people I know consider themselves "part of the land, part of the water". I have lived in the north for 36 years and I can honestly say that every molecule in my body, heavy metals and all, comes from the soil, forest, water, air of the Yukon Territory. All that unoccupied land you are talking about is the last refuge for intact Boreal Mountain Forest in North America. This is a very unique place because the First Nations Governments that are stewards of this land are intact and thriving. They are showing us how a strong culture and environmental stewardship go hand in hand. Their ancestors have been living off of this land for over 10,000 years. The Territory was only "discovered" by White People about 122 years ago when the Klondike Gold Rush brought 1000's north. Fortunately, the Yukon has such a harsh climate and nasty mosquitos that not many stayed. My little house made of deadwood, crushed glass, styrofoam, and cement proves that anyone can have a comfortable small footprint in even the most severe climates. Yes, I was very lucky to find this land when I did, those kind of opportunities have long disappeared. I still believe that it is the weather that keeps our numbers from exploding. You only need frostbite once for it to haunt you forever.

[@SuperHurdman]

I know I wouldn't be drinking that lake water as there is a disease called beaver fever you might want to find a spring to source your water! You could boil the water but that is a lot of work! Nice place you have though!

[@sworiginals]

Hi Marc, "Beaver Fever" or giardia is very common, all over Northern Canada. It is found and spread in the feces of all rodents, not just Beavers. Local scientists have found giardia "eggs" in mouse pooh, so it's pretty well everywhere. So I've chosen to live with it, like the rest of my animal neighbours. I've been drinking water from this glacier fed lake for 32 years, and I have yet to experience any really bad symptoms. So I guess my body has adapted. I always suggest to visitors to boil the water, because urban people live in isolation from nature, therefore are more sensitive to wild microbes. Thanks for your concern Marc.

[@UKpossum]

Impressive. REALLY bl**dy IMPRESSIVE. Oh to be 50 years younger!

[@sworiginals]

Thank you! I'm 54. I started this project 14 years ago. This method of building is very appropriate for those who feel they are too physically unfit for building because all you need are small logs, a wheelbarrow and a hoe. The heavier lifting can be achieved solo with any number of leverage techniques. My husband did all of the chainsaw work at the time because it was too powerful and dangerous tool for me, but now I do all my own chainsaw work with a battery operated electric chainsaw that I got 4 years ago. Hauling water and chopping wood is hard but satisfying work.

[@orcuser]

Water? Never touched the stuff, fish fuck in it.

[@sworiginals]

Did you know that mother fish lay eggs and the father fish spew their "contribution" around the eggs and hope for the best. There are many species that live and love in water their whole lives. Some of them are so small, that they could be "making out" in the glass of water I drink. Of coarse, they will just join the millions of friendly micro-organisms that live in my gut already. If I did not have that flora, I wouldn't be able to digest my food very well. Even when you're bored'n'stuff you need these little organisms making love in your gut. So get over it and drink more water.

[@mauryginsberg7720]

You could be fuelling those petrol engined vehicles with wood instead of liquid fuel by making a wood gasifier and pumping the syn-gas straight into the engines and even running the generators from the syn-gas. Using woodgas correctly is just another form of solar power and can be carbon neutral, the fuel trees are equivalent to solar batteries sequestering carbon throughout their lifetime that suck up the carbon released from driving on woodgas so as long as you grow the same or more than you use it's cyclical and as ecological as solar PV!

[@sworiginals]

I agree wholeheartedly. Our forests sequester and circulate billions of years of carbon every day. We need to manage our use of this crucial source of energy. The needless clearcutting of ancient groves, living trees cut down when salvage could has served the need for that IKEA dream.

[@mauryginsberg7720]

Sally Wright I can give you a few pointers if you want to build a wood gasifier, you can basically build one out of an oil drum or you can also purchase one off the shelf or in kit form. When you throw wood into a fire the wood gets decomposed by heat and produces a gas (smoke) which is flammable and the gas gets burned in the fire, when you light a match you can actually see there is a blue halo at the center of the flame and thats a carbon monoxide/methane mix and that gas can be piped somewhere else and used as a fuel for an engine/generator, heating, to cook on so you can use equipment designed for fossil fuel with all the convenience but actually ran off of wood instead. www.driveonwood.com

[@tomloguidice8380]

the tree not 250 years old its probably 75 years old and that pushing it

[@sworiginals]

I live on a dumpsite from the Alaska Highway which was built 75 years ago. There are trees on the dumpsite that obviously came back afterwards and they are only 12 feet tall with a diameter of 4 inches. 75 year old trees in this forest are babies. In the Arctic our trees grow very slowly. I made this film 5 years ago and every day I learn more about how ancient the forest is, where I live. I never counted the rings on the tree we felled for the film. Next film, I will do so because these trees are a very precious resource. Thank you for caring about the accuracy of my film.

[@victordasilva5255]

Her boyfriend named her ....

[@MonstaMunch101]

Video says she built it and does stuff herself, but the photos and video show a bunch of guys doing everything for her. Just an observation....

[@sworiginals]

Hi Monsta, I am also a filmmaker. So it turns out, yes I have been surrounded by men helping me build and film my home. This film was filmed in one day and edited 220 kms away to file on the internet. I had a crew of 6. They were amazing. But only one of them, my husband helped me build the house and lifestyle. He is a sweet and helpful man. I am very lucky.

[@MonstaMunch101]

Sounds like you're both lucky, it's a beautiful house.

[@jameslane2667]

Did you say Bic lighters won't be missed if I misunderstood you I'm sorry

[@sworiginals]

Hi James Lane, Bic lighters would be missed, they are very handy. Sometimes I mumble in the film. The film was done over a 48 hour period, as a part of a contest. Forgive my mumble, I would really miss Bic lighters, I am not a total Luddite, especially when it comes to lighting fires.

[@grzegorz16100]

Wow. I absolutely low your lifestyle!

[@sworiginals]

Dear Gregory May, Thank you. I feel very honoured to be able to live out on the land. I have been living in the Snailhouse for 8 years now and it just gets more and more beautiful and peaceful. I have learned that, to be truly productive as an artist, I need to fully immerse myself. Most of all, though, my artistic practice is about living at peace with my neighbours, the two-legged and four, and trees.

[@grzegorz16100]

I wish I could do the same but I live in a tiny island called UK...

[@sworiginals]

Even on crowded islands such as yours there is the opportunity to live at peace with two and four-legged beings. The trees of your island have seen the fall of the Roman Empire, we need to listen and learn from them more. On your island you have abundant wind resources that could be used to heat your homes. Many people are investing in solar on their roofs and electric cars. You have trains, and the tube and your distances are short. There is so much each of us can do to make peace on this Earth.

[@grzegorz16100]

Yes I agree but all I need is freedom and some space. I'm not sure how to get that here where land is so expensive and you need a permission for everything.

[@yairmottes6622]

try and put a windmill' and convert the power of wind into electricity.

[@sworiginals]

The wind is not all that good where I live.

[@pihoihoi]

You are living in a bubble , hope you are happy with yourself! The rest of us just plod on!

[@sworiginals]

Thank you. I never intended to live in a bubble. I was just trying to build something beautiful myself, with local materials and live the way I like. Happily, I discovered that with the right attitude, any person can live within their means. It is hard work though, I needed to be fully engaged in the project for 5 years. Not much plodding in my life.

[@patriotpioneer]

Worries about vehicles harming the environment = cuts down trees......

[@sworiginals]

Note how the trees are already dead, from bark beetle infestation. Trees are a part of the living carbon cycle. Vehicles burn fossil fuels that were created through millions of years of accumulated carbon cycles. Humanity has burned up billions of years of carbon and spewed it into our atmosphere for the past 100 years. That is why it is 31oC in Whitehorse Yukon today. People the world over are dying and becoming homeless through flood, fire and famine due to Climate Change.

[@patriotpioneer]

Actually they really don't know how petroleum deposits are formed, well's that were pumped dry in Texas in the 50's have since re-filled themselves. One volcano put out as much "pollution" as humanity does in a decade. This planet has been way hotter than it is now on more than one occasion & geologically speaking the majority of the time this planet has been in a ice age. The Scientific consensus is before ice ages there is a warming spike(look up the younger dryas period). This is simply the cycle of the planet... oh & if you want to get technical that snow-machine is far worse at polluting than a modern pedestrian vehicle. Not to mention that Two-strok chainsaw(literally designed to burn lubrication oil mixed with gas)...... I will concede that the Fukushima Disaster(not fixed, still happening) is definitely a man made disaster!

[@sworiginals]

Yes, humans are a part of the cycles of this planet. It is our only home, we have to be. I'm not sure who the "they" are who don't know how fossil fuels were created. I really worry about "they" ; these self styled experts, have ruined the American education system. Thankfully Texas now is one of the largest producers of wind power in North America. They've fracked the hell out of the place and they are suffering some of the worst flooding due to instable and violent weather events, possibly their leadership sees the consequences of raping our precious Mother Earth. The Earth will survive human overconsumption and pollution, it is humans and our fellow animals that will continue to suffer. There have been mass extinctions before. We as a species, are the cause of this one.

[@sworiginals]

This film is 5 years old now. I now have a cordless electric chainsaw that I recharge with solar. I would love an electric skidoo too, but they are still too expensive.

[@myfrugalraggylife7104]

So does she live alone or not ? she talks about 'me' and 'mine' - he talks about 'us' - 'ours' and 'we'. She's certainly not coping alone.

[@sworiginals]

I do not live alone now, but when I started the journey of my adult life, I lived alone. I didn't meet my husband until I was 29. I couldn't have built the Snailhouse without my husband, he is my greatest ally and he makes sure my creations are structurally sound. He is a talented chainsaw handler, a northern renewable energy Maven and a professional engineer with a Doctorate in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. I take mild offence to "My Frugal Raggy Life" considering me unable to live happily, safely and productively alone in the bush. The Snailhouse is the most energy efficient, beautiful and low maintenance homes I have ever lived in. I may not have running hot water, but I do have my health, my art, my happiness and no debt. I have a hot tub heated with wood as well as a wood-fired sauna. I make enough money to live by silk-screen printing, writing and being frugal. My husband and I have a unique life, I know, but I am coping quite well with the challenges.

[@myfrugalraggylife7104]

How strange that you should take offence at a perfectly sensible query.

[@sworiginals]

Yes, strange. I guess I am tired of sensible people questioning my abilities.

[@myfrugalraggylife7104]

Touchy !!

[@sworiginals]

You betcha.