Building a calm life on 1.5 acres of land.

Head to squarespace.co... to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code: Frankieoffgrid
Mentioned in this video:
Purslane: www.growforage...
Calm Lines YT Channel: / @calm-lines
Calm Lines Substack: carissatanton....
Luke and Sarah: / @offgridlifeportugal
Project Portugal: / @projectportugal
My accountant Telmo's article: www.trtaxadvis...
Like our music? Here's a playlist with all the music we use:
share.epidemic...
And, if you sign up to Epidemic Sound through the playlist link, you'll get 1 month for free!
If you'd like to support our project:
- You can join us on Patreon from £1 per month and get some extra perks: www.patreon.com/frankieoffgrid
- Buy us a 'Kofi" (which will go towards our latest project, whether building the house or working the land): ko-fi.com/fran...
- Shop at our tea shop: www.seibiantco...
Use code: FOTR10 for 10% off ☺️
- Shop our merchandise: frankieoffgrid...
- Follow us on Instagram: / frankieoffgrid
We have put together a helpful list for you of all the things that have helped make living off grid easier for us: www.amazon.co....
The linked items are affiliate, which means we get a small commission per sale (at no extra cost to you)!
Beijinos e abraços,
Carissa, Iwan, Frankie & Albi
Our Story:
We are Carissa, Iwan & Frankie the sausage dog, and in 2020 decided one night over a bottle of wine that moving from North Wales to Portugal would be a good idea. Within a month we were on the road to Portugal to find the perfect piece of land to call home. We picked up Albi, Joao and Simao the cats along the way, as well as Diogo the podengo and a flock of chickens.
Subscribe to follow our project as we turn an old stone barn into our home, and learn the ropes of looking after a piece of land to make an abundant garden and one day, our very own winery.

[@colinmacdonald8738]

I love your calming presence. We are richer for knowing you. Thanks ❤

[@susancoulter4129]

I just love your channel! Thanks for all the beautiful content. You are truly a whole family work team. I enjoy the dogs and especially the cats joining in everything you both do. Your white kitty is always, always, always with you both. Love your hat in todays episoode. It suits you. You do make a very good couple.

[@rhondasutton6014]

Hi Carissa and I've thank you for sharing...love your garden and animals and look forward to your updates..happy birthday I hope you enjoyed your day 🎉❤

[@MarieMathieson]

Frankie is so clever. , she is stocking them up for winter 🤣

[@shirleyrice7093]

I see you have a real refrigerator!! Wow. That is wonderful! I listen to a lot on my iPad when I’m working around the house, but I have to stop and sit down to watch you. You are very calming.

[@deniseanglesey972]

Hi Carissa, try putting down cardboard or 5-6 sheets of newspaper over your existing beds and around any plants you still have. Layer your manure and compost on top and then approx 4 inches of wood chips. If you are putting it around existing plants, pull the woodchips back from the stems so it doesn't burn the stems. Once everything has broken down you can push the woodchips and manure back. The woodchips you need are the sort you chip with your chipper that has the branch wood and leaves in it. This will break down over winter and be amazing come next spring. This method is called Back To Eden Gardening and it drastically reduces weeds and massively reduces the need for watering.

[@kevinnye5132]

You took the words right out of my mouth 😁 and what an awful lot of words there were 😂, good advice is never short and can last a lifetime 👌🏻.

[@sheilakerr-jones4345]

Yes, exactly. Even the sludge from the well would have helped as a type of “compost tea”.

[@markstrahl5399]

Make pear brandy with the pears Can them if you can I’m

[@kevinnye5132]

@@markstrahl5399Pear Palinka would be great 👍🏻, strong and hits the shot spot 😁.

[@sheilakerr-jones4345]

Beautiful content, thank you.

[@rachelfrees1268]

Everything is looking great. ❤

[@נעמהלוי-ע8ל]

I like the musical aspects,and visuals as well. They work very well together.

[@bonniesheplar5130]

I’ve just discovered your channel this week, and I am thoroughly enjoying it. I adore the dogs. I love the chickens and the kitties. The whole set up is just awesome. You guys are just lovely. Much continued success. Love from North Miami Beach, Florida, USA

[@chrisdouglass7962]

Another very nice vlog 🥰 ahh flora and fauna, Frankie and socks 😄😁🥰

[@jennywalsh479]

Great show, You could make pear chutney with all that fruit. Love all your animals and your ginger cat is so funny and good on you both for rescuing the dog and nursing him back to health.

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Ooh good shout on the pears! Thanks!

[@mafish7962]

Loved seeing the gang all sleeping on the sofa! Special moments ❤Laura ❤️❤️happy birthday!

[@MacehuaAtStonehaven]

Im 73, been eating purslane my entire life. They usually grow late summer in sidewalk cracks and very dry garden soil. Delicious as is or added in salads.

[@itchyfeet8695]

You can freeze courgette if you grate it and squeeze as much moisture out as possible. So no excuse for Iwan not to make his courgette soup in winter 😂. I like it as fritters in winter.

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Ah great idea! Will definitely try that!

[@Kelleena1on1]

Hello u can also juice them like a cumber :-)

[@tonynunes4965]

Your videos are a balm for the soul. One of my dogs loves watching. He is very interested in dogs on the TV, even shadows of dogs or where dogs enter in the background. Videos of dogs up close playing, etc. he often overreacts and starts barking and jumping. But with your videos, he watches calmly and intently, with great interest. Have you ever thought of trying to make your own crumpets and other home goodies? I was introduced to Peak Frean shortbread cookies when I was a child by our Welsh neighbour in suburban Toronto. Really, really love 'em.

[@brucebotrel2275]

You both impress me about many things, but what impresses me the most, is your love for your animals and their obvious happiness, the highest of achievements.

[@shannonlynne1558]

I love watching the slow decline of your couch cushions. (I went back and watched some earlier videos😉) When I see a new little hole I giggle and imagine (probably Diogo) just living his best life….chomp chomp chomp. When I walk into a home and see evidence of the pets taking over like that I think “these are my kind of people.” 😍Also, Frankie’s happy little personality really shines in this video. 🥰

[@abigailgerlach5443]

Purslane is a plant that was very popular during the middle ages as an addition to their diet, especially while waiting for the gardens to produce in spring and summer. Anything that kept the peasants from starving! I had a Shitzu who stole socks and would eat all the toes out! I got to the point where I'd take my socks off and throw them directly into the washer. I love crumpets, English sausages, Coleman's mustard, Heinz baked beans, Bourbon Creme biscuits, and Flakes!!! Have you ever stuffed courgettes? Scoop out the seeds and stuff them with sausage, onion, mushrooms and bread cubes. Bake them until the courgettes are soft. Pear chutney?

[@LorraineinAustralia]

Ways to eat zucchini… grated up and mixed with egg and a tiny amount of flour , with your favourite seasoning, and make little fried patties. Great for ant meal, alone or with salad. Zucchini cake/bread. Sauté with onion, tomato and olive oil.. great on toast (or crumpets😉)

[@SuperToronto416]

Nancy Birtwhistle - a british cookbook author has a great recipe to use up courgettes. It's called: Lemon Yellow or Lime Green Courgette Cake

[@nancyspence2965]

Your garden is really coming along! You do a great job on your videos! You should promote yourself along with your illustrations. Your videos are always relaxing to watch. ❤

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Thank you so much Nancy!

[@dweamy1]

I love seeing your pets all sleeping together and really laughed at Frankie's sock fetish..lol.. My mum used to make Pear juice (very concentrated and you'd need to water it down when drinking).

[@Winnie-hq5hs]

In many, many years from now, other people will wonder about all the dirty socks, they find in the soil😂 But maybe it's not always fair to blame Frankie. In our house socks tend to dissapear too, and we got no dog! It's a mystery..... Should I look in the garden?

[@FrankieOffGrid]

I’d consider it more likely that Frankie is sneaking into your home to steal the socks… 😆 definitely consider checking your garden for them

[@faithvansanden82]

Happy birthday Carrisa, crumpets with chocolate spread, peanut butter or even melted cheese are delicious x

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Thank you! They certainly are!

[@joyharding6052]

Nooo, it's got to be marmite!

[@merrittbaxley6032]

Frankie is working on growing a sock tree to replenish all taken and more and more. I am sure it would be beautiful. LOL. Adorable.

[@jenniferhilton4648]

Hi, lovely vlog as usual, pear cider is delicious and easy to make.

[@carolbulmer8253]

Hi, Carissa and Iwan. Your courgettes would make a very tasty bread. I could send you two recipes… both are delicious. Happy Birthday, Carissa❤️🎂🎉🎉

[@lisakenyon9429]

So very glad that Diogo found you and you did him right! He gets around like there was no problem with his leg! Kudos to the vet who fixed him! And GOD BLESS YOU AND EWEN!

[@4711karo]

Your videos are so beautiful, gentle, informative, funny at times and so easy to watch..a delight, and thank you. You are achieving something very special with them … and your choice of music is in my opinion, perfect for what you are producing. And one last thing - I love animal as and I love watching your connection with them Clarissa. Heartwarming, and Yet another delight. So … delight all round and everywhere! ❤

[@4711karo]

ANd Many Happy Returns Clarissa for your 34th which I think you said you were celebrating on Wednesday. Hoping you will have a great day.

[@victoriakopp1483]

Happy Birthday to you. Love your videos, and Frankie with his socks. That will make a beautiful children's book. All your pets are awesome to watch. Take care and have a beautiful week. Love from Pennsylvania USA 🇺🇸 ❤️

[@lorac5539]

Pears can be preserved in red wine. Use for a dessert with ice cream. Or as a wonderful salad dish - preserved pears , mixed salad and wild rocket leaves, crumbled blue cheese and walnuts. The preserved pear juice can be made into a delicious salad dressing.

[@heidihughes8806]

I've really enjoyed this video Carissa, it's been lovely to see so much of the animals. The chickens were so funny, following you around the garden. , which is looking beautiful by the way. Could you possibly set up a market stall and sell the fruit & veg that you have an over abundance of maybe? 🙂💕💕💕

[@robertbird3086]

Zucchini Breads... Yum.. Smile. and lots of stir Fried Meals .. Ninette Bird- The Caribbean Wife

[@user-wb1dv9yu7d]

You guys have a really good weekend too 😁

[@ceriwibberley8364]

Thank you loved it 😄 so smoothing and happy birthday 🎂

[@100Noddy]

Your post this week beautifully reflects the joy and calm of the life you have created for yourselves in rural Portugal. That you have managed to achieve this at your age is inspiring, so many who want the same do not. Hope your motor vehicle woe is resolved without enormous expense. Life is so much less complex without a car and the worry of mechanical breakdown.

[@gardentours]

Last year my beans grew again after the heatwave. I wanted to take my courgettes out already but after I've seen this video I might give them a second chance to grow and produce. That look 👀 of Diego at the says everything 🌝 I wonder what that chicken voldemort did that she got that name 😂😉 Have a wonderful weekend 🏖 Greetings Heidi 👩‍🌾💕

[@susanlauchlan3539]

I've just discovered your channel and love watching your lives unfold there in Portugal (I've gone back to some of your earlier episodes). Your filming and the music you choose is very relaxing and peaceful, thank you! I love your animals and how they like to cuddle with each other! And dear Frankie seems to take each addition in stride. PS: When planting onions, they do not like the top of the bulb completely covered with soil. Leave a tiny bit exposed or at least near the surface.

[@jokevasconcellos6930]

The sock story. Definitely subject for a book.😂

[@itchyfeet8695]

Try bottling some of those pears before Iwan turns them into perry.

[@tessaelvan5149]

loving the gardening, get Frankie her own socks lol. never thought of crumpets as butter sponges but so true. Thank you

[@glorialeopard8808]

What a lovely landscape you've created. Looks so peaceful. Enjoy your channel very much. Saying hello from Alabama, USA. Keep up the great content.

[@meglange3595]

I so love purslane!! In the spring a friend gave me 4 starter plants she'd gotten from a nursery. Not sure of the variety but they put on gorgeous flowers of deep pink and yellow, also edible. They've grown well and I'm hoping next year they really get big and bushy. I havn't had the heart to pick much off of them yet because they're so lovely. I miss the kitten too 😔, but I'm sure his brother was lonesome without him. I envision Iwan becoming a great wine maker 😊👍. Will you plant more vines in the future? In the videos your property seems larger than 1 1/2 acres. I live on 1/2 an acre which is actually loads of space. This was my first summer to start a wee small garden. Next spring I'll do more. Lots of herbs. I love hanging them to dry and hope to make my own spice blends. Frankie is such a precious little dog. I agree with Frankie stories 😁. Have a good week!! 🥰🌾♥️

[@cynthiaszymkowicz2083]

I love purslane, too, especially the tender stems, and especially in salads.

[@alisonward3167]

‘Make,Do,Grow’ have made courgette wine with their excess.

[@mezanian]

Chilling with your beautiful garden, animals and music😊 well done everyone 👍 Happy Birthday Carissa, mines on the 7th, 60 bloody 5😅

[@terrygauvin3961]

Love your videos always interesting great job ❤️ 👏 👍

[@moniquevelasco20]

Have a wonderful birthday Carissa. It’s amazing how your garden never stops producing. You are definitely in the right track. Love and be safe!🤗😘☀️🇻🇪

[@PrimitiveSkillsnet]

Hello you two, your garden is very large. I discovered that there are some vegetable plants similar to those in Vietnam. I think it would be great if you could buy some Vietnamese vegetable varieties to grow in your garden. adorable pets, you are a beautiful girl who loves your videos from Vietnam

[@terryevans5476]

The great sock heist ! Would make a good children's. book. Love from Cornwall ❤😅

[@jan9562]

​@@terryevans5476I think you meant this as a stand-alone comment. ( ps my uncle's name is Terry Evans; he's from Birkenhead).

[@susanmay4082]

Hi all your videos bring me get joy thank you so much ❤

[@cbwmama8461]

Since that root stock for the now dead lemon appears strong and healthy, have you considered grafting onto it? In Arizona, a neighbor grafted a sweet orange, a grapefruit, and a lemon onto a bitter orange tree. Now he gets 4 types of fruit on the tree. The bitter orange makes wonderful marmalade! I have a brown thumb -- so can't tell you how to do it -- but he said he grafted one type of fruit each year so not to weaken the root stock. I'm sure the Internet has instructions on when and how.

[@FrankieOffGrid]

That’s exactly the plan! 😅 we’ve not done it before but fingers crossed!

[@vivienneturner2028]

I just watched Make Do Grow channel taste their courgette wine and apparently it was delicious 😊

[@paullloyd2634]

Happy Birthday Carissa x

[@judyweber9855]

You can grate both the corgettes and pumpkins and freeze them for cakes/pies and soups. Along with garlic and onions (saves chopping at cooking time.Just portion the grated/chopped garlic into tablespoon (15gm) portions and freeze on a tray. Then pub them in a freezer container.) you can also do this with ginger.

[@BertKetz]

Chapeau you handle the change of life in beautiful Portugal.

[@elainekaufman2264]

Pears ripen best off the tree and make pear cider..yum yum

[@lindagage7315]

Good video! Love the sock thieves!

[@uppanadam]

Despite the heat you guys do have a pretty good setup there!! A tad jealous really!! LOL!!

[@thefarawayhollow]

I used to have tiles lining my garden but I found the slugs and snails use it as a cozy home 👀 your garden is looking beautiful by the way 💚

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Thank you! Quite miraculously and fortunately.. we don’t have any slugs here and very few snails.

[@alexalves4865]

​@@FrankieOffGridtoo dry for the slugs and snails... Quite different growing conditions compared to Wales 😉🌧️

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Haha just a bit different!

[@kathleenpitt1981]

All your flowers are so lovely. Try air drying the pears. They’re delicious.

[@glenyscallaghan1195]

Very gentle lifestyle.❤❤

[@magicwendy210]

lovely calming relaxing video for my Saturday morning chill time, thank you ❤x

[@artstartdiy]

Great work on the garden. It looks like your soil still needs some work. For really productive beds your soil should be as dark as the potting mix. More manure in all the beds! Decomposed cow manure is excellent for veg growing. Can’t remember if you have a worm farm? All you need is 2 plastic buckets to get it started (cover and put holes in the top one) and tiger worms. Add your kitchen scraps and you’ll get free fertiliser (castings) and worm wee is excellent liquid fertiliser (ratio 1:10 like weak tea). A great tool I use for weeding which makes it so easy is a Hoe Ho-mi Korean Traditional Garden Digger Tool. It’s made from Steel and only costs around $13 (aus). It is a pointed triangular too that has a blade on one side that slices thru weeds with ease. Hope all this helps❤️✨

[@jeanrichardson2044]

A weed is just an opportunistic plant growing where one would prefer it didn't. Fortunately for your weeds you have found a use for most! Happy gardening...

[@lesleybazant1013]

Love watching your videos. Think about canning those pears since they are so abundant. Happy Birthday from Texas 🎉🎉

[@agnesw9540]

You could sun dry the pears and store them in paper bags for use in winter in baking, snacking or making a hot fruit soup.

[@jackiclark6667]

Love your homestead it's so picturesque - wish you HAPPY BIRTHDAY and don't work too hard. What are those two dogs up to! on the couch.....hey when all the dogs and cats are on the couch where do you and Ewan sit? LOL

[@christinedrumm973]

Christine. We are giving garden veggies to our Siamese boys We are amazed the variety they consume We may try some of their favorites, dehydrate and treats!

[@leeworley5160]

You should (when your ready) have an arched doorway going from the kitchen area into your future bedroom. I often wonder why you didn't when you rendered. Uncle Nick can show you, lol.

[@joannpilgrim1580]

Pumpkin blossoms are great fried. Put in eggs and then flour and fried.

[@giavroumsas6329]

You can make amazing Greek courgette balls with cheese and wine are really majestics ❤

[@projectportugal]

Another awesome video guys❤ hope your delivery comes soon

[@deborahashaw6044]

Your garden looks so beautiful on your videos!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@frantaylor1100]

Happy Birthday x

[@riskodisko]

Olá, have a ptguese delicacy tip for the extra pears, Pêras Bêbedas/ Drunken Pears, you just need pears, red wine and sugar...peel it and boil in wine with sugar until it turns into sort of syrup...you can put in jars and save, delicious! Try it! Abraço!

[@moonhunter9993]

Frankie is planting socks. She likes them so she wants more. So plants them (saw mom do it)...

[@judyweber9855]

Pear butter/jam is wonderful also.

[@BrendanClark03]

Courgette cake is amazing

[@olliesear1151]

@Butter sponges'... The perfect description of crumpets! I may actually have to go to the shop for crumpets now...😁

[@channiere]

Your vlogs are brilliant therapy for me . I watch them all dreaming of when we finally move over to our house in Mortagua . Love the crazy hats you wear . My outlook on animals is slightly different to Iwans , if it’s for the pot it’s a Liverpool player if it’s to keep its Cantona Charlton Best . Thank you for your brilliant work .

[@nancypatricio9972]

I used to eat purslin in Mexico, you can cook it with a little bit of oil and chopped onion and garlic. If you want to make it 🌶 spicy, you can add chili. We used to do it more like a liquidity soup.

[@knelson5442]

Hi there. Loved your calming video. Two thoughts. You should draw Frankie in his “Rub my belly” pose. Perhaps call them “action shots!” 😅. Also, when will you start work on your ruin/bedroom? Love your building projects.

[@deoritadomingo-mu2fs]

hi sorry for skipping ads too xcited for the whole vlog✌✌😙ill not do it nxt time...a follower here from the Philippines❤

[@peterwhite9261]

I am glad kitties home was found but I am sad gor you. Maybe he will visit now and then. Congrats on the new chickens, and your gsrden looks great. I love howball the fur babies sleep together. Ours do too.❤

[@kevinnye5132]

Clarissa look after your socks 🧦 and your socks 🧦 will look after you 😁, socks are like Swans ? monogamous and don’t PAIR UP easily nor for long with a different type and just gradually fade away DARN IT 😂, remember SOCKS 🧦 ARE FOR LIFE and not just for CHRISTMAS with that awful sweater aunty Mabel bought you 😁. All is looking good in the garden 👌🏻.

[@judyweber9855]

You can wrap the melons/squash with tulle (the netting they sell in fabric stores for tutu’s) which does help keep the animals from eating them. It wouldn’t seem like it but I guess the texture is just enough to inhibit the critters.

[@thomascallaghan5988]

Great video

[@milliebanks7209]

Sounds as if your lemon tree just might be a lime tree. Will be interesting to see what nature is deciding what you might need. Good luck with whatever you get.

[@4711karo]

Hopping Iwan’s ribs are mending well. He works so hard…he seems to never stop but just quietly gets on with things. As you do too Clarissa … but the results are wonderful. Congratulations to you both for achieving what you most certainly are!

[@elizabethtighe3071]

I love crumpets also. Especially with covered with peanut butter. Love watching your videos on a Saturday morning. Keep up the good work both of you.

[@elizabethtighe3071]

I have left my Courgette plants in and I’m still getting Courgettes now.

[@silvielarischova6137]

přeji hodně sil

[@bobbybaldeagle702]

I subscribed to your new channel. Can hardly wait to see your work

[@johncox2714]

Purslane grows like a weed in Australia but is used here in salads, very invasive. Boa sorte com sua jardim.

[@JohnFoxphotography]

All those pears, well i can tell you they make excellent wine, i made a batch a couple of years ago, turned out very well indeed, although i mainly concentrate on blueberry and blackberry wine, its a nice alternative. take care you guys.

[@juliebower4265]

Hi guys Thankyou for sharing your day💕you work so hard and your pets are so funny I could watch you all day sending love and good luck with the harvest of melons! PS:We use our courgetts for quiche with onions garlic and tomatoes. If you don’t want to make pastry just bake with out. X x x

[@bethconant6482]

Strimming, in usa we say weed eating...if u do it b4 it goes to seed, the grass will make a wonderful addition to a compost pile!!!

[@PHNX0]

I love your calming and idyllic videos. So feel obliged to recommend electric strimmers to you. I bought a De Walt 54V FlexVolt brush cutter and have never looked back. It’s simultaneously more powerful AND peaceful with no nasty fumes. The batteries cost a bit (I run 2 x 9Ah which are about £150 each 😬) but then you can just charge them off your solar. The strimmer is lighter as it has no need for a clutch/other mechanical parts, which will help ease Iwan’s burden! Oh and you can get other tools that run on the FlexVolt system so I now have the Leaf Blower and Chainsaw (which is another game changer if you’re used to a petrol saw, SO much safer/quieter/easier) as well

[@teresajames5993]

Maybe it’s my British background too but I also live crumpets mine with jam or peanut butter!! 🎉🎉❤

[@marybates2201]

Jam all the way, or plain with just butter. Yumcious

[@juncusbufonius]

Ever thought of making Perry from the Pears?

[@beverlyhendricks9456]

In the states, root stock is lemon. I had an orange tree die off and the lemon stock came up. It had large thorns but produced small lemons with lots of seeds but still enough juice to use. Perhaps yours will too.

[@sharongaines3043]

Courgette wine, enjoy